Arthritis / Inflammation
For decades, tart cherries have quietly grown a devoted fan base of arthritis sufferers who routinely consumed the fruit (particularly as juice) to help soothe their symptoms. Today there is a body of research to support the cherry folklore.
The suspicion that cherries might help with arthritis and gout was first proposed more than 50 years ago. This preliminary study found that daily cherry consumption helped to relieve “gout attacks” and the pain associated with arthritis. After eating cherries, patients in the study had lower blood levels of uric acid. Elevated levels of uric acid are associated with the onset and progression of gout. Since then, several studies have confirmed this link. Another reason why cherries may help ease the pain of gout and arthritis is due to their high concentrations of anthocyanins 1 and 2. These antioxidants help block enzymes in the body called cyclooxygenase 1 and 2, (more commonly known as COX-1 and COX-2). Some pain medication works by inhibiting COX-1 and COX-2, which may explain why people with arthritis and gout experience an analgesic effect when they eat tart cherries
Information provided by the Cherry Marketing Institute. www.choosecherries.com
I was diagnosed with arthritis recently and what i do is take food supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin plus regular exercise. they really help a lot in managing arthritis.9