Montmorency Tart Cherries:
The Healing Fruit

Information provided by:
Cherry Marketing Institute

• According to ongoing research, daily consumption of Montmorency tart cherries has the potential to reduce the pain associated with arthritis and gout. To date, no other fruit or vegetable has been found to have the pain relieving properties of tart cherries.
• There are 17 compounds in tart cherries with antioxidant properties, which, in total, may help fight cancer and heart disease.
• Tart cherries contain melatonin, a powerful antioxidant that attacks free radicals and may help prevent or reduce brain deterioration associated with aging. Melatonin also is a known anti-inflammatory antioxidant. The combination of melatonin and the other antioxidants in tart cherries may be the secret of the natural pain relief of cherries.
• Tart cherries contain anthocyanins and bioflavonoids, which may be 10 times stronger than aspirin in relieving pain.

Gout and Cherries

Gout is a form of arthritis that mostly affects men age 40 and older. Cherries may help relieve the pain of gout. Here's how it works:

• Gout is associated with an abnormally high concentration of uric acid in the blood.
• As uric acid concentrations increase, needle-like crystals of salt form. In time, these crystals accumulate and cause inflammation and pain.
• Tart cherries contain compounds that may lower uric acid and thereby reduce inflammation.