The Tart Cherry Report

Can Cherry Juice Really Stop Arthritis Pain?

Feel free to share this book with your friends, family and co-workers.

SF Publishing Columbus, OH

Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 3 The Power of Antioxidants ........................................................................................................................ 4 Tart Cherries Help Fight Joint Pain Due to Arthritis .............................................................................. 6 Tart Cherries Helps Fight the Gout .......................................................................................................... 7 What is the Cause of these Painful Crystals? ......................................................................................... 8 How Tart Cherries Fight Gout? ................................................................................................................. 8 Get a Good Nights Sleep with Tart Cherries .......................................................................................... 9 Melatonin Levels in Different Tart Cherry Products: ......................................................................... 9 What is Melatonin? ..................................................................................................................................... 9 Fighting the Factors of Heart Disease and Diabetes ........................................................................... 10 Tart Cherries Help to Fight Muscle Pain ................................................................................................ 11 Tart Cherry Products ................................................................................................................................ 11 The Different Types of Find Tart Cherry Products............................................................................... 12 Internet Resources and Bibliography .................................................................................................... 17

Disclaimer: This information is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be medical advice. If you believe you need medical advice, please consult a medical professional. This information has not been reviewed or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information in this book is not meant to cure, fix or solve any disease or medical condition. The author is not affiliated with any of the products in this book. The author does not claim copyright.

Tribute to the Tart Cherry

Introduction Tart cherries are fast becoming the natural pain fighting choice for legions of arthritis and gout pain suffers. This increased interested in tart cherries and tart cherry products is not only due to the increasing number of food researchers conducting research on tart cherries but also to the increased word of word promotion of this inflammation fight up and coming super fruit. Stories of the tart cherries pain fighting ability has been passed from mother to daughter from grandfather to grandson. This special report will introduce you to the antioxidant-rich properties of the tart cherry. Ongoing research from medical universities across the globe indicate tart cherries can: Fight joint pain due to gout and arthritis Fight inflammation in the body Fight heart disease Reduce belly fat Providing the body with high levels of ORAC units

Tart cherries, like many other foods are a natural source of antioxidants. So exactly what is an antioxidant? The next section will answer that question in detail.

Tribute to the Tart Cherry

Can Cherry Juice Stop Arthritis Pain Naturally?

Drinking just one ounce, or two tablespoons, of tart concentrated cherry juice every day can help alleviate arthritis pain. That's because tart cherries, specifically Montmorency tart cherries, contain anthocyanins and two important antioxidants: isoqueritrin and queritrin. Anthocyanins create cherries' dark red pigment. Arthritis inflammation and pain is caused by the hormone prostaglandin; it is directly related to two enzymes that cause tissue inflammation. Drinking just one ounce, or two tablespoons, of tart concentrated cherry juice every day can help alleviate arthritis pain. That's because tart cherries, specifically Montmorency tart cherries, contain anthocyanins and two important antioxidants: isoqueritrin and queritrin. Anthocyanins create cherries' dark red pigment. Arthritis inflammation and pain is caused by the hormone prostaglandin; it is directly related to two enzymes that cause tissue inflammation and the resulting pain. Anthocyanins inhibit those two enzymes, decreasing inflammation and joint pain. Remarkably, the paininhibiting strength is comparable to ibuprofen and naproxen. And laboratory tests at Michigan State University find that tart cherry compounds are at least 10 times more effective than aspirin in reducing inflammation--without any of aspirin's side effects. Queritrin and isoqueritrin are flavonoids. Flavonoids function as antioxidants, meaning that they destroy free radicals within the body to generally help prevent cancer. Queritrin and isoqueritrin help eliminate the byproducts of stress, and they help slow down the aging process in general. Queritrin also possesses antiinflammatory effects similar to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Queritrin can also inhibit the body's production of inflammation-causing leukotrienes and histamine. Anthocyanins possess additional beneficial properties. They are powerful antioxidants, meaning they destroy free radicals within the body to

Tribute to the Tart Cherry

generally help prevent cancer. Anthocyanins are even more powerful than vitamin E. Tart cherries boast a whopping 26.5 grams of anthocyanins--the highest of all fruits.

