Cherry refers to the bright or dark red fruits of the cherry tree. It’s also called wild or sweet cherry. Eaten fresh, cherries help boost the metabolic rate, minimize pain from gout, and even prevent certain types of heart diseases. Certain types of cherry-based products like tart cherry juice also yield a variety of health benefits such as:
Contains High Level of Phytochemicals
Tart cherry juice is rich in a type of phytochemicals called anthocyanins. All red fruits contain concentrated level of anthocyanins; fruits like strawberries, apples, red onions, raspberries, etc. It’s the compound that gives it the distinctive crimson hue we associate with these fruits and vegetables. Anthocyanins help improve blood circulation, enhance nerve function, and even protect the body from free radical damage that causes cancer and other serious diseases.
Anthocyanins are not only there to keep the body healthy, they also inhibit oxidative damage, especially in older people. Oxidative damage is linked to many diseases, infections, and disorders including atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease as well as all signs of skin aging. By boosting your consumption of tart cherry juice, you protect your heart from oxidative damage, prevent mental decline due to aging, and maintain healthy skin. A 2004 study published in the Behavioural Brain Research journal found that the anthocyanins present in tart cherry juice may inhibit joint inflammation and relieve pain in arthritic patients.
Regulates Glucose Level in the Blood
Consuming tart cherry juice is a great way to control blood sugar level, stimulate the production of insulin, and even improve the breakdown of carbohydrates and fats in the body. In a 2009 study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, tart cherry was found to control the processing of fat, protein, and carbohydrates, making it a great addition in the diet of people with high-fat diet. The bioactive compounds in tart cherry juice not only cut the risk of type 2 diabetes, it also reverse the effects unhealthy food choices.
Improves the Quality of Sleep
Forget about taking chamomile tea before retiring to bed; drink tart cherry juice instead! Tart cherry juice increases the melatonin production in the brain. This is a hormone that promotes better, deeper, more relaxing sleep. Melatonin prevents insomnia. In an experiment conducted in 2012, participants who took 7-day supplements of tart cherry juice saw a radical improvement in the quality of their sleep. These participants improved their ability to fall asleep quickly and remain asleep throughout the duration of the experiment.
Keeps the Muscles Healthy
Excessive physical exertion as well as oxidative stress, pain, or inflammation could cause muscle strain or damage. Taking tart cherry juice helps prevent muscle inflammation and even hastens the recovery time of strained muscles by stimulating cell repairing. Multiple studies using both lab animals and human participants show that tart cherry juice help decrease muscle pain, accelerate recovery, and prevent muscle strength loss, making tart cherry juice better than sports drinks. The muscle strengthening and repairing abilities of tart cherry juice is largely attributed to its high antioxidant content.