Tart cherries : reduce factors associated with heart disease and diabetes

Tart cherries contain:

• Anthocyanins which help reduce inflammation and inhibit tumor growth.
• Flavanols and Flavonols which improve blood flow, heart and brain health, and lowers blood pressure.
• Phenolic Acids which are powerful antioxidants.  
• Phytochemicals (antioxidants) are associated with reducing the risk of major chronic diseases. 
• Plant Hormones that help regulate physiological functions.
• Terpenes that are essential oils from plant elements.

While some other fruits may have some of these bioactive compounds (such as antioxidants), tart cherries possess a wider variety of them and in greater amounts.  For this reason, it is extremely beneficial to seek out tart cherries at your local grocery store and make them a regular part of your diet.  Look for the can of tart cherries, the jam made from tart cherries or the tart cherry juice health drink made from all natural tart cherries

Tart cherries

Tart cherries (aka sour cherries) are the next superfruit to follow goji berries and acai — and, unlike exotic fruits, most are grown right here in America! 

New studies suggest that just 2 tablespoons of concentrated tart cherry juice a day (or a handful of dried tart cherries) can help athletes relieve aches and pains after a workout and speed muscle recovery. In addition, there's preliminary evidence that tart cherries may also help with arthritis and possibly even reduce gout attacks (the more common sweet cherries may have similar benefits, but the research so far has been done only on the tart variety). That's because tart cherries are especially rich in antioxidants that fight inflammation and reduce oxidative damage in muscle tissue. Fresh are in season only for a short time in certain parts of the country, but they're available year-round frozen, dried, or as juice concentrate. You can also order dried tart cherries or concentrated 100% tart cherry juice online from retailers like Amazon.