It may be possible to relieve muscle pain by drinking a juice instead of taking a common anti-inflammatory. Tart cherry juice could be the natural answer to pain relief. Cherries have pigments called anthocyanins in their peels that give the fruit a red color and some powerful pain-relieving properties. These natural dyes have been found to provide the same anti-inflammatory relief as aspirin or other non-prescription pain relievers. Tart cherry juice has also been linked to decreased muscle damage, insomnia and oxidative stress.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Research has found that an enzyme in tart cherries is the same as that found in over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen. Tart cherries, such as the Montmorency cherry, have the highest anti-inflammatory properties of any food, as well as a high antioxidant content. Various studies have looked at the potential benefits of these properties and have concluded that there is a measurable effect on muscle recovery time, as well as different ailments, such as insomnia and oxidative stress.
Decreased Muscle Damage
In a study published in the December 2006 issue of British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers Connolly, McHugh and Padilla-Zakour tested tart cherry juice's ability to prevent muscle damage from exercise. Fourteen male college students were given 12 oz. of a cherry juice blend twice a day for eight days. Through various strength tests, results showed that some of the symptoms of muscle damage were decreased, such as strength loss and pain. Researchers concluded that taking tart cherry juice before and after exercise can lessen the symptoms of muscle damage.
Decreased Insomnia
Tart cherry juice might also provide relief to older adults with insomnia. In a 2010 study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, researchers Pigeon, Carr, Gorman and Perlis studied the relationship between sleep quality and tart cherry juice. Fifteen older adults who suffered from insomnia were studied, assessing sleep continuity when the adults were taking two eight-oz. drinks of a cherry juice blend each day. A modest beneficial effect was found; however, researchers were unable to determine the mechanism by which it occurred.
Reduced Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress is the result of a build-up of free radicals in your body. Free radicals are produced when your body reacts with oxygen, and can cause damage when they interact with other molecules in your cells. Oxidative stress has been linked to the aging process, as well as diseases such as cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. Consuming a higher amount of antioxidants, such as what is found in tart cherry juice, might increase your resistance to oxidative damage. An August 2009 study in the Journal of Nutrition tested this theory. Researchers Traustadottir, Davies, Stock, Su, Heward, Roberts II and Harman found a significant improvement in resistance to oxidative damage when subjects supplemented with tart cherry juice.
References
- British Journal of Sports Medicine; Efficacy of a tart cherry juice blend in preventing the symptoms of muscle damage; DAJ Connolly, MP McHugh, OI Padilla-Zakour; December 2006
- Journal of Medicinal Food; Effects of a Tart Cherry Juice Beverage on the Sleep of Older Adults with Insomnia: A Pilot Study; WF Pigeon, M Carr, C Gorman, ML Perlis; June 2010
- Journal of Nutrition; Tart Cherry Juice Decreases Oxidative Stress in Healthy Older Men and Women; T Traustadottir, SS Davies, AA Stock, Y Su, CB Heward, LJ Roberts II, SM Harman; August 2009
- CherryPharm.com; The Science Behind the Benefits of Our Cherry Juice
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