Our Morello Sour Cherry tree has been a huge success here in Poway!  And look at the health benefits:

Tart Cherries Lower Heart Risks

New research continues to link tart cherries, one of today's hottest "Super Fruits," to lowering risk factors for heart disease. In addition to lowering cholesterol and reducing inflammation, the study being presented by University of Michigan researchers at next week's American Dietetic Association annual meeting, found that a cherry-enriched diet lowered body weight and fat – major risk factors for heart disease.

In the study, at-risk, obese rats that were fed a cherry-enriched diet saw significant decreases in body weight and fat (especially the important "belly" fat with known risk for heart disease) while maintaining lean muscle mass. After twelve weeks, the cherry-fed rats had 14 percent lower body fat compared to the other rats who did not consume cherries (cherry-fed rats were approximately 54% body fat; rats eating the Western diet alone were 63% body fat). The researchers suggested cherry consumption could have an effect on important fat genes and genetic expression. According to the American Heart Association, being overweight or obese, in particular when the weight is concentrated in the middle, is a major risk factor for heart disease . Nearly two out of three Americans are overweight.

The animals were fed a "Western diet," characterized by high fat and moderate carbohydrate – in line with the typical American diet – with or without added whole tart cherry powder, as 1 percent of the diet. The study was funded by the Cherry Marketing Institute, which provided an unrestricted grant to the University of Michigan to conduct the research and was not directly involved in the design, conduct or analysis of the project.

"Heart disease is the number one killer of Americans today, so it's important we continue researching ways people can improve their diet to help reduce key risk factors," said study co-author Dr. Steven F. Bolling, a cardiac surgeon at the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center who also heads the U-M Cardioprotection Research Laboratory, where the study was performed. "We know excess body fat increases the risk for heart disease. This research gives us one more support point suggesting that diet changes, such as including cherries, could potentially lower heart disease risk."

Cherry-enriched diets in the study also reduced total cholesterol levels by about 11 percent and two known markers of inflammation – commonly produced by abdominal fat and linked to increased risk for heart disease. Inflammation marker TNF-alpha was reduced by 40 percent and interleukin 6 (IL-6) was lowered by 31 percent. In their genetic analysis, the researchers found that the cherry-enriched diets reduced the genes for these two inflammation compounds, suggesting a direct anti-inflammation effect. While inflammation is a normal process the body uses to fight off infection or injury, according to recent science, a chronic state of inflammation could increase the risk for diseases and may be especially common for those who are overweight or obese, at least in part because of excess weight around the middle. Researchers say the animal study is encouraging and will lead to further clinical studies in humans to explore the link between diet, weight, inflammation and lowering heart disease risk.

Tart cherries, frequently sold as dried, frozen or juice, contain powerful antioxidants known as anthocyanins, which provide the bright, rich red color. Studies suggest these colorful plant compounds may be responsible for cherries' anti-inflammatory properties and other health benefits.

Prevent Post-Workout Pain

by Michael O'Shea

Parade Magazine
published: 09/27/2009

Could tart cherry juice be the next big sports drink? Rumors about the juice’s pain-relieving powers have circulated for years, and new research suggests there may be some truth to them.

In a recent study at the Oregon Health & Science University, runners who drank tart cherry juice before a long-distance relay experienced less muscle pain after the race than those who drank a placebo. Researchers believe the difference may be attributed to flavonoids and anthocynanins with high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory powers. (Anthocyanins are also found in blueberries and other purplish-red fruits and vegetables.)

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For the study, participants ranging in age from 18 to 50 consumed 10.5 ounces of either tart cherry juice or an artificial fruit drink twice daily for a week before and on race day. Those who drank the tart cherry juice had a 23% lower self-reported pain level at the end of the race than those who drank the alternative.

“Our research suggests that tart cherry juice may work like common NSAIDs [non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs], which are used by millions to treat pain and inflammation after exercise. Substituting natural anti-inflammatory products like tart cherry juice may help individuals avoid some of the negative side effects associated with NSAIDs,” says Dr. Kerry Kuehl, a sports-medicine specialist at Oregon Health & Science University.

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And it’s not just athletes who can reap the benefits. In a second study, Dr. Kuehl and colleagues assessed the effects of tart cherry juice on muscle strength and pain among women with fibromyalgia. After drinking the juice for two weeks, about half the participants had preserved muscle strength and significantly lower pain scores. Dr. Kuehl is also looking into whether this advantage might extend to arthritis sufferers. Already, research out of the University of California, Davis, suggests that daily cherry intake can help lower blood uric-acid levels and reduce gout pain.

More evidence is needed to support these claims, so don’t toss your regular sports drink and buy a case of cherry juice just yet. But if findings in the future are similar, prepare to pucker up!