We've blogged this week about the anti-inflammatory diet, complementary and alternative medicine, and the use of NSAIDs in the treatment of inflammatory diseases... but now CHERRIES??
While looking more into the new and upcoming treatments of inflammatory diseases I was shocked to see cherries as one of these remedies!
On April 27th, 2010 a team of Michigan researchers presented a new study at the Experimental Biology annual meeting sayig there is more evidence of tart cherries' powerful anti-inflammatory benefits.
Using a "whole fool" approach, reseachers found that a cherrt-enriched diet not only reduced overall body inflammation, but also reduced inflammation at key sites (belly fat, heart) known to affect heart disease risk in obese, at risk rats. At risk obese rats were fed a cherry- enriched "Western Diet" characterized by high fat & moderate carbohydrate- in line with the typical American diet- for 90 days.
Cherry-enriched diets, which consisted of whole tart cherry powder as 1 percent of the diet, reduced risk factors for heart disease including cholesterol, body weight, fat mass and know markers of inflammation. This study offers further promise that food rich in antioxidants, such as cherries, could potentially reduce inflammation and have the potential to lower disease risk.
A 2nd study found similar results in humans. Ten overweight or obese adults drank eight ouncesof tart cherry juice daily for a month. At the end of the trail, there were noteworthy reductions in quite a few markers of inflammation, in addition to lower levels of triglycerides, another key risk factor for hear disease. Researchers say both studies are encouraging and will lead to further clinical studies in humans to explore the link between diet, inflammation and lowering disease risk.
This is the latest linking cherries to protection against heart disease and inflammation. Researchers believe it's the anthocyanins- powerful antioxidant compounds in cherries- also responsible for the fruits bright red color, that connect cherries to reduced inflammation, even inflammation related to muscle recovery post-exercise. Since cherries are available year-round in dried, frozen and juice forms, they say it's easy to incorporate them into one's daily diet to help manage inflammation.
I'd personally like to see further research in this area. I could add cherries to my oatmeal or to my yogurt as preventative care, until its confirmed factual across the board. Why not?
Just a thought...
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