Cherries may be useful in treating gout, muscle pain and neurodegeneration, according to an August 2011 article in the "Journal of Natural Medicine." Tart cherries appear to be more beneficial than sweet cherries because they contain more phytonutrients such as flavanoids, which have antioxidant effects. Some research also suggests that eating cherries may improve sleep and lessen arthritis pain.
Insomnia
A randomized, double-blind crossover study published in the June 2010 "Journal of Medicinal Food" found that older adults given a blend of tart cherry juices spent fewer minutes awake after first falling asleep. Researchers concluded that tart cherry juice equaled or exceeded valerian in its ability to promote sleep, and that it outperformed melatonin in some, but not all, studies. However, there were no significant differences in the time to fall asleep or in sleep efficiency.
Questions About Study
The study has several serious limitations. According to the website maintained by the National Health Service, a British governmental organization, only 15 subjects were used. This small sample size limits the ability of the study to detect the true effects of the beverage. Furthermore, researchers relied on self-reporting of sleep rather than objectives measurements obtained through polysomnography. Perhaps the most important problem with the study is the fact that it was funded by the manufacturer of the product being tested.
Jerte Valley Cherries
Although most research has focused on tart cherries, sweet cherries may have beneficial effects on sleep, even though they contain less melatonin than other varieties. According to a September 2010 article in "Journals of Gerontology, Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences," sweet cherries grown in Spain's Jerte Valley increased actual sleep time as measured by actigraphic monitoring of nocturnal activity. Cherries also increased the levels of a melatonin metabolite and antioxidant activity in the urine. Effects, however were small.
Cherry Juice and Arthritis
A wealth of anecdotes link cherries to reduced arthritis symptoms, but a study published in the September-October 2006 issue of the "Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology" added some scientific support to these stories. Researchers induced arthritis in Sprague-Dawley rats and gave them anthocyanins, which are antioxidant flavanoids in cherries. Rats receiving the anthocyanins showed reduced levels of inflammation and oxidative stress, which are commonly found in this disorder. The effective dose was 40 mg/kg. At lower doses, this substance had less effect.
References
- "Journals of Gerontology, Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences"; Jerte Valley Cherry-enriched Diets Improve Nocturnal Rest and Increase 6-Sulfatoxymelatonin and Total Antioxidant Capacity In the Urine of Middle-aged and Elderly Humans; M. Garrido, et al.; September 2010
- "Journal of Medicinal Food"; Effects of Tart Cherry Juice Beverage On the Sleep of Older Adults With Insomnia: A Pilot Study; Wilfred R. Pigeon, et al.; June 2010
- "NHS Choices"; Cherry Juice For Insomnia; July 14, 2010
- "Natural Medicine Journal"; Health Effects of Tart Cherries; Jacob Schor; August 2, 2011
- "Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology"; Anti-inflammatory and Anti-oxidative Effects of Cherries On Freund's Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis In Rats; Y.H. He, et al.; September-October 2006
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