Cherry juice is the latest fruit juice that’s captured the imagination of the health world. Not only does its sour and acidic flavour appeal to lesions of devotees, but it’s increasingly associated with health benefits.
Whether you’re a cherry juice drinker or simply cherry juice-curious, we’ll reveal everything about this tasty tart juice. We’ll look at how cherry juice can support you in a healthy lifestyle, the nutritional content, and any adverse side effects that might go along with it.
What is cherry juice?
Cherry juice is raw, tart cherries, cold-pressed or juiced. Some varieties of cherry juice have added sugars, which may diminish their health benefits.
Cherry juice and sleep
Cherry juice has been associated with better sleep since 2010. A scientific study was published, which showed that older adults who drank cherry juice experienced better sleep in comparison with those who didn’t 1 .
Benefits of consuming cherry juice
As well as supporting better sleep, cherry juice consumption is associated with other health benefits, including:
- Decreased muscle soreness. Scientific studies show that runners who drank cherry juice experienced less muscle ache mid-race than those who didn’t2 .
- Help with Gout. Individuals with gout who drink cherry juice or consume tart cherries are 51% less likely to experience an attack than those who don’t3 .
- Protect the brain. Oxidative stress can cause age-related illnesses connected with cognitive decline. Cherries’ antioxidant content makes them particularly effective at combatting oxidative stress in the brain4 .
Cherry juice nutritional profile
Cherry juice is often homemade, or from concentrate, so it’s difficult to determine the exact nutritional profile of a glass. However, we estimate you’d enjoy all this good stuff in a 240ml serving.5:
- 62% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin A. Vitamin A is crucial for your immune system to work normally and supports normal vision also6 .
- 40% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential for the health of your cells, bones, cartilage and blood vessels7 .
Cherry juice side effects
Tart cherry juice contains sorbitol in high quantities. Sorbitol is an alcohol derived from sugar that some people are particularly sensitive to. They may experience diarrhoea or vomiting from drinking cherry juice8 .
Quercetin, also found in cherry juice, may reduce the efficacy of blood-thinning medication like Warfarin9 . If you’re taking blood thinners, consult with your doctor before drinking cherry juice.
Last Updated: 3rd November 2020
Sources:
1 https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/jmf.2009.0096
2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20459662/
3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23023818/
4 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16366675/
5 https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171719/nutrients
6 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-a/
7 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-c/
8 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6693595/
9 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28135601/
