HEALTH, FOOD, NUTRITION, and SUPPLEMENTS

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Cherries: Tart Cherry Juice Health Benefits and Healing Properties


Recent studies have revealed that cherries contain ingredients that have healing and preventative capabilities, which qualify them as a super fruit. The enormous benefits of cherry nutrition is especially good news for the American consumer because ninety-five percent of cherries consumed in the U.S. are grown in Washington, Oregon, Wisconsin, Utah, New York and Pennsylvania. Most health conscious consumers today understand that locally grown produce(made in America) is fresh produce which tastes better and is more nutritious. Locally grown tart cherries combined with health promoting ingredients makes them one of America's most powerful super fruits.


The deep color found in cherries(especially tart cherries) is an indication of the powerful health promoting flavonoids contained in them. The more abundant the flavonoid, the deeper the red pigment. These flavonoids have been found effective in disease prevention and have the ability to transport toxins out of the body. A 2001 study revealed that concentrated tart cherry juice is ten times more effective than aspirin, at reducing headache pain, pain from gout, arthritic pain and arthritic inflammation. Consuming twenty tart cherries has enough active ingredients to neutralize the enzymes active in tissue inflammation. Cherry juice is a preferable treatment for inflammation to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs because it has no damaging side effects.

Those who suffer from insomnia may be interested to know that tart cherries contain high levels of melatonin. Melatonin is a natural hormone found in the body that regulates the bodies sleep cycles. Taking 2 tablespoons of concentrated tart cherry juice,
(the equivalent of approximately sixty whole cherries), mixed with one cup of water daily, has been found to promote the quality, deep sleep needed for healing and repair of the body. Melatonin has also been found effective at slowing the aging process. Tart cherries may be the only rich source of melatonin found in food.


Recent studies with mice suggest that adding tart red cherry powder to a high fat, moderate carbohydrate diet will result in significant weight loss. Comparisons were done between mice consuming cherry powder with their diet, with those who did not. After twelve weeks, the mice who were fed the cherry powder had fourteen percent less body fat than the mice fed without the cherry powder.

Tart cherries have been found beneficial at lowering several risk factors for heart disease. In 2007, studies were conducted that successfully lowered cholesterol and triglyceride levels in animals. Other health benefits of tart cherries include easing of symptoms associated with Fibromyalgia and protection against cancer.

Making a simple change of adding adequate amounts of tart cherries to your diet is an easy way to help prevent disease and help the body to heal itself of many life threatening ailments.