Anthocyanins also help prevent plaque buildup in artery walls, which in turn helps prevent heart disease; they're more potent in this regard than vitamins C and E. Also, tart cherries are a low-glycemic food, so they're diabetic-friendly. The antioxidant queritrin also possesses additional beneficial properties. It is one of the most powerful anticancer agents known. Its antioxidant properties are superior to vitamins C and E. And if these powerful antioxidants in tart cherry juice weren't enough, it also contains ellagic acid, which may be the most potent substance to prevent cancer. It has been found to inhibit cancer cell growth. Drinking two tablespoons of Montmorency tart cherry juice daily is the equivalent of eating 60 cherries. The tart cherry juice can be added to any other beverage, such as water or tea. Or you can even add it to a fruit smoothie for breakfast or as an afternoon pick-me-up. The highest quality Montmorency cherry juice available is a measurement known as 68 brix. Look for cherry juice that's clear and sediment-free. Who knew alleviating arthritis pain could taste so good? The Power of Antioxidants Antioxidant strength is measured by the ORAC value. ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity or (ORAC units). The higher the ORAC units in a food, the better it capacity to fight disease and slow the aging process. According to nutritionists, people need to consume 3,000 to 5,000 ORAC daily to have a positive impact on their health. So by consuming over 3,000 ORAC units per day an individual will greatly benefit by better health and disease fighting ability naturally. ORAC Units in Cherries

Tribute to the Tart Cherry

Cherry Juice Concentrate: 12,800 ORAC units Dried Cherries: 6,800 ORAC units Frozen Cherries: 2,033 ORAC units Canned Cherries: 1,700 ORAC units

As you can see by the above chart, cherries are an excellent source of naturally occurring ORAC units. Tart Cherries Help Fight Joint Pain Due to Arthritis To the legions of joint pain sufferers the tart cherry is a welcome natural relief. Many do not want to take prescription joint pain medication due to the unhealthy side efforts reported just a few years ago. Tart cherries help to reduce joint pain due to arthritis. According to research from Michigan State University, tart cherries inhibit COX 1 and COX 2 (cyclooxygenase 1 and 2) enzymes and prevent inflammation in the body. Tart cherries help the body to produce similar types of chemical process as non-sterodial anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Some examples of NSAIDS drugs are ibuprofen and aspirin. NSAIDS work by inhibiting two popular enzymes, COX 1 and COX 2 (cyclooxygenase I and II). These enzymes are naturally produced in the body to respond to pain. NSAIDS prevent chemical massages from binding to COX 1 and COX 2. Thus, the messages are not delivered, so the body doesnt become inflamed and doesnt feel the pain. Tart cherries contain natural COX 1 and COX 2 inhibitors that function in the same manner to NSAIDS. The inhibitors found in the tart cherries are of the flavonoids class. Unlike NSAIDS, research shows these flavonoids protect against stomach damage. So in other words, the compounds in the tart cherry are natural COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors.

Tribute to the Tart Cherry

According the research from Michigan State University the natural inhibitors found in tart cherries act superior to over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers. In addition, according to Michigan State University tart cherries inhibitors are most effective in concentrated forms of tart cherries products. Some examples of highly concentrated tart cherry products include tart cherry juice concentrate and tart cherry powder.

Tart Cherries Helps Fight the Gout Gout is actually a form of arthritis. Gout pain is the result of the buildup of uric acid in the body. Uric acid is a result of crystal-like formations that travel though out the body via the blood stream. These jagged crystals are the cause of the redness, swelling and pain that gout is infamously known for.

Tribute to the Tart Cherry

What is the Cause of these Painful Crystals? Gout is normally associated with high concentrations of uric acid in the body. Uric acid is produced in the liver. As uric acid level in the body increase little needlelike crystals of salt form. These are called monosodium urate (MSU). Over time, these needlelike crystals tend to collect in the open spaces between the joints and cause pain and inflammation. Here is a brief list of some of the top causes of the causes of these painful crystals, aka gout: 1. The consumption of high purines food including seafood, alcohol and meats like kidneys and liver. 2. Being overweight also contributes to gout. 3. People how had an organ transplant are more likely to have gout than those who have not an organ transplant. 4. Drinking excess alcohol or people drinking large amounts of alcohol on a continued basis can contribute to gout. 5. If you have a family history of gout, you may also suffer from gout. 6. Men are more likely to get gout than women, however more women are getting gout.

How Tart Cherries Fight Gout? Research shows that tart cherries contain flavonoid compounds that may help to lower uric acid and help to reduce pain and inflammation. The compounds found in tart cherries help to dissolve the needlelike crystals in the joints and reduce the redness and swelling.

Tribute to the Tart Cherry

Get a Good Nights Sleep with Tart Cherries One area of continued interested regarding the tart cherry is the presence of Melatonin. Melatonin helps to regulate the bodys rhythmic patterns its helps control sleepiness during the night and wakefulness during the day. According to research from the University of Texas the amounts of Melatonin present in tart cherries can produce a positive outcome in the body. Melatonin is usually not found in many fruits. Tart cherries, when compared to other fruits have high levels of this naturally occurring compound. In addition, different types of tart cherry products have different Melatonin levels. Melatonin Levels in Different Tart Cherry Products:

Fresh Tart Cherries: Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate:

Up to 13.5 nanograms (ng) of Melatonin per gram Has up to 10 times more the Melatonin per gram when compared to the raw fruit.

Tart Cherry Powder:

137+ ng per gram

(Cherry powder is used to make tart cherry capsules)

What is Melatonin? Melatonin is produced in the pineal gland, which is located at the base of the brain. In addition to control the bodys rhythmic clock, Melatonin also acts as an antioxidant. It helps to combat free radicals in the body. Additional research from the University of Texas Melatonin is both soluble in both fat and water. This helps this compound to penetrate some cells that vitamins can not enter, thus Melatonin is more potent that vitamins A, C, and E. Although Melatonin is available without a prescription, food experts recommend consuming this beneficial compound through whole food consumption.

Tribute to the Tart Cherry

Fighting the Factors of Heart Disease and Diabetes

In 2008 research results from the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center shows that tart cherry powder showed good results with reducing factors associated with heart disease and diabetes. The results of this ground breaking research were presented at the 2008 Experimental Biology meeting held in San Diego, CA by individuals from the University of Michigan Cardioprotection Research Laboratory. This research was conducted on the rats, U of M is currently preparing clinical trials working with humans participants. In short, rats in the research study were given whole tart cherry powder. Tart cherry powder is made from whole tart cherries that have been powdered down to create an easy-to-take and consumer friendly way to enjoy the natural health benefits of whole tart cherries. The rats given the tart cherry powder during the study had significantly lower blood levels of triglycerides and cholesterol than the other rats that didnt receive the tart cherry powder. In addition, according the research, the rats in the study didnt build up as much body fat in the belly or gain as much weight as those who didnt receive the cherry powder. Belly fat is just one factor linked to cardiovascular disease. Some of the tests conducted on the subjects during the test were measured on variables linked to Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. And blood samples from the participants showed much lower levels of the specific molecules that indicate the kind of inflammation that has been linked to diabetes and heart disease. The results of these finding built on the results that the University of Michigan team presented in 2007. This previous experiment involved lean rats that were prone to impaired glucose tolerance, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The participants

10

Tribute to the Tart Cherry

in the 2007 study results receive were divided into two groups a low fat diet with tart cherries and a low fat diet without tart cherries. In the earlier test, the cherry-fed rats had lowed oxidative stress, less fat storage, lower blood sugar and lower total cholesterol. According the researchers that conducted the test, the findings were very exciting and encouraging. At the end of the 2007 study the rats were tested for blood level glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In addition to plasma inflammation tests, the participants are received DEXA scans to measure body and to see where fat had collected. By the end of the study, the rats that received tart cherry powder had lower body weight, lower fat mass and lower total triglyceride and cholesterol than the rats that didnt receive the tart cherry powder.

Tart Cherries Help to Fight Muscle Pain The anti-inflammatory properties of the tart cherry not only reduce pain due to arthritis and inflammation in the body, by also muscle pain due to physical exercise. Much research has been conducted on the anti-inflammatory benefits of tarts regarding joint pain and heart related issues. The University of Vermont and colleagues at New Yorks Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma and Cornell University conducted a study on the a fresh, highly-concentrated, specially- processed tart cherry juice blend in preventing the symptoms of muscle pain and damage on 14 male college students. This was a placebo-controlled study by the researchers.

11

Tribute to the Tart Cherry

The study had the participants drank either a placebo or a bottle of a cherry juice blend twice a day for three day before exercise. The 12 ounce bottle of juice contained the liquid equivalent of 50 to 60 tart cherries. During the study the participants were asked to perform exercise including contractions in the muscle including tensing and flexing one arm 20 times. The study rated the muscle soreness on a scale of one to ten. According to the study, there was a significant difference in the degree of muscle strength between the tart cherry juice product and the placebo. Those drinking the placebo, muscle strength fell by 22 percent while those drinking the cherry juice product fell by only 4 percent. In addition, the average pain score between the placebo and the cherry drink was 3.2 compared to only 2.4. The results indicated muscle pain was less with those that drink the cherry juice. The Different Types of Find Tart Cherry Products The tart cherry offers a number of different ways you can enjoy its natural health benefits including: tart cherry juice concentrate, dried cherries, cherry extract, tart cherry capsules and more. Below are some of the ways and sources to incorporate tart cherries into your daily diet. Fresh Tart Cherries: Eating fresh cherries is one of the best ways to get the joint pain fighting ability of this fruit. Unfortunately, fresh tart cherries are only in season for a few short weeks during the summer months. Thus, find fresh cherries may be very difficult. Tart cherries are harvested from the end of June until in Mid-July. Begin looking for tart cherries in

12

Tribute to the Tart Cherry

the product section of your local grocery store or farm market from June until MidAugust. Several online companies and farms can ship tart cherries to you during cherry season. Pheasant Ridge Farm is a reliable source and will ship cherries directly to your door. Dried Tart Cherries: Dried cherries make a great healthy snack. Unlike fresh cherries, dried cherries are available year round. You can order cherries from Cherry Central located in Michigan. Frozen Tart Cherries: Frozen cherries pack a powerful punch. You can enjoy them in your morning smoothie, pancakes or muffins. You can find frozen cherries in the refrigeration section of your local grocery store. In addition, a recently started family farm in Michigan called Anderson Brothers offers frozen cherries for shipping. Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate: It takes approximately 100 tart cherries to make one ounce of tart cherry juice. Tart cherry juice concentrate is a concentrated way to get the natural health benefits of this ruby red fruit. However, a number of online companies are now offering tart cherry juice concentrate. Unfortunately, not all tart cherry juice concentrate is created equal. There are five critical areas consumers should look for when selecting tart cherry juice concentrate. These include: type of cherry, quality, taste, packaging and a sedimentfree guarantee. Type of Cherry: The majority of research you read about the joint pain fighting ability of tart cherries and cherry juice has been conducted on the Montmorency tart cherry. While several other varieties of cherries exist including black cherry, Balaton and Rainer, the type of cherry that has most amount of published research is the Montmorency tart cherry. Although the Montmorency tart cherry juice is slightly more expensive than black cherry juice, the research backs up the ability of the tart cherry to fight joint pain due to arthritis and gout.

