Are Tart Cherries Really the Solution to Joint Pain & Arthritis?

Tart cherries rank number 14 among the Top 50 Foods for highest antioxidant content per serving. Scientific studies are proving that specific compounds in tart cherries:

• Powerful antioxidant & anti-inflammatory to help relieve joint pain
• Eliminates damaging free radicals from oxidation
• Protects muscles
• Helps prevent gout and chronic disease
• Inhibit cancer & tumor causing cells from forming or multiplying

As we get older, the vibrant energy that once came so naturally is sometimes replaced with chronic pain, digestive issues and disease. The good news is, prevention and relief from many symptoms are achievable through diet and supplements.

Tart cherries contain strong antioxidants and anti-inflammatories that can protect the body from oxidizing free radicals which cause cell damage, inflammation and disease.

They contain anthocyanin, quercetin, vitamin C, beta-carotene, magnesium, potassium, fiber and B complex vitamins. Tart cherries are higher in antioxidants than the wonder blueberries and contain 19 times more beta-carotene than carrots or strawberries.

 For centuries, the tart cherry has been used as a home remedy to treat various ailments in the body including: hypertension, diabetes, degenerating vision, gout, joint pain and arthritis.

 Anthocyanin & Chronic Joint Pain

 One antioxidant in tart cherries, Anthocyanin, is a flavonoid from the phytochemical family. Anthocyanin has been shown in recent studies to increase production of the body’s communicating cells called cytokines; stimulating the immune response to fight inflammation in muscles that result in chronic joint pain.

Muscles are made of elastic tissues containing thousands of muscular fibers. Anthocyanin provides overall protection to muscles and repairs existing damage. Research is now uncovering a diet high in tart cherries may help to protect and repair muscles by inhibiting the breakdown of cartilage causing chronic joint pain and osteoarthritis.

Cancer & Tumor Growth

 As a powerful antioxidant, tart cherries are showing they can reduce cancer cell growth from multiplying by eliminating dangerous free radicals. The phytonutrients in tart cherries are being researched for their ability to ‘turn off’ cancer cell production by inhibiting the enzyme responsible for forming cancer cells called cyclooxygenase.

In studies, anthocyanins also have been shown to stop development of tumor cell growth by cutting of the blood vessels that feed the diseased tumor. 

Gout

Gout is a painful inflammatory arthritis that manifests when higher levels of uric acid build up in the blood; affecting the adjacent joints and tissues. This pain and swelling can appear suddenly, emitting excruciating burning sensations from the damaged area.

Normally uric acid dissolves in the blood, passed through the kidneys and excreted as waste. When build up occurs, this results in urate crystals to form, causing pain and swelling.

The naturally forming powerhouse phytochemical compounds in tart cherries are thought to inhibit the inflammatory enzyme cyclooxygenase (responsible for signaling inflammation to occur) and prevent uric acid build up in the blood. Gout medications on the market today target the same enzyme cyclooxygenase that tart cherries do.

Gout is more common in men because they have an overall higher level of uric acid in the body compared to women. However, after menopause, the risk for women becomes greater, so preventive steps should be taken to prevent gout from happening.

Preventative Steps

 Tart cherries are harder to find than the normal sweet cherries usually seen on grocery store shelves. Swanson Premium Tart Cherry Supplements are a perfect way to provide your body with a direct supply of 500 mg of anthocyanins. Find them at http://www.healthmonthly.co.uk/swanson_tart_cherry or try Organic tart cherry juice.