Tart Cherries can help reduce chronic inflammation, particularly in people suffering from debilitating joint pain and arthritis, says new research.
According to researchers from Oregon Health and Science University, tart cherries have the “highest anti-inflammatory content in comparison to any foodâ€, and can help people with osteoarthritis manage the disease.
The study involved women aged 40 to 70, with inflammatory osteoarthritis, and researchers found that drinking tart cherry juice twice a day for three weeks led to considerable reductions in inflammation levels.
With millions of people, now turning to natural ways to manage pain, it is promising to note that tart cherries can help, without any possible side effects, often associated with arthritis medications, the Principal study investigator said.
Earlier research on tart cherries and osteoarthritis was conducted by Baylor Research Institute, and it was found that a daily dose of tart cherries (in the form of extract), helped in reducing osteoarthritis pain by more than 20 percent in both men and women.
The antioxidant compounds present in tart cherries, also known as anthocyanins, apart from providing the bright red colour to the fruit, are also specifically linked to high antioxidant capacity and reduced inflammation, at levels comparable to well-known pain medications.
The same compounds in cherries have been linked to other benefits, such as promise for sports recovery, and to athletes to help relieve muscle and joint soreness.
The Director of Sports Nutrition at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Centre for Sports Medicine revealed that they have included tart cherries into their training menu for both professional athletes and active clients, as it is the natural and easy way to manage pain and tastes great.
They are available everyday of the year in dried, frozen and juice forms, and are a versatile ingredient to be included in any training or inflammation-fighting diet. The finding was presented at the American College of Sports Medicine Conference (ACSM) in San Fransisco, California.