Friday, February 8, 2008

Fight Gout and Arthritis Pain with Tart Cherries

Exciting discoveries are made everyday in the food and health industry. Thanks to advanced research technology and the dedication of food scientists and researchers, we are only just beginning to uncover the many natural health benefits of the foods we eat every day.

As interest from the public into natural benefits of foods increase, we are bound the learn more about food and how each food offers health benefits, unique to the underlying food.

From legends, old wives tales and folklore, stories have been hand down from generation to generation that food offers more than only nutrients and caloric-value to the body, but amazing healing values and even helps the body to fight disease, naturally.

One food in particular is the tart cherry. This red fruit has recently catch the attention of many looking to fight joint pain caused by gout and arthritis. Not only is this red fruit catching the attention of the public, but countless researchers from around the Globe.

Tart cherries can fight joint pain caused by:

  • Inflammation in the joints
  • Arthritis
  • Gout
Tart Cherries – Easing Joint Pain Naturally

Research from Michigan State University found that tart cherries contain a natural compound called anthocyanins. The research indicates anthocyanins help to block enzymes called COX-1 and COX-2. Some of the prescription drugs are COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors. With all of the negative side effects of prescription drugs, people are looking for all-natural alternatives that work. In addition, tart cherries can’t be patented by the drug companies, so tart cherries are very appealing to people tried of spending hundreds of dollars per month if they can get a natural alternative.

What is interesting is the potency of COX inhibitors in tart cherries. Research from leading sources across the globe find a single serving of canned tart cherries equal 1.41 grams of aspirin. While a serving of tart cherry juice concentrate (1 oz) is equivalent to .30 grams of aspirin. This amazing research and eye-opening findings was conducted by John Hopkins Hospital.

Additional studies suggest one of the reasons, whole tart cherries have more COX inhibitors is the frozen or tart cherries contain the skin of the cherry, while the cherry juice concentrate doesn’t contain the skin. Most of the antioxidants are found in the skin of the fruit. However, one disadvantage of canned tart cherries is they contain a hug amount of added sugar when compared to the cherry juice concentrate.

After much research and study on the tart cherry here are the different types of cherry products to consider:

Canned cherries are great since they are the whole cherry with the pulp and the skin of the fruit. However, the negative they contain huge amounts of added sugar. Fresh tart cherries are the very best way to go. However, they are only available for a few weeks of the years. Frozen cherries are another way to go, however they are difficult to find on your local grocery store. Cherry juice concentrate is a good way to go, since it takes approximately 100 cherries to make just one ounce of cherry juice concentrate.

Another way to get your daily dose of tart cherries is by taking tart cherry capsules. These are basically tart cherries in pill. The advantage of tart cherry capsules is they are produced from the whole tart cherry, so you get the skin and the pulp of the fruit. The whole cherry is freeze dried and placed in to a capsule.

The freeze dried method maintains 100% of the nutritional value of the tart cherry. That is why you have heard so many good things about the freeze dried process. For a comprehensive selection of tart cherry products and to learn more about tart cherry juice concentrate and tart cherry capsules go to Traverse Bay Farms www.traversebayfarms.com

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