By Karen Heslop
By Karen Heslop
Tart cherry juice, which is derived from Montmorency or sour cherries, has become one of those fruit options known for its high nutritional profile. A powerhouse for health benefits, tart cherry juice is great for multiple reasons. One, it has numerous anti-inflammatory properties; two, it is ideal for constipation relief; three, it supports a healthy microbiome; four, it reduces oxidative stress, and five, it improves sleep regulation.
1. Anti-Inflammatory Properties
According to Harvard Medical School, chronic inflammation is one of the key factors in all major diseases. This is made even more concerning by the fact that it disproportionately affects Black populations.
When it comes to chronic inflammation and its downstream effects, we’re talking about everything from cardiovascular disease to arthritis, diabetes, and more.
The reason tart cherry juice helps with such inflammation is that it’s rich in something called anthocyanins, which are compounds common in many plants. Research in journals like Nutrients finds that when older adults consume 480 ml of tart cherry juice daily for 12 weeks, their bodies exhibit very real changes in inflammatory markers.
2. Relief from Constipation
Constipation is a common digestive issue affecting millions of people every day. Good news is, tart cherry juice contains the exact ingredients you need for smoother bowels: dietary fiber and sorbitol. Fiber helps promote regular bowel movements, while sorbitol – a natural sugar alcohol – has laxative effects.
3. Microbiome Health
Speaking of microbiomes, a healthy gut environment is crucial for overall health. Believe it or not, it can impact way more than just your digestion. With the right balance of gut bacteria, you get not just improved gastrointestinal health, but improved immunity, and even improved mental health!
4. Reduced Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress is a term that gets thrown around a lot, but what does it actually mean?
In reality, it refers to an imbalance of ‘free radicals’ and antioxidants. Basically, free radicals are damaging, tiny little things that are free to move around and hurt your body on a cellular level. Antioxidants, fortunately, help address these potentially dangerous radicals.
In fact, by lowering oxidative stress, antioxidants can help stave off chronic diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s, most notably in Black populations.
5. Sleep Regulation
Last but certainly not least is improved sleep.
