Do Cherries Really Work In Gout?

Content

• Tart Cherries For Gout Pain:
• What Causes Gout?
• Gout
• Bottom Line: The Main Reason To Drink Tart Cherry Juice
• Can Eating Cherries Prevent Gout Attacks?

A recent research review published in 2018 showed that there were 11 total studies suggesting that cherry products had the potential to reduce inflammation and one study where inflammation actually increased. A half-cup of sweet cherries contains 9.3 grams of sugar and 46 calories, compared to 6.6 grams of sugar and 39 calories in tart cherries . Tart "Montmorency" cherries contain melatonin, a natural hormone that aids sleep.

The researchers were hoping to determine a precise “dose” of tart cherry juice, so everyone in the study was randomly assigned to drink a placebo or anywhere from 7.5 ml to 30 ml of cherry juice twice a day for 28 days. There has been some research into the effects of cherry juice on gout. Further research suggests that drinking cherry juice lowers the blood uric acid levels in healthy volunteers.

Tart Cherries For Gout Pain:

However, these results have not yet been replicated in a large-scale study involving participants with gout. Currently, more research needs to be carried out before we can say that cherry juice prevents or eases gout. Due to its growing popularity and use, research conducted by the Boston University observed the cherry intake of 633 gout patients over a 2-day period. The results of the study found that the individuals who included cherries in their die had a 35% lower risk of gout attacks.

Are cherries high in sugar?

Cherries
Dried cherries are far denser in sugar content than the fresh kind. In one-third of a cup of dried cherries, there are nearly 30 grams of sugar. Some of this sugar is added after the fruits are dried. However, in a cup of fresh cherries, there are nearly 20 grams of sugar.

Research suggests that reducing the number of calories and losing weight — even without a purine-restricted diet — lower uric acid levels and reduce the number of gout attacks. There are too many sources of purines to eliminate them all from your diet. You will stay healthier overall if you eat some foods with purines. Remember that vegetable purines have never been shown to promote gout attacks, and that low-fat dairy products are protein sources that lower your risk of gout pain.

What Causes Gout?

Commercially-grown mushrooms exposed to UVB light for just 15 to 20 seconds pack as much as 100 percent of your daily value per 3-ounce serving. To find the D-lightful fungi, look for packaged mushrooms labeled “high in vitamin D.” Mushrooms sold in bulk aren’t treated with UV light because they can’t be labeled as such. This winemaking byproduct, which is pressed from the seeds of grapes, is high in polyunsaturated fatty acids and is a good source of vitamin E.

Drinking milk may help prevent gout and fight the progression of osteoarthritis. Make sure you opt for low-fat milk to avoid consuming extra calories and saturated fat. That means coffee can help fight free radicals in the body, which cause cell damage. Other research suggests coffee may have a protective effect against gout as well. Low-fat dairy products, like milk, yogurt and cheese are packed with calcium and vitamin D, both found to increase bone strength. Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption, and it has been shown to boost the immune system.

Gout

Generally, the best cherry to choose from is of the tart variety which contains more anthocyanins. Cherry supplements are available as extracts, juice, tablets and capsules. If buying in liquid form, extracts and concentrates have more potency. If taking in tablet or capsule form, opt for a product that allows you to consume at least 1,500 mg of cherries a day.

The product also is marketed as a paste for those who have trouble swallowing the capsule. As opposed to the juice, there is less sugar in this product. Side effects could include gastrointestinal issues similar to what might occur by consuming cherry juice. A daily dose of tart cherries has significant effects on markers of inflammation in people with osteoarthritis, although studies have not shown pain relief significantly better than placebos. For some people, cherries and cherry juice may be complementary treatment options for gout symptoms. However, a more recent 2020 study suggests that cherry concentrate does not appear to lower the amount of uric acid in the body.

Bottom Line: The Main Reason To Drink Tart Cherry Juice

Randomized clinical trials should be designed to confirm whether cherry products could provide a dietary or non-medication based alternative to prevent gout attacks. Patients who suffer from gout should not stop their current medications and choose cherry extract products as an alternative until this is studied more extensively. The process by which anthocyanins help decrease inflammation may be by suppressing pro-inflammatory compounds in the body, such as cyclooxygenase, or COX. By this and other unknown mechanisms, tart cherry juice may help reduce pain and stiffness associated with arthritis and other related joint pain disorders. Tart cherry juice also has high concentrations of other polyphenols, including flavonoids. All of these nutritional compounds make tart cherry juice a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory food and potential adjunct therapy for people with arthritis and gout.

Imagine razor sharp crystals rubbing inside your joint, and you get an idea of the terrible pain and inflammation associated with this disease. After taking your advice I hobbled into Walmart before daylight for my dosing of tart cherry juice. Most fruit juice products are very high in sugar and it might actually make your gout symptoms worse.

These trees should be planted in the late fall or early spring, and after the fourth year will start producing fruit. (Each tree should be 35 to 40 feet apart.) Expect each tree to produce 30 to 50 quarts of cherries per year. Also, as previously noted, cherry stems and pits can pose a choking hazard for adults and children alike. Remove stems and pits before giving cherries to children, and consider buying a cherry pitter if you enjoy cherries regularly.

The beneficial effects of tart cherry juice are not limited to varieties of arthritis. Studies on other health conditions have shown that there is potential for tart cherry juice to decrease the pain of peripheral neuropathy, reduce muscle pain, and help manage the symptoms of diabetes. Imagine being asked to eat a bowlful of 45 fresh, pitted Bing cherries for breakfast.