Cherries For Inflammation, Joint Pain, Muscle Pain and Soreness

Written by Thomas Corriher Wednesday, 25 November 2009 16:10

Cherries Are More Potent Than Arthritis Drugs For Inflammation and Pain

Cherries are considered to be among the most powerful disease fighting foods available, largely because of their high antioxidant and flavonoid content.  Cherries are becoming well known for their ability to improve the circulation, along with possessing antiaging and anticarcinogenic properties.  The title of an enlightening old U.S.D.A. report read, 'Arthritis hurts. But fresh cherries may help'.  Of course, the F.D.A. eventually noticed this report after it began getting quoted at Internet health sites such as our's, and so the article seems to have now disappeared.  It's funny how that always seems to happen for effective natural medicines.  We really should have archived it, and we usually do not forget such things.  However, the tell-a-tell evidence of this governmental admission can be found by plugging that title into a search engine, but good luck finding the entire report.  At one point, the F.D.A. threatened to call out the Federal Marshals to arrest the cherry growers, or even confiscate the entire U.S. cherry crop if they continued quoting scientific findings about the medicinal properties of cherries.

Cherries are most famous in the holistic community for their ability to relieve the pains of arthritis and gout.  Researchers from the Michigan State University found that anthocyanins, the same chemicals that give cherries their color, have powerful anti-inflammatory affects.  A study as far back as 1999, showed that these anthocyanins inhibit COX-2 enzymes, which play a key role in the body's production of prostaglandins ― natural chemicals involved in inflammation.  Unfortunately, cooking cherries is known to kill many of the beneficial compounds found inside them.  So, eating cherry pie probably will have very little benefit.  You may either eat cherries raw, or purchase concentrated cherry supplements if you need high potency, or convenience.  You can find them available at some supermarkets, but we strongly recommend purchasing all supplements from health food or herbal stores, because of serious quality issues at most regular retailers.  Concentrated cherry supplements have been shown to be more effective in reducing arthritis pain and inflammation than pharmaceuticals.

We use high concentration cherry supplements for general soreness and joint issues like carpel tunnel syndrome.  It is very effective; especially when combined with M.S.M..

Update: The censured U.S.D.A. report about cherries has now resurfaced, and was found by one of our readers at the U.S.D.A. site.  It is archived by us here.  Thank you, team.