Michigan cherry juice: next big thing in sports drinks?

NEWS RELEASE

CHERRY MARKETING INSTITUTE

************************* New research suggests natural anti-inflammatory power of tart cherries may help relieve post-exercise muscle pain

TORONTO, ON – Drinking cherry juice could help ease the pain for people who run, according to new research from Oregon Health & Science University presented at the American College of Sports Medicine Conference in Seattle, Washington.

The study showed people who drank tart cherry juice while training for a long distance run reported significantly less pain after exercise than those who didn’t.

Post-exercise pain can often indicate muscle damage or debilitating injuries.

In the study of 60 healthy adults aged 18-50 years, those who drank 310 mL (10.5 ounces) cherry juice (CHERRish 100% Montmorency cherry juice) twice a day for seven days prior to and on the day of a long-distance relay had significantly less muscle pain following the race than those who drank another fruit juice beverage.

On a scale from 0 to 10, the runners who drank cherry juice as their “sports drink” had a two-point lower self-reported pain level at the completion of the race, a clinically significant difference.

While more research is needed to fully understand the effects of tart cherry juice, researchers say the early findings indicate cherries may work like common medications used by runners to alleviate post-exercise inflammation.

“For most runners, post-race treatment consists of RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation) and traditional NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs),” said Kerry Kuehl, M.D., a sports medicine physician and principal study investigator. “But NSAIDS can have adverse effects – negative effects you may be able to avoid by using a natural, whole food alternative, like cherry juice, to reduce muscle inflammation before exercise.”

The researchers suggest cherries’ post-exercise benefits are likely because of the fruit’s natural anti-inflammation power – attributed to antioxidant compounds called anthocyanins, which also give cherries their bright red colour.

Whether elite athletes or weekend warriors, this natural anti-inflammation power of cherry juice could have far-reaching benefits for the millions of active Canadians currently taking over-the-counter pain medications to reduce muscle pain and beyond.

The power of eating red

Tart cherries, frequently sold as dried, frozen or juice, contain powerful antioxidants known as anthocyanins, which provide the bright, rich red colour. “There was always evidence that cherries helped relieve joint inflammation – this may offer some people a more natural option to help recover post exercise,” says local registered dietitian Lisa Weinberg. “Cherries anti-inflammatory properties have also been linked to reducing the risk of heart disease and even pre-diabetes.” A growing body of research suggests cherries could affect inflammation related to heart disease, arthritis and may even help maintain muscle strength for those suffering from fibromyalgia (a common, chronic widespread pain disorder), according to a second study presented by the same researchers at the ACSM conference.

There have been more than 65 published studies on the potential health benefits which can be found in the Cherry Nutrition Report posted on www.choosecherries.com

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