Cherries For Pain Relief And Less Inflammation

If you use pain pills for the little aches and pains of arthritis or soreness after working out, there’s a more natural alternative: cherries.

Research at Oregon Health & Science University presented at an American College of Sports Medicine Conference (ACSM) in San Francisco suggests that tart cherries have the “highest anti-inflammatory content of any food” and can help people with osteoarthritis manage their disease. Studies by the same group show that runners can reduce their soreness with cherry juice.

“With millions of Americans looking for ways to naturally manage pain, it’s promising that tart cherries can help, without the possible side effects often associated with arthritis medications,” says Kerry Kuehl, M.D, Oregon Health & Science University, principal study investigator. “I’m intrigued by the potential for a real food to offer such a powerful anti-inflammatory benefit — especially for active adults.”

Anthocyanins, the antioxidant compounds in tart cherries, have demonstrated a high antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammation potency comparable to pain medications.