Although tart cherries are only a seasonal fresh fruit, cherries offer year-round health benefits. Drinking cherry juice or enjoying the fresh fruit, this ruby-red superfruit is fast becoming the firs choice for those wanting to healthy joints, a restful night’s sleep or sore muscle relief.
Since the 1950’s, cherry juice has been a natural remedy for many seeking healthy joint function. However, over the past 20 years, more researched has published and that has increase interest in the health and nutritional benefits of cherry juice, dried cherries, cherry capsules and other cherry-based products.
Let’s dive into the learning more about the health benefits of tart cherry juice.
What is Tart Cherry Juice?
If you’re wanting to enjoy the health benefits of cherry juice, you’ll want to make sure you are drinking 100% pure tart cherry juice made from Montmorency tart cherries. These are the deep red in color cherries. They are most grown in Michigan, however other regions of the United States also grow Montmorency tart cherries.
Our customers like the fact we are in the heart of tart cherry growing country. Our region of Northern Michigan grows over 65% of all of the tart cherries in the United States.
In fact, the 45th parallel north runs through our town of Bellaire. The 45th north is located halfway between the equator and the North Pole. The climate in our region of Michigan is perfect for tart cherry picking, cherry harvesting and more making tart cherry juice.
Tart cherry juice is made from cherry juice concentrate. It takes the juice of approximately 100 cherries to make just one ounce of tart cherry juice. Check out this step-by-step video how to make cherry juice.
What are the Health Benefits of Tart Cherry Juice?
Numerous studies have been conducted on the health benefits of cherry juice. For example, a 2010 study in the Scandinavian Journal of Sports Medicine shows that runners who consumed tart cherry juice five days before a competition and two days after the completion of the run reported they enjoyed a reduction in muscle soreness and inflammation. These results were compared to the placebo group of athletes."
In addition to helping elite athletes, weekend warriors and anyone of any age drinking cherry juice can also enjoy the health benefits of tart cherry juice.
What are the Health Benefits of Tart Cherry Juice?
Cherry Juice Helps You Sleep
Did you know tart cherries are a leading source of Melatonin? This simple fruit can help you with enjoying a more restful night’s sleep. The presence of Melatonin, a hormone that is naturally produced in your penal gland. This gland is located at the base of your brain and helps to regulate your internal circadian clock.
According to a 2011 study published in the Journal of European Nutrition suggested that individuals drinking tart cherry juice concentrate “beneficial in improving sleep duration and quality in healthy men and women and might be of benefit in managing disturbed sleep.”
This suggest tart cherry juice may be a natural alternative for individuals wanting to enjoy a restful night’s sleep naturally.
Cherry Juice and Cherries Contain Powerful Anti-oxidants
Tart cherries are a rich source of anti-oxidants and rank high in the ORAC charts. ORAC is the “capacity to absorb oxygen radical” helps to energize our bodies fight against germs and the oxidation of individual cells in the body.
Check out the ORAC values in different tart cherry products:
- 1,700 ORAC units of Canned Cherries.
- 6,800 ORAC units of dried cherries.
- 2,033 units of Frozen Cherries.
- 12,800 units for one ounce of Cherry Juice Concentrate
