Is drinking tart cherry juice good for athletes? The resounding answer is Yes! Food scientists and ongoing research confirm there are benefits of athletes drinking tart cherry juice for pre- and post-workouts. Drinking a glass of this ruby red super fruit can also benefit people who aren’t active, too.
The old saying is ‘the proof is in the pudding”. These timeless words of wisdom simply mean you can only judge something only after you have tried, used or experienced it.
So instead of pudding, I would like to change these saying to “The Proof is in the Cherry Juice!”
In this guide, you’ll learn the answers to the most common questions about tart cherry juice benefits for athletes. In addition, you all learn how to select the best cherry juice for you, how much cherry juice to drink and when is the best time of the day for drinking cherry juice.
In fact, over the last twenty plus years, our company, Traverse Bay Farms, has provided 100% pure, Montmorency tart cherry concentrate, fresh cherries, dried cherries and tart cherry capsules, at no cost, for researchers can use in their studies to learn more about health benefits of tart cherries and cherry-based products.
The reason we have provided this free product is to promote the natural health benefits of fresh Montmorency tart cherries, cherry juice, dried cherries and cherry capsules.
In addition, we have also created additional resources to learn more about the health benefits of cherries by creating guides, articles, whitepapers, cherry recipes and more.
Here is a brief list of just s few of the free guides and reports you can download directly from our website:
- Tart Cherry Juice Answer Guide – Free Download
- Tart Cherry Juice Buyers Guide – Free Download
- Tart Cherry Health Report – Printed Version $10
- Super Fruit Handbook – Learn Health Benefits of Fruit – Free Download
Are Cherries Good for Athletes and the Athlete at Heart?
Research confirms tart cherries are highly beneficial for athletes. In fact, the National Library of Medicine has published the results of almost 900 studies and peer-reviewed studies on the health benefits of cherry juice.
In follow-up posts on our website, we’ll include additional links to published studies on the natural health benefits of the tart cherry. However, for the purpose of this guide, we’ll focus on the Benefits of Tart Cherry Juice for Athletes.
So What are the Tart Cherry Juice Benefits for Athletes Drinking this Ruby-Red SuperFruit?
A number of studies suggest athletes consuming this all-natural drink offers a five specific health benefits. Studies indicate these benefits can be enjoyed either from drinking the juice, taking the capsules, eating the fresh or dried cherries.
- Post-Workout Recovery - These studies point to the fact the naturally occurring antioxidants help with maintaining a healthy body and fast becoming the first choice for muscle recovery
- Better Night’s Sleep – A sampling of studies suggesting the naturally occurring melatonin in tart cherries help with a healthy night’s sleep
- Reduce Oxidative Stress – Tart are naturally high in ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) units. ORAC values in food indicated how specific foods help oxidative stress.
- Help with Bone Strength – Pre-clinical studies suggest tart cherries may help protect against inflammation-induced bone loss.
- Help to Manage Inflammation in the Body - The presence of anthocyanins may help the body to reduce inflammation naturally.
How Much Cherry Juice Should an Athlete Drink Daily?
A number of published studies suggest mixing 1 ounce of cherry concentrate with 8 ounces of water to make a 100% pure glass of juice is considered the most effective daily dosage.
In addition to drinking the cherry juice, athletes may also consider eating the between 50 – 250 fresh cherries per day to get the appropriate amount of benefits.
However, this may be difficult because fresh fruit is only available a few short weeks during the summer harvest. That is why many have been adding tart cherry capsules to their daily route. A 1,000mg dosage, based upon research, suggests this is an appropriate amount.
What is the Best Time of the Day to Drink the Juice?
Many are asking when should athletes drink tart cherry juice? Several studies suggest the best timing and dosage is between 8 to 12 oz. of the juice twice a day. This route should begin 3 – 5 prior to the event and 2 – 4 days after the event. This routine allows the body to most efficiently absorb the phytochemicals and nutrients into the body.
How can Cherries Help Muscle Recover?
Tart cherries are a natural source of an array of phytochemicals, anthocyanins, flavonoids and other naturally occurring compounds. When compared to other fruits including:
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Grapes
- Apples
- Pomegranates
The tart cherries offