Alternative Health Blog

Life might not always be a bowl of cherries (and the wobbly economy doesn’t help), but it seems a bowl of cherries might just improve your quality of life. A new study from University of Michigan researchers shows that tart cherries lower risk factors for heart disease.

The study only enriches the tart cherry as a potent fruit for health, joining the ranks of superfruits such as the blueberry and pomegranate. The Michigan scientists discovered that rats fed a cherry-enriched diet experienced lower rates of body weight and overall body fat, even when both the experimental and control groups consumed the typical “Westernized” diet of  high fat, including saturated fat. The researchers presented the results at this month’s annual meeting of the American Dietetic Association.

Previous studies have connected tart cherries (there is an important distinction here from sweet cherries) to decreasing harmful cholesterol levels and, most notably, as an anti-inflammatory food. In the new study, a particularly intriguing outcome showed the tart cherry consumption helped cut down on belly fat that is not only an aesthetic pox to many of us but also is a leading factor in causing heart disease and heart attacks. Carrying extra weight in the midsection has gained scientific acceptance as a major risk factor for heart disease.

For the record, the study was funded by the private Cherry Marketing Institute and it is no secret that Michigan (especially Travers City) is a major grower of tart cherries.

Nonetheless, the study introduced tart cherry consumption as a preventive measure for heart disease. It also confirmed that tart cherries (dried, frozen or as a pure juice) appear to be a major deterrant to inflammation in the body that causes everything from arthritis to autoimmune disorders to, yes, heart attacks. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effect of tart cherries was highest, suggesting that not trying to add tart cherries as an anti-inflammatory food is missing an effective and safe therapy. Not to mention, a missed opportunity for delicious flavor in smoothies, over high-fiber cereal or as simple but sweet/tangy dessert if included into a vanilla yogurt parfait for dessert. One word: Yum.

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