13

Tribute to the Tart Cherry

 Quality: Not all cherry juice concentrate products are the same. One very important measurement of quality for tart cherry juice concentrate is this brix level (pronounced bricks). This is a measurement of the amount of natural sugar in the product. The highest marker for tart cherry juice is 68 brix. Be sure to know the brix level in any cherry product you buy. This information is usually printed on the label or published on the website. If the brix level is lower than 68 brix, you should reconsider the overall quality of the product. Taste: Like all consumable products, taste is very important. Cherry juice is available in plastic bottles, aluminum cans and glass bottles. Based on research funded by the cherry industry, participants in the study preferred the taste of cherry juice packaged in glass bottles over plastic and aluminum bottles. Based upon results of the study, people indicated the cherry juice packed in glass bottles offered a fresher taste. One of the reasons could be the fact that glass bottles prevent leaching. Leaching is a result of products being packed on plastic and the product itself actually absorbs plastic molecules from the plastic bottle. Leaching is not a concern for cherry juice packed on glass. Packaging: Two types of cherry juice packaging for cherry juice products are available: cold-packed and hot packed. Here is a basic definition of each: Cold-packed - The cherry juice concentrate is pumped from a 52 gallon drum and bottled into individual bottles. Also, the companies selling coldpacked cherry juice indicate cold-packed cherry juice must be refrigerated. That is they the majority of tart cherry juice concentrate products are only available in the refrigerated section of your local grocery stores. Coldpacking is also the less expensive way to bottle cherry juice concentrate since some companies simply fill their bottles over a utility sink. Cold pack cherry juice is usually bottled in plastic containers. Cold-packed cherry concentrate runs of risk of leaching. Leaching is a well known fact in the

14

Tribute to the Tart Cherry

food industry. Leaching occurs when a product is bottled in a plastic container and the food actually pulls or leaches plastic molecules from the bottle directly into the food.

Hot-packed - The cherry juice is pumped from a 52 gallon drum, flash pasteurized, and then packed into individual bottles. Hot-packed cherry juice concentrate is shelf-stable and doesn't need refrigeration during shipping, storage or until the product is open. After the product is open it does need to be refrigerated. Hot-packed cherry juice can be shipped without refrigeration and is shelf stable. The hot-pack process is very similar to the canning process where all of the oxygen is removed from the bottle. Hotpacked concentrate is packed in glass bottles. Glass bottles eliminate the fear of leaching Unfortunately, some companies lead the consumer to believe cold-packed cherry juice is never heated (pasteurized). This is simply not true. Cherry juice concentrate is packed in 52 gallon drums and prior to the cherry juice being packed in these drums the product is flash pasteurized or heated. Thus, if a company simply pumps the cherry juice from 52 gallon drums and fills individual bottles the cherry juice has been heated. If a company indicates that their product is cold-packed and has not been heated, they may not be telling the whole truth.

Stability: Product stability is vital not only for shipping purposes but also storage. The majority of companies selling cherry juice are selling cold-packed in plastic bottles. This means the product should be refrigerated during shipping and storage. Yet many of these companies freely ship cold-packed cherry juice across the country in unrefrigerated cardboard boxes with statements saying

15

Tribute to the Tart Cherry

the product must be refrigerated when the product is received. This simply doesn't make since. It would be similar to shipping a gallon of milk from New Jersey to Texas in a cardboard box and asking the customer to place it in the refrigerator when it arrives. Hot-packed cherry juice can be shipped without refrigeration and stored without refrigeration. Sediment-Free Guarantee: Sedimentation is a concern for many cherry juice drinks. Sedimentation occurs when the concentrate breaks apart and thick residue settles on the bottle of the bottle. Sedimentation may be a result of poor quality concentrate or a poor bottling process. Look for cherry juice products that offer a sediment free guarantee. One brand of tart cherry juice concentrate that meets all of these criteria is the tart cherry juice concentrate available from Traverse Bay Farms www.traversebayfarms.com Tart Cherry Extract (Super Fruit Supplements): Tart cherry supplements are the most convenient and easiest way to get the natural health benefits of the tart cherry. These super fruit dietary supplements start with the whole cherry. The entire tart cherry, excluding the pit and the stem, is used to produce the tart cherry capsules, including the skin and the flesh of the fruit.

16

Tribute to the Tart Cherry

Internet Resources and Bibliography American Dietetic Association. "Child Feeding." American Dietetic Association. American Dietetic Association. "Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children." American Heart Association www.americanheart.org American Medical Association www.ama-assn.org 5 Day Program - www.5aday.gov Center for Disease Control www.cdc.gov Fruits and Vegetables Matter www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov Orchard of Health www.orchardofhealth.com

17

Tribute to the Tart Cherry