The Advantages Of Tart Cherry Extract

You may not think of cherries as anything more than sweet and delicious summertime fruits, but it appears they may also offer a wealth of health benefits. Tart cherries, or Prunus cerasus, are loaded with essential vitamins and other important nutrients. Tart cherries, also called sour cherries, can be consumed whole or from a frozen juice concentrate. Taking tart cherry extract, a dietary supplement made from the flesh and skin of the cherry fruit, is an easy way to reap their benefits, especially if you find these cherries too sour for daily consumption. Consult your doctor before using tart cherry extract for any health problems.

Antioxidant Activity

Anthocyanins are one of the most potent antioxidant compounds found in plants, and tart cherries are loaded with them. Anthocyanins are antioxidant pigments responsible for the vibrant color of tart cherries, as well as many other dark fruits. Tart cherries also contain other antioxidants, including vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin E, gallic acid and quercetin. Antioxidants help protect your body from disease by preventing damage to your cells from oxidative stress caused by harmful free radicals. According to the Cherry Marketing Institute, the anthocyanins in tart cherry are more powerful antioxidants than vitamins C and E.

Reducing Inflammation

Tart cherry extract may be beneficial in fighting inflammation and pain associated with osteoarthritis. According to a study from researchers at Baylor Research Institute, reported in the March 21, 2009, issue of "Science Daily," tart cherry extract capsules were effective in relieving pain and improving function of more than 50 percent of study participants suffering from symptoms of osteoarthritis. Compounds in tart cherry appear to inhibit inflammatory pathways in much the same way as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, NSAIDS, without the associated gastrointestinal side effects. Speak to your physician about taking tart cherry extract to reduce inflammation.

Beneficial Effect On Heart

Taking tart cherry extract may help lower your risk of developing heart problems. Tart cherry contains phenolic compounds that appear to offer you some protection against high cholesterol, arteriosclerosis, heart attack and stroke. More clinical studies are needed, but "Science Daily" reports researchers at the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center found that rats given tart cherry extract along with a high-fat diet had significantly lower cholesterol levels and inflammation linked to diabetes and heart disease than rats that did not receive it. Discuss its use with your doctor before taking it to prevent heart disease.

May Reduce Cancer Risk

Tart cherry may also cut your risk of developing colon cancer. The flavonoid compounds, anthocyanins and cyanidin, in tart cherries are potent antioxidants, which appear to reduce tumor growth in colon cancer. A laboratory study from Michigan State University, published in the December 2006 issue of the "Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry," found rats given tart cherry extract along with the anti-inflammatory drug sulindac had fewer and smaller tumors than rats given sulindac alone. More clinical studies are needed to determine if tart cherry extract has the same effect on human colon cancer cells.