What Are The Health Benefits Of Cherry Juice?

Getting nutrients from food sources instead of supplements reduces dietary imbalances while providing necessary vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Dr. Goran Bjelakovic and his colleagues found increased mortality rates when people used supplements instead of getting their nutrients from foods in a study published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" in February 2007. Tart cherry juice provides calcium, potassium, and vitamins C and A, making it a nutritious choice for athletes and anyone on the go.

Colon Cancer Prevention

Mice whose diets included tart cherries had slower intestinal tumor development. Cherry juice in the form of cherry extract also slowed growth of human cancer cell lines in a May 2003 study published in "Cancer Letters," conducted by the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Michigan State University.

Dental Health and Bone Density

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference reports that 100 g of raw sour cherries contain 16 mg calcium, which contributes to strong bones and healthy teeth. According to Linus Pauling Institute researcher Jane Higdon, Ph.D. of Oregon State University, 99 percent of the calcium in our bodies is stored in our bones and teeth. Without enough calcium, bone reabsorbs into the body. When bone reabsorbs faster than it forms, the result is osteoporosis, according to Higdon. To maximize the health benefits, choose firm, glossy, 1-inch diameter, full-color cherries to make your juice.

Pain Relief and Muscle Recovery

Cherry juice has been touted for centuries as a folk remedy for gout and arthritis pain, but more study is required to provide credible scientific evidence for these claims. Many professional athletes and weight lifters advocate drinking tart cherry juice after a workout for faster muscle recovery and fatigue relief, but most of the evidence is still anecdotal. The only randomized, double-blind study to date, published in 2006 in the "British Journal of Medicine," was conducted at the Human Performance Laboratory, University of Vermont in Burlington. The study sampled only 14 athletes.