Benefits of Black Cherry Concentrate

Benefits of Black Cherry Concentrate
Photo Credit black cherry's image by Martin Garnham from Fotolia.com

Black cherries share the health benefits found in tart and sweet cherries as they all contain about the same amounts of anthocyanin, a phytonutrient pigment that indicates a high level of dietary antioxidant. Some scientists believe that the chemical compounds in these anthocyanins help the body prevent and fight diseases because they have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-microbial properties. Although research is under way, no conclusive studies exist to prove black cherry concentrate will prevent or effectively treat any disease. Contact your medical professional before taking black cherry concentrate to address a medical condition.

Gout Relief

Some studies have shown that cherries that are taken fresh, dried or juiced, but not frozen or processed, can reduce the levels of uric acid in your bloodstream. High levels of uric acid can trigger painful gout attacks. There is anecdotal evidence that a helping of fresh cherries, or a few tablespoons of cherry concentrate a day, can bring relief to gout pain sufferers. A study at the University of California-Davis found that women who were given one serving of cherries daily saw their uric acid levels decline by 15 percent.

Arthritis Pain Relief

The anthocyanins in black cherries and black cherry concentrate have anti-inflammatory properties that have proven beneficial in reducing inflammations in tests on animals. Researchers at The University of Michigan reported that animals fed a diet enriched by cherries experienced levels of inflammation up to 50 percent lower than animals that weren't fed a diet augmented by cherries. Some studies and anecdotal evidence suggest that the anthocyanins in fruits and fruit juice concentrates, including black cherry concentrate, can provide some relief for people who suffer pain from inflammation-related diseases, including arthritis.

Heart Disease Prevention

The anthocyanins found in the fresh flesh, skins and juice concentrates of black cherries and other fruits are a class of flavonoids, or plant polyphenols, which some scientists believe may help in treatment of diabetes, ulcers and heart disease. Some studies indicate that people who have a lot of flavonoids in their diets are less likely to die from coronary heart disease than people who don't eat or drink foods, such as black cherry concentrate, that contain flavonoids, according to a report from Oregon State University.

References

Article reviewed by Jenna Marie Last updated on: Sep 30, 2010

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