When I was a young girl, we had a cherry tree at the side of our house. The leaves grew right up to my baby brother’s bedroom window. Many neighborhood children would climb the tree and eat the cherries. I however did not enjoy the taste of cherries. I knew cherries were healthy, and I cried when the tree was cut down. I enjoyed climging the tree and getting cherries for the other children.
Cherries are loaded with vitamins minerals and antioxidants which improve nerve function, circulation and fight cancer. You would have to eat a sack full of cherries to reap these benefits. There is however, no need for despair. Research now indicates that the rich red juice of cherries has powerful antioxidants which are beneficial for our health. And one glass of tart cherry juice will yield all the healthy properties of that sack full of cherries.
According to Dr. Oz, tart cherry juice should be considered the new super food, as it has been proven to reduce inflammation and pain. This is especially good news for those of us over age 50. At this stage in life many older adults deal with pain and inflammation. Drinking tart cherry juice is a healthy alternative to loading up on over the counter, or prescription pain relievers. It also tastes much better too.
A study which was published in the European Journal of Nutrition states that drinking tart cherry juice helped test subjects sleep better at night. I often am awake late at night. And know many other menopausal women who have the same issue. I began drinking tart cherry juice shortly before bedtime. I find I do feel sleepy a little earlier in the night.
Tart cherries, and or their juice may also be beneficial in preventing heart disease and diabetes. Please keep in mind that there is no miracle wonder food. One cannot add tart cherry juice to the diet and expect results if the diet is not a healthy one.
I began giving my husband a half cup of tart cherry juice each morning. He is also eating a diabetic friendly diet and walking more. He is noticing that he can walk longer before he feels leg pain. And he does not get leg cramps as much. If he were still eating his high fat diet, I do not believe he would be seeing results.
I would not label tart cherry juice as the new super antioxidant food. I would say It is one of many fruits the Creator endowed us with in the beginning of time. We are simply only now realizing it’s importance as one of a number of foods/juices that yield benefits when we add it to a lifestyle of exercise and eating healthy. I found tart cherry juice in a local health food store. I have not yet seen it in grocery stores.
