New research from the University of California Davis showed that consuming a serving of cherries daily significantly lowered blood uric acid levels. Uric acid is the main culprit in attacks of gout.
When uric acid levels build up in the blood, the uric acid crystals often settle in the joints, causing inflammation and severe joint pain.
Researchers have uncovered new evidence that compounds in cherries will work on gout and other kinds of joint inflammations.
The compound in question is anthocyanins, the pigment that makes cherries red. It seems that this may be an actor in reducing the inflammation response in the body.
The current idea is that, in addition to the inflammation response, the anthocyanins decrease the urates in the blood, which is where the uric acid in the joint comes from in the first place.
The study at UC Davis showed that by consuming a serving of fresh cherries a day, participants lowered the amount of uric acid in the blood by as much as 15 percent.
The level of anthocyanins in both dried cherries and cherry juice are comparable to that of fresh cherries, so there will be benefit in adding either to your diet.
Do stay away from the cherry drinks. They are at best diluted with water and sugar or even contain artificial cherry flavoring and no real cherry products. Stick with the fresh or dried cherries, or a juice that is 100% cherry juice.
