Cherry Love: Benefits of Cherries for Arthritis and Gout

They are red, rounded, and oh so sweet!

Cherries are present on various desserts and delicacies you can imagine. A topping for your banana cream pie, ice cream, banana split, and fudge brownies. Spray some of that whipped cream, and you now have a treat for Sunday family gatherings. Aside from being present on your menu for several decades, this fruit has been in the limelight for a very long time. It was also associated with different luxurious treats and compliments every dessert you put them into. Cherries are usually consumed fresh, from the can, and a filling for your pie.

According to frutas-hortalizas, the larger cherries are usually the ones with better taste and texture. But apart from its distinct taste, cherries are a good source of vitamins and minerals needed by the body. Very well health said that cherries are rich in polyphenols, which were described by Healthline as able to treat digestion issues, weight management difficulties, neurodegenerative disease, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. It is also well-known that polyphenols are packed with antioxidants known for their free-radical fighting properties and can anti-inflammatory properties.

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Cherries and Arthritis

Yes, you read it right. Cherries are good food if you have arthritis, which can really be uncomfortable. Mayo Clinic defines arthritis as a condition where joints swell and get tender. Its main symptoms are joint pain and stiffness, which progresses through aging. They added that the most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, where the protective cartilage at the end of the bones wears down over time; and rheumatoid arthritis, which according to the Centers for Disease  Control and Prevention (CDC), is an autoimmune disease where the joints of the body are being attacked.

Very Well Health noted that tart cherry juice eases the symptoms and the inflammatory markers of people with osteoarthritis, which was a result of a 2012 study. They added that the research participants drank 10.5 ounces of Montmorency cherry juice or a placebo drink, two times a day, daily. Very well health furthers that the researchers were able to find that the group who drank cherry juice has a decrease in C-reactive protein, which is a marker for inflammation. Arthritis.org added that studies have shown that Tart cherries juice may relieve joint pain for people experiencing osteoarthritis.

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Cherries and Gout

Mayo Clinic describes gout as a common and complex form of arthritis, characterized by severe attacks of pain suddenly happening, swelling, redness, and tenderness of the joints, typically the joints at the base of the big toe. Cherries can help ease the pain gout has caused you too. According to Healthline, researchers were able to find that consuming at least 10 cherries daily will diminish the risk of gout attacks by 35%. They also mentioned a study where results show that they reduce uric acid because they possess anthocyanins.

Very well health describes anthocyanins are a type of flavonoid that is rich in antioxidants. They also mentioned a study in 2019 where evidence showed that tart cherry juice intake diminished the uric acid levels and the pro-inflammatory C-reactive protein.

Health added that cherry juice and cherry itself contain sugar that can add more sugar to your body. Even though cherries help improve your health, especially ease your arthritis and gout, always bear in mind that moderation should always be taken into account. 

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