Tart Cherry Helps Fight Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

Tart Cherry Helps Fight Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

Tart cherry juice is one of the most promising natural remedies for inflammation and oxidative stress. These two interrelated processes play a crucial role in the development of various diseases, such as cardiovascular disorders, arthritis, diabetes, and cancer. While pharmaceutical interventions are often used to manage these conditions, many people have become interested in natural remedies that may help combat inflammation and oxidative damage.

Tart cherries, also known as sour cherries, are a rich source of polyphenols, particularly anthocyanins, which are potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds [1]. Numerous studies have investigated the potential health benefits of tart cherry juice, with encouraging results.

Benefits of Tart Cherry Juice

Several human trials have demonstrated that regular consumption of tart cherry juice can significantly reduce markers of inflammation. In a randomized controlled study published in the journal Nutrients, older adults who drank 480 mL of tart cherry juice daily for 12 weeks experienced a decrease of as much as 25% in C-reactive protein (CRP), a critical inflammatory marker, compared to those drinking a control beverage [2]. Similarly, a study involving adults with mild to moderate osteoarthritis found that consuming tart cherry juice for six weeks reduced CRP levels [3].

Tart cherry juice's anti-inflammatory effects extend beyond CRP. Studies have shown that it can lower levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and other pro-inflammatory cytokines [4, 5, 6, 7]. In a trial involving overweight and obese individuals, those who consumed 240 mL of tart cherry juice daily for four weeks had reduced erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), another marker of inflammation, compared to the placebo group [8]. 

Fighting Inflammation with Tart Cherry

In addition to its anti-inflammatory properties, tart cherry juice is a potent antioxidant. The high polyphenol content of tart cherries allows them to scavenge free radicals and protect cells from oxidative damage [1, 14]. A study published in Nutrients found that tart cherry juice increased the activity of 8-oxoguanine glycosylase, an enzyme involved in DNA repair, indicating enhanced protection against oxidative stress [2]. Other human trials have reported improvements in blood antioxidant capacity [15, 16] and reductions in markers of oxidative damage, such as lipid peroxidation, following tart cherry juice consumption [17, 18].

Animal and in-vitro studies provide further insight into the mechanisms behind tart cherry's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In rodents fed high-fat diets, tart cherry powder reduced inflammatory markers in the blood and liver while increasing antioxidant enzyme activities [9, 10, 19]. Tart cherry extracts have also been shown to inhibit pro-inflammatory pathways and neutralize free radicals directly [11, 12].

Tart cherries' antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects are attributed to their unique blend of polyphenols, especially anthocyanins like cyanidin-3-glucosylrutinoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside [13]. Compared to sweet cherries and many other fruits, tart cherries boast a higher antioxidant capacity and polyphenol concentration [14], making them a superior choice for combating oxidative stress and inflammation.

While more long-term clinical trials are needed to fully understand the impact of tart cherry juice on disease prevention and management, the existing evidence strongly supports its use as a natural approach to reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. Incorporating tart cherry juice into an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich diet may be a simple yet effective strategy for promoting overall health and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.

CreaLife contains the highest quality USA-grown tart cherry extract. We use CherryPURE, which is traceable back to the orchards in Michigan where the cherries are grown and carefully processed. CreaLife also features the purest, micronized creatine from Germany. CreaLife is naturally sweetened and caffeine-free so you can take it any time of day or night to support your healthy lifestyle. 

 

References:

  1. Ferretti G, Bacchetti T, Belleggia A, Neri D. Cherry antioxidants: from farm to table. Molecules. 2010;15(10):6993-7005.
  2. Chai SC, Davis K, Zhang Z, Zha L, Kirschner KF. Effects of tart cherry juice on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in older adults. Nutrients. 2019;11(2):228.
  3. Schumacher HR, Pullman-Mooar S, Gupta SR, Dinnella JE, Kim R, McHugh MP. Randomized double-blind crossover study of the efficacy of a tart cherry juice blend in treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2013;21(8):1035-1041.
  4. Kelley DS, Adkins Y, Reddy A, Woodhouse LR, Mackey BE, Erickson KL. Sweet bing cherries lower circulating concentrations of markers for chronic inflammatory diseases in healthy humans. J Nutr. 2013;143(3):340-344.
  5. Kelley DS, Rasooly R, Jacob RA, Kader AA, Mackey BE. Consumption of Bing sweet cherries lowers circulating concentrations of inflammation markers in healthy men and women. J Nutr. 2006;136(4):981-986.
  6. Bell PG, Walshe IH, Davison GW, Stevenson E, Howatson G. Montmorency cherries reduce the oxidative stress and inflammatory responses to repeated days high-intensity stochastic cycling. Nutrients. 2014;6(2):829-843.
  7. Levers K, Dalton R, Galvan E, et al. Effects of powdered Montmorency tart cherry supplementation on an acute bout of intense lower body strength exercise in resistance trained males. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015;12:41.
  8. Martin KR, Bopp J, Burrell L, Hook G. The effect of 100% tart cherry juice on serum uric acid levels, biomarkers of inflammation and cardiovascular disease risk factors. FASEB J. 2011;25.
  9. Seymour EM, Lewis SK, Urcuyo-Llanes DE, et al. Regular tart cherry intake alters abdominal adiposity, adipose gene transcription, and inflammation in obesity-prone rats fed a high fat diet. J Med Food. 2009;12(5):935-942.
  10. Jayarathne S, Stull AJ, Miranda A, et al. Tart cherry reduces inflammation in adipose tissue of Zucker fatty rats and cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Nutrients. 2018;10(11):1576.
  11. Seeram NP, Momin RA, Nair MG, Bourquin LD. Cyclooxygenase inhibitory and antioxidant cyanidin glycosides in cherries and berries. Phytomedicine. 2001;8(5):362-369.
  12. Wang H, Nair MG, Strasburg GM, et al. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of anthocyanins and their aglycon, cyanidin, from tart cherries. J Nat Prod. 1999;62(2):294-296.
  13. Kirakosyan A, Seymour EM, Llanes DEU, Kaufman PB, Bolling SF. Chemical profile and antioxidant capacities of tart cherry products. Food Chem. 2009;115(1):20-25.
  14. Ou B, Bosak KN, Brickner PR, Iezzoni DG, Seymour EM. Processed tart cherry products--comparative phytochemical content, in vitro antioxidant capacity and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. J Food Sci. 2012;77(5):H105-112.
  15. Howatson G, McHugh MP, Hill JA, et al. Influence of tart cherry juice on indices of recovery following marathon running. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2010;20(6):843-852.
  16. Traustadóttir T, Davies SS, Stock AA, et al. Tart cherry juice decreases oxidative stress in healthy older men and women. J Nutr. 2009;139(10):1896-1900.
  17. Levers K, Dalton R, Galvan E, et al. Effects of powdered Montmorency tart cherry supplementation on acute endurance exercise performance in aerobically trained individuals. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2016;13:22.
  18. Bell PG, Gaze DC, Davison GW, George TW, Scotter MJ, Howatson G. Montmorency tart cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) concentrate lowers uric acid, independent of plasma cyanidin-3-O-glucosiderutinoside. J Funct Foods. 2014;11:82-90.
  19. Sarić A, Sobocanec S, Balog T, et al. Improved antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential in mice consuming sour cherry juice (Prunus cerasus cv. Maraska). Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2009;64(4):231-237.
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