Pain Relief Never Tasted So Good!
Cherry Advantage 3
Courtesy of the Cherry Marketing Institute:


By Tina Miller, MS RD
Nutrition lecturer, Dietetics Department
Eastern Michigan University
Look at the person to your left, then to your right - chances are good that one of you battles arthritis pain every day. According to a recent survey, 70 million (one in three) Americans suffer from some form of joint disease, including osteoarthritis and gout. Pain from arthritis reduces mobility and quality of life. In fact, arthritis can be more than pain in your joints - it can be a pain in the wallet too! Americans spend over $1 billion every year on alternative therapies to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis.

Unfortunately, there is no cure. However, there are reasonable natural, and even flavorful, methods to managing your arthritis or gout pain. Research has taught us that inflammation associated with arthritic disorders is the chief cause of discomfort. Foods that decrease inflammation can reduce the pain associated with arthritis. In particular, the Montmorency tart cherry is a leader among foods that possess anti-inflammatory properties. Bioactive anthocyanins (pigments) present in tart cherries are the powerhouses that help relieve inflammation. As an added bonus, these same anthocyanins may significantly reduce your risk for colon cancer, the third leading cancer in America.

How much do you need? While there is no set "prescription" for the use of tart cherries, most people benefit from consuming two tablespoons of tart cherry juice concentrate daily. If you're on a low-acid diet, you can still use cherry juice concentrate, just be sure to consume it in combination with other foods, or at the end of a meal. Frozen and dried tart cherries are also effective for relieving arthritis and gout pain. The key is consistency. Make consumption of tart cherries part of your healthy eating plan everyday.

While a good tart cherry supplement may be effective in treating arthritis, studies show that tart cherries have shown great potential in treating pain and inflammation, gout, fibromyalgia, heart disease, and possibly even cancer. A great example of a whole tart cherry supplement is TheraCherry, made from whole Montmorency tart cherries. Each capsule of TheraCherry contains the equivalent of about 20 tart cherries and you can purchase TheraCherry here.