According to scientific study, consuming two cups of tart cherry juice daily may lower the risk of developing significant cardiac diseases.
These tart fruits have a high content of polyphenols, which are plant components that are known to decrease cholesterol and blood pressure. This means that they may protect against cardiovascular illnesses.
According to research on those 65 to 80 years old, regular drinking also reduced susceptibility to oxidative stress and inflammation, two elements linked to serious disorders. The observed decreases in blood levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and c-reactive protein (CRP), which are markers of these processes, provided the basis for this conclusion.
Remarkably, this tart cherry juice reduced CRP by 25% and “bad cholesterol,” or low-density lipoprotein (LDL), by 11% in just 12 weeks. Additionally, MDA levels decreased by 3%, according to Gloucestershire Live.
Apart from all these advantages, it also stimulated the expression of OGG1, a gene linked to DNA repair.
The main researcher, nutritionist Dr. Sheau Ching Chai of Delaware University in the US, said of the study’s findings: “Our findings suggest Montmorency tart cherry juice may be a good addition to a heart-healthy diet.”
Thirty-four older persons participated in the study, and they were randomly allocated to drink eight ounces of tart cherry juice or a placebo beverage twice a day. Dr. Chai disclosed: “At the end participants in the tart cherry group had lower systolic blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, as well as lower levels of certain substances in the blood that indicate inflammation and oxidative stress, including the biomarkers of CRP and MDA, compared to the control group.”
The power that blood applies to artery walls while the heart beats is measured by the systolic blood pressure reading, which is the highest value in the reading. A blood pressure reading of less than 120/80 mmHg is regarded as normal.
Dr. Chai stated: “The compliance rate of our participants was quite high, at 94 per cent, suggesting a cup of tart cherry juice twice a day can easily be incorporated and enjoyed in an overall diet.”
Dr. Chai emphasized that the study’s recommended daily dosage of 16 ounces of Montmorency tart cherry juice, which has 34 grams of sugar and only 181 calories, is quite low. Comparatively speaking, this is less than other well-known fruit juices and carbonated drinks. Crucially, neither insulin levels nor resistance changed in the subjects, nor did it cause weight gain.
Dr. Chai said: “This suggests Montmorency tart cherry juice can easily be incorporated into the diet without increasing calorie or sugar intake – especially if consumed in place of sugar-sweetened beverages.”
Not to be mistaken with the sweet cherries we frequently eat fresh, tart cherries, also referred to as sour or dwarf cherry, have experienced a recent increase in popularity. The Prunus cerasus tree, which is indigenous to Europe and southwest Asia, yields the juice.
Numerous health advantages have been linked to cherries, including increased physical strength, better sleep, less symptoms of arthritis, and protection against neurological conditions like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
According to Dr. Chai, this is the most extensive human experiment of its kind. The Cherry Marketing Institute, which represents US producers, supported Dr. Chai’s research. She called for longer-term, more thorough follow-up research to confirm these results.