Also known as sour cherry, pie cherry, tart cherry juice, Montmorency cherry or balaton cherry, tart Cherry or Prunus cerasus is a species that originated in Europe and southwest Asia. There are two species of cherry; the tart (sour) and the sweet cherry. The former has more acidic fruit than the former finds more use an ingredient in soups, meat dishes and desserts.
Tart cherry juice is prepared as a concentrate as well as a supplement. The darker cherries have more anthocyanins content than their lighter counterparts. Having been touted as the “highest anti-inflammatory content of any food” by a research team, there is no doubt tart cherry is the veritable ultimate anti-oxidant. There are many health benefits of tart cherry as we shall see in this article.
Health Benefit 1: Source of Anti-oxidant
The anthocyanins in tart juice are powerful anti-oxidants which lower inflammation and joint pain. Anthocyanins hinder COX-1 and COX-2, the two enzymes which are involved in the production of prostaglandins. These two are inflammatory compounds. Drugs such as naproxen and ibuprofen work the same way as tart cherry. In athletes, tart cherries enhance their performance, thereby reducing their use of medication to counter inflammation.
Health Benefit 2: Regulation of Blood Sugar
Te anthocyanins in tart cherry juice play a role in the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. They reduce cholesterol levels, abdominal fat as well as inflammation. Research has shown that tart cherries play a role in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes as well as various cardiovascular conditions.
Health Benefit 3: Exercise Recovery
Tart cherry juice assist athletes to recover after an exercise as it reduces inflammation. It also reduces oxidized lipids and lower recovery time after a vigorous exercise.
Health Benefit 4: Source of Melatonin
Melatonin is a brain hormone that is involved in regulating the biological clock. As such, tart cherry juice plays an important role in combating sleeplessness (insomnia) among other sleep disorders.
Health Benefit 5: Combats Arthritis
Tart cherry juice is closely linked to reduction in the amount of nitric oxide in the body. This oxide is involved in cases of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The anti-oxidant in tart cherries assists in reducing the level of this oxide in the body.
Health Benefit 6: Anti-Diabetes Properties
The anthocyanins in cherries add insulin by up to 50% when used in an animal’s pancreatic cells. Though not yet tested in humans, this is an indication that they can play an important role in combating diabetes.
Health Benefit 7: Cardiovascular Health
Tart cherries act like the drugs given to patients with metabolic syndrome. As such, tart cherries can be administered to assist control fat and glucose. Two factors that can help lower blood pressure.
Health Benefit 8: Anti-cancer Properties
By reducing weight gain, tart cherries assist in reducing cancer. This is because of the co-relation between weight gain and risk of cancer. A study conducted showed that the anthocyanins lower risk of cancer, in particular colon cancer.
Health Benefit 9: Boosts Memory
Cherries contain anthocyanins, which can help boost memory. It was observed through research on rats that the anthocyanins in cherries helped improve the motor neuron functions in rats.
