The Power of RED

The Health Benefits of Tart Cherries

Gout & Arthritus:

For decades arthritis and gout sufferers have regularly consumed tart cherry juice for relief of symptoms. As early as the 1950’s, the science began to support this long-held tradition, linking cherry consumption to less pain associated with gout attacks.

Cardiovascular & Heart Health:

Tart cherry consumption has been linked to a number of cardiovascular benefits — from overall anti-inflammation to reductions in cholesterol levels, to decreased risk for atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome — all important heart disease risk factors.

The anthocyanins in tart cherries may also lower blood lipid levels. In an animal study, rats who were fed tart cherry-enriched diets for 90 days demonstrated significantly lower plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol, fasting glucose and insulin, and a plasma marker of oxidative damage.They also had slightly higher high-density lipoproteins (HDL – the "good" cholesterol) and significantly elevated blood antioxidant capacity.

Exercise Recovery & Pain Relief:

The same RED compounds linked to cherries’ arthritis and cardiovascular benefits have now shown promise for athletes and sports recovery to help relieve muscle and joint soreness. Tart cherries could help athletes reduce muscle damage to recover faster from a tough workout, according to a growing body of research

Emerging Benefits:

Researchers continue to uncover new and novel benefits of tart cherries. Some preliminary research has linked tart cherry juice to improvements in sleep and sleep patterns.

In one pilot study, a team of University of Pennsylvania, University of Rochester and VA Center of Canandaigua researchers found that drinking tart cherry juice daily helped reduce the severity of insomnia and time spent awake after going to sleep. The 15 older adults saved about 17 minutes of wake time after going to sleep, on average, when drinking cherry juice daily, compared to when they were drinking the juice drink.57 A second study found that healthy adults experienced improved sleep time and a 5-6 percent increase in overall sleep efficiency after drinking two servings of tart cherry juice for a week, compared to drinking a fruit cocktail. The volunteers also reported less daytime napping time while drinking the tart cherry juice.

For further details and to read the full Red Report, please click here

Antioxidants and beyond…

As already alluded to, cherries are high in antioxidants. This goes particularly for tart cherries (also often referred to as “sour” cherries). Contrary to what one might expect, tart cherries have the same natural sugar content as sweet cherries but contain more sour and bitter tasting phytochemicals – the very substances which afford them their antioxidant prowess.

In recent years, several pieces of research have emerged which indicate that cherries may hold promise for three further – and potentially very popular – health and wellness applications. They may provide relief from pain and inflammation, act as a sleep aid and become a rising star in the area of sports nutrition.

You can read the full article here

Cherries - More than just antioxidants

Well it looks like the word on Cherries is finally starting to catch on.

Whilst many people have advocated the benefits of this particular fruit for a while it seems that more and more experts are now also looking at Cherries in a whole new - and it has to be said very positive light.

Market research group Euromonitor published a report last week which really starts to not only extol the virtues of this fruit but reveals some of the potent health benefits of cherries. While not currently common, analysts predict that it's only a matter of time before consumers begin to see cherries in more products as companies begin to pick up on the health benefits of the fruit.

You can read the full article here

Dr.Glyn Howatson joins the UK Tart Cherries Research Team

Dr. Glyn Howatson joins our research team.

Choose Cherries (UK) are very proud to announce that Dr. Glyn Howatson, PhD, ASCC, FHEA, FACSM of Northumbria University has joined our research team. Dr. Howatson is the Laboratory Director in the School of Life Sciences at Northumbria University.

Dr. Howatson, found that athletes who drank tart cherry juice recovered faster after marathon running than a placebo-controlled group.

Inflammation and oxidative stress caused by the Marathon race was also reduced in the cherry juice group.

His study concluded that cherry juice aided recovery following the marathon by increasing to antioxidative capacity, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, hence aiding the recovery of muscle function.

Welcome to the Choose Cherries UK blog

Hello world!

Thank you for visiting the first post of the new Choose Cherries (UK) blog.

Here you will find more in-depth information on Tart Cherries and their benefits and also some summer events where you will be able along say 'Hi!' an sample Tart Cherries and Tart Cherry juice.

Tart Cherries really are one of natures 'Super Fruit'

With now over 50 studies, scientists continue to uncover new and important benefits of this fruit.

These benefits include:

• Reduce post-exercise muscle and joint pain.
• Packed with powerful-antioxidants.
• A natural anti-inflammatory.
• Can help with the symptoms of gout and arthritus.
• Natural cardiovascular benefits.

Summer 2012

We will be exhibiting Tart Cherries at the Choose Cherries stand at the Brighton Marathon (13th & 14th April), the Virgin London Marathon (18th - 21st April) and the London Triathlon (23rd & 24th September)

     London Triathlon 2011