Are Cherries Good For The Joints?

Joint diseases like arthritis and gout cause pain, disability and in some cases, long term breakdown of joints and surrounding tissue. Anecdotal evidence indicates that consuming tart cherries, either whole, canned or as juice may help reduce joint pain and possibly prevent ongoing joint damage. Because cherries have a medicinal effect on the body, check with your health practitioner before consuming cherries if you take medications for your joint pain.

Antioxidants

Cherries contain antioxidants called anthocyanins, a substance that reduces inflammation and gives the cherries their deep reddish-purple color. The same antioxidant is found in blueberries, cranberries, bilberries and red wine. Anthocyanins are being used for a variety of painful inflammatory conditions including gout and arthritis. Tart cherries in particular are thought to relieve inflammatory processes occurring in the joints, especially in gout patients, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Dosage

Some natural health care practitioners recommend eating 8 oz. cherries daily for at least two weeks or drinking 8 to 16 oz. tart cherry juice daily for the same amount of time to obtain relief from gout pain, according to the UMMC. Patients have reported a significant reduction of pain after consuming tart cherries or their juice for a period of at least a month. Ongoing reduction of joint symptoms can be managed by continuing the regimen with a glass of cherry juice daily.

Best Cherries

Although tart cherries are considered best for reducing pain in the joints, any type of cherries can provide relief due to their high content of anthocyanins, states Audrey Ensminger in her book, "Concise Encyclopedia of Foods and Nutrition." Tart and sweet, fresh, canned or stewed, fresh juice or cherry juice conentrate -- all provide the healing anthocyanins that reduce inflammation and lessen pain. Cherries combined with sugar, as in cherry pie, will not offer the same medicinal results due to the amount of sugar consumed, says Ensminger. If you drink cherry juice concentrate, dilute it with fresh water to make it palatable. The quantities of both juice and water should equal the recommended dose of 8 to 16 oz. cherry juice daily.

Precautions

Although cherries and cherry juice are considered safe, consuming high doses of any food with medicinal qualities may cause side effects. If you are pregnant, nursing, or have severe kidney or liver disease, consult your health practitioner before eating or drinking cherries for medicinal purposes.