Montmorency Tart Cherry

Montmorency Tart Cherry History

The Montmorency Tart Cherry (“Prunus Cerasus”) is a type of sour cherry (tart) that gets its name from a valley just north of Paris, France. The valley was named after one of the oldest and most distinguished families of the French nobility dating back to the 12th Century.

Good quality Montmorency Cherries should be large and bright red, with clear yellowish flesh. Although a cherry tree can grow almost anywhere, the quantity and quality of its fruit depends on specific climatic conditions. Montmorency provided the ideal conditions for growing this fruit and became widely known for its’ ‘special’ healing properties in centuries past.

Tart Cherries v Sweet Cherries

THE DIFFERENCES

There are many varieties of Tart Cherry and Sweet cherry, all of which contain different and various nutrients. One variety of Tart Cherry is the Montmorency Tart Cherry (aka sour cherry). There are many brands of cherry products on the market, sometimes they contain only sweet cherry or a mix of both sweet and tart cherry. So checking which kind of cherry is in the ingredients list is the best way to know which one you are getting!

Tart Cherries have a higher content of anthocyanins than sweet cherries and tart cherries also have an array of vitamins and compounds. Some of the vitamins in tart cherries are potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamins A, C, B6, E, and folic acid and many compounds found in tart cherries including melatonin. In fact tart cherries have 19 X as much vitamin A & beta carotene as strawberries and blueberries!!

Tart Cherries contain naturally occurring melatonin, which is beneficial for maintaining healthy sleep patterns. 

Sweet cherries are of course a nutritional addition to deserts and breakfasts but are higher in fructose than the tart cherry and don’t contain quite the same nutritional boost for your day. 

Gout Tart Cherry Juice

Anthocyanins

Montmorency tart cherries are a rich source of anthocyanins, a flavanoid and one of the major group of pigments. It is responsible for a tart cherries bright red hue and the colours in many other fruits vegetables and flowers. Anthocyanins possess natural, anti-inflammatory properties which can help joint pain caused by gout and arthritis. They also help to maintain healthy levels of uric acid and joint mobility. Anthocyanins in tart cherries are reduced during heat treatment (Szalóki-Dorkó et al 2015). So tart cherry products that are cold pressed will contain an anthocyanin level closer in equivalence to the tart cherry before any processing. 

Montmorency Tart Cherry

Montmorency Tart Cherries come in a variety of forms namely, fresh tart cherries, dried tart cherries, chocolate coated dried tart cherries, tart cherry juice, tart cherry concentrate, freeze dried tart cherries, and tart cherry capsules.

ORACS

The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (‘ORAC’) or ability to attack free radical power of tart cherries differs on the form of the tart cherry, however 100g of tart cherries in tart cherry juice concentrate there are 12,800 ORAC’s, making the tart cherry one of the most potent sources of antioxidants in the world. 

Gout

Tart cherries can lower uric acid levels which helps to prevent gout and reduce inflammation. This is why tart cherry juice is an excellent natural alternative for gout pain.

A case-crossover study suggested that tart cherry ‘intake is associated with a lower risk of gout attacks’ (Zhang et al, 2012).

In 2014 an article by Janey Lee Grace quoted:

“A new study by Northumbria University shows that drinking a concentrate made from tart Montmorency cherries, which possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, can help clear excess uric acid from the body in just a few hours. I gave some to a friend suffering from severe fibromyalgia and she found it relieved her pain and helped her have a better nights sleep within a week of taking it daily. Dr Glynn Howatson from Nothumbria University led the research and said: “The study clearly shows that uric acid is lowered following consumption of the Montmorency cherry concentrate”.

A UK Gout Society spokesman acknowledged that Montmorency cherries could help reduce uric acid levels in the body but added: “People with gout should go to their GP because it can be linked to other conditions such as stroke and psoriasis.”

It’s important to note that it’s not just any old cherries: Montmorency cherries are special and it’s unlikely that we can find them down our local market as they are grown in North America. CherryActive is the brand I recommend.

The Boston University Medical Center researchers findings were published in a supplement to the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism in 2012. “Cherry intake was associated with a 50 percent lower risk of gout flares over a 48-hour period,” said Hyon K. Choi, MD. “We extrapolate that cherries will continue to work long-term.” 

Can Beetroot help get PB

Muscle Recovery

Tart Cherry Juice has been shown in clinical trials to reduce the effects of exercise soreness, induced pain, Delayed Onset Muscle Syndrome (‘DOMS’) and aid muscle recovery.

Montmorency tart cherries contain a mix of natural antioxidant compounds, including anthocyanins. These help to reduce exercise-induced soreness and promote rapid recovery which in turn helps improve your quality of training. Increased antioxidant intake reduces damage from oxidative stress (free radical damage) (Rice-Evans C, 1999). This 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.

Tart cherries are a natural source of melatonin – which helps in rest and sleep after exercise.The naturally occurring melatonin helps regulate sleep patterns. All in all, Montmorency tart cherries can help you take your sports performance to the next level.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is linked to inflammation and oxidative stress. In 2013 an article in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, reported that two 8-ounce servings of tart cherry juice per day for a period of 6 weeks resulted in a significant improvement in pain, physical functions and stiffness as well as a marked decrease in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (which is a marker of inflammation).

Sleep Tart Cherry Juice

Insomnia / Tiredness 

Melatonin is produced by the brain to maintain circadian rhythms to regulate healthy sleep cycles and help improve sleep patterns. Montmorency cherries, have shown in recent research to be one of the few food sources which contain high amounts of naturally-occurring melatonin.

Clinical evidence in 2011 demonstrates that tart cherry juice concentrate increases urinary melatonin levels and provides improved sleep time and quality in a healthy adult population’ (Howatson et al, 2011).  

Overall, the high levels of phytochemicals, including melatonin, in tart cherry juice is beneficial in improving sleep quality and duration. (Howatson et al, 2012) 

Diabetes

In 2018 a study was conducted on the inhibitory potential of Montmorency tart cherries on glycemia regulation and other inflammation relevant enzymes to evaluate their effects. Tart cherry has inhibitory potentials against key enzymes used in carbohydrate digestion and linked to hypertension. It was shown that ‘some pairs of metabolites’ create interactions against XO enzyme inhibition. The management of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease is based on the control of glucose absorption, the reduction of associated hypertension and inflammation. So the inhibition of these enzymes provides a strong biochemical basis for the control. (Kirakosyan A et al, 2018)

Infertility

In a 2016 study by Namvar Vansofla it was suggested ‘that Prunus cerasus [ tart cherry ] consumption could improve fertility rate by increasing progesterone receptor and HAS2 activity in cumulus cells.’ 

Cherry Beetroot Energy Balls

FRUCTOSE & SUGAR 

Did you know tart cherries are low in calories and low in fructose so they could become part of your KETO diet! 

If you are on a low-carb diet freeze dried montmorency cherries are low in carbohydrates!

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How much do I use per day?

Tart Cherry Juice

30ml of Active Edge CherryActive 100% Tart Cherry Concentrate diluted in cold or room temperature water or sparkling water to taste.

For Sport & Exercise:

Take 30ml Beetroot Juice BeetActive 30 minutes before exercise and 30ml CherryActive Tart cherry Juice Concentrate within 20 minutes after finishing training session or workout. Dilute with 250-500ml water (or to taste if you like it stronger!).

For additional recovery, take 2 CherryActive Capsules / Freeze dried powder 30 minutes before bedtime. This is a great addition to yoghurt, pancake mix, cereals, cakes smoothies or milk!

Our tart cherry juice costs as little as $2.25 per serving (making it cheaper than already diluted brands) for the most premium Tart Cherry Juice on the market!

DISCLAIMER

A growing number of research studies demonstrate the powerful, health promoting properties of superfoods. In this section, we highlight the relevant research about superfoods and their ingredients, together with news articles reporting on that research. This is for information purposes only. We do not claim that our products treat, cure or prevent medical conditions nor intend to provide individual recommendations.