Tart cherry juice is my new favorite thing. Why? Because I feel like it has helped me a lot with recovery from a nagging injury, and it helps with my recovery from daily exercise. Let’s look at some of the benefits of tart cherry juice.
The problem
I was having problems with an old hamstring injury that kept nagging me while I was training for a couple of half marathons, and I took time off, then started a recovery program for myself so I could get back into fighting shape. While doing that, I began drinking a couple of 8 oz glasses of tart cherry juice a day to help fight inflammation and increase healing.
The benefits of drinking tart cherry juice are
1. Can help with recovery from strenuous activities. Multiple studies have shown that runners given tart cherry juice the week before and after a marathon have experienced less pain than those given a placebo. It also has shown promise for reducing exercise-induced muscle damage and pain for strength athletes. So working hard? This could help!
2. Can help with sleep. Research has shown it can help boost melatonin levels for better sleep.
3. Have antioxidants that help with nerve function, circulation, and possibly fight cancer.
4. Can help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol due to its antioxidant content and anti-inflammatory properties.
5. Can boost the immune system.
6. Can improve brain function.
Anecdotally, I have felt less pain and soreness when recovering from a tough workout and my leg has felt better as I rehab it. Whether or not it is actually attributed to the cherry juice, I’m going to keep it up and see how it goes. Either way, more antioxidants seems like a good thing for overall health, so I like it.
So, now that you’re aware of some of the benefits of tart cherry juice, you can make a decision to try it.
Remember, consult your physician before beginning any type of exercise program and trying a supplement like tart cherry juice. It is not recommended for people taking certain medications and should be used with caution. Also, it contains a lot of sugar as it is concentrated, so be aware of that and brush your teeth after consuming.
References:
https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1550-2783-7-17