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Black Cherry Juice & Vitamin K

May 30, 2011 | By Gord Kerr
Black Cherry Juice & Vitamin K
Photo Credit Tom Brakefield/Stockbyte/Getty Images

Black cherry juice is an excellent source of anti-oxidant nutrients and is high in potassium and low in sodium, which may reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Drinking black cherry juice provides many healthy benefits, including relief from gout and joint pain. Although black cherry juice contains many vitamins, it is not a very good source of vitamin K.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K, or niacin, regulates digestion, helps with cardiovascular function, keeps gums and teeth healthy and controls the body's blood clotting ability that monitors coagulation and prevents excessive bleeding or hemorrhage. Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that has the ability to metabolize calcium in bones and cartilage, which may help lower the risk of osteoporosis. Vitamin K deficiencies may induce symptoms of easy bruising and bleeding, including a tendency for nosebleeds and bleeding gums, blood in stool or urine and heavy menstrual bleeding.

Nutrition

Pure black cherry juice from 100-percent fresh-pressed cherries contains many essential nutrients to support digestion and overall well-being. Although the individual fruit used may affect the nutritional content according to seasonal availability, on average an 8-oz serving of black cherry juice contains 6 percent of the recommended daily allowance, or RDA, for vitamin K, based on a 2,000-calorie diet. In addition, a serving of juice supplies 145 calories, none of which are from fat or cholesterol. Black cherry juice has only 10 mg of sodium per serving. The total carbohydrate content is 37 g, consisting of 2 g, or 8 percent dietary fiber and 30 g of sugar. Black cherry juice contains 2 g of protein and 560 mg of potassium in addition to supplying the following RDAs: 4 percent for vitamin A and B-2, calcium, folate, phosphorus and panthothenic acid; 25 percent for vitamin C; 6 percent for iron and vitamin B-6; 2 percent for vitamin E and niacin and 8 percent for manganese.

Recommendation

The body requires an intake of vitamin K daily from food because it can store only a small amount of the vitamin. The RDA for adult males is 120 mcg per day, and it's 90 mcg for women. Black cherry juice is not the best source of vitamin K. Better choices of foods containing vitamin K include leafy green vegetables, such as boiled kale, which provides 1,062 mcg, or 1,327 percent RDA per cup; green peas, containing 36 mcg per cup; or dried beans, such as soybeans, which contain 33 mcg, or 41 percent RDA per cup, according to the U.S. Department of Health National Nutrient Database.

Other Health Benefits

All types of cherries contain anthocyanin, which is the compound that gives cherries their color. Accumulated uric acid in the body is a common cause of pain from gout. Cherry juice is often used as a treatment for gout because it may lower levels of uric acid in the blood. A paper published by Dynamic Chiropractic Canada notes that drinking black, sweet yellow and red sour cherry juice are all effective in preventing attacks of gout. Phenolic compounds in cherries may be beneficial for the management and prevention of anti-inflammatory diseases. A study at the University of California at Davis found the reduction of phenolic plasma concentrations from cherries may significantly downgrade inflammatory pathways involved in diseases such as osteoarthritis, Sjogren's syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus.

References

Article reviewed by Matt Olberding Last updated on: May 30, 2011

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