How Cherries Help Fight Arthritis

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Cherries help keep painful osteoarthritis (OA) and gout flares in check. This is popular folk remedy.

Gout Management

Eating at least 10 cherries a day protected people with existing gout from recurrent atacks. 

The positive effects of anthocyanins – plant pigments that have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Anthocyanins are found in red and purple fruits, including raspberries and blueberries, but cherries, especially tart cherries, contain higher levels.

Drinking Montmorency tart juice reduced blood levels of gout-causing uric acid and increased specific anthocyanin compounds in the bloodstream. But whole cherries led to a similar RESULTS.

Liquid cherry extract – found in health-food stores – appears to provide the same benefits. When gout patients took one tablespoon of tart cherry extract – the equivalent of 45 to 60 cherries – twice a day for one month.

Cherries are safe for preventing recurrent gout attacks.

Osteoarthritis Relief

Two 8-ounce bottles of tart cherry juice daily for 6 weeks experienced a significant improvement in pain, stiffness and physical function. Cherries also decrease in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, each bottle of juice equaled about 45 cherries.

Even cherry pills may improve pain and stiffness. In a 2007 pilot study at the Baylor Research Institute in Dallas, Texas, more than half of 20 enrolled patients reported improved pain and function after taking one cherry capsule a day for 6 weeks. Each capsule contained 100 milligrams (mg) of anthocyanins. 

A handful of cherries, especially a tart variety or a glass of cherry juice every day may be VERY beneficial.