29 OCTOBER 2018
6 WAYS CHERRY JUICE BENEFITS
Workout Recovery (reduces DOMS) | Inflammation | Metabolism & Weight Loss | Swelling | Immunity | Sleep
Cherry juice is not just refreshing and delicious to drink, but it oozes health benefits. Tart Cherries are lower in calories than sweet cherries and TART CHERRIES contain more anthocyanins than any other fruit.
Cherry juice is rich in nutrients like potassium and iron, vitamin A & C.
However there are many different varieties of cherry juice and the BIG difference when looking for cherry juice is whether it is TART CHERRY / SOUR CHERRY or SWEET CHERRY / BLACK CHERRY. Cherry juices which contain 100% pure cherry juice only with no added sweeteners colours or flavours are of course the more natural option. Checking which kind of cherry is in the ingredients list is the best way to know which one you are getting!
See our ARTICLE on Tart Cherry Juice (Tart Cherries have more active ingredients than sweet cherries)
Cherry juice also comes in various forms: “concentrated”/“concentrate” which is not to be confused with “from concentrate” and “not from concentrate.”
“Concentrated” / “Concentrate” (Cherry Juice Concentrate) is where the cherries have been pressed whole and the water taken out – this is so you can make to taste i.e stronger weaker or neat. Retains its nutrients better
“Not from concentrate” is the fresh juice directly into the bottle and usually expires sooner, and unlike when fruit is juiced and drank straight away it may loose some of the nutrients and normally contains stabilisers etc.
“From concentrate” is where the cherry juice is squeezed, filtered, the water is extracted AND then the remains is rehydrated by the manufacturer.
As mentioned, TART cherry juice (aka SOUR cherry juice) is more sour to taste than sweet cherry, provides a higher amount of anthocyanins and nutrients when compared to black cherry juice or sweet cherry juice, which is by name sweeter to taste and contains fewer anthocyanins.
Anthocyanins are important as they catalyse anti-inflammatory processes.
1. Post workout recovery (reduces DOMS)
Cherry juice has been shown to help recovery after exercise. Tart cherry juice has the ability to reduce uric acid levels helps fight inflammation and DOMS (delayed onset muscle syndrome – the aches and stiffness you feel hours or the next day after a strenuous workout!) after exercise, helping you to recover quicker and exercise for longer. Being naturally high in potassium, a mineral and electrolyte, helps maintain hydration, blood pressure, nerve and muscle recovery and proper function, heart rate, digestion, and pH balance.
Sweet Cherries contain about 340 mg of potassium per cup.
2. Metabolism and Weight Loss
Some evidence has indicated that tart cherries can help change metabolism rates and the ability to lose abdominal body fat. In one study anthocyanins, were shown to act against the production obesity.
The anthocyanins found in TART cherries, in another study, were found aid the reduction of inflammation and abdominal fat, and decrease the risk of metabolic syndrome.
3. May help fight inflammation, arthritis pain & gout pain
Research has shown that the antioxidants / anthocyanins in TART cherry juice helps to ease arthritic pain (by reducing inflammation) that is caused from many conditions including osteoarthritis (OA), as well as arthritis and gout. In 2012 study a study showed that a glass of cherry juice twice a day for 21 days reduced the pain of OA. In this study blood tests exemplified that that there was significantly less inflammation.
4. Helps reduce pain from swelling
A 2004 study found that cherry juice products can reduce inflammation and behaviour related to pain in rats, which may infer beneficial results in treatment for swelling in humans.
5. Immunity
As with all fruits and vegetables, cherries contain an antiviral and antioxidant punch. Flavonoids, a kind of antioxidant found in cherry juice has been shown to help fight infection. Studies have shown that flavonoids and antioxidants can have a significant impact on the functions of the immune system.
6. Sleep
Tart Cherries naturally contain sleep-regulating melatonin which may provide improved sleep time and quality, according to a few studies including study. The study suggests that TART cherry juice has similar effects to some insomnia medications on older adults.
Even if CHERRY JUICE didn’t have benefits it is a refreshing and delicious beverage. Simply exchanging your regular sports drink, shake or adding TART CHERRY JUICE to it could pose amazing benefits.
