Alternative Health Blog

More runners and exercisers these days are fighting off aches and pains non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that you might more readily recognize as ibuprofen. But that shortcut can have its adverse side effects, including stomach upset and even ulcers.

Cherry juice can save that fallout. A recent study from Oregon Health & Science University reports that runners drank tart cherry juice during long-distance run training experience significantly less pain after exercise than runners not adding cherry juice after a run. Those non-cherry juice drinkers consumed another fruit juice beverage. The study, presented at the annual American College of Sports Medicine Conference in Seattle, evaluated 60 adults 18 to 50 years old.

The volunteer subjects drank 10.5 ounces of tart cherry juice morning and evening for seven days prior to the long-distance running relay that formed part of the experiment. The cherry juice drinkers reported pain totals, on a scale of one to 10, that averaged a couple of points less than the other runners taking a different fruit beverage.

More research is needed, but the early indications are that tart cherry juice has a natural anti-inflammatory effect due to plant substances called anthocyanins and that actually give cherries their deep red pigment.

Other research suggests that cherries and anthocyanins could help protect against heart disease and arthritis. A second study at the same American College of Sports Medicine conference in Seattle pointed to evidence that tart cherry juice might help maintain muscle strength for individuals suffering from fibromyalgia, a chronic pain and fatigue disorder.

Bob Condor blogs for Alternative Health Journal every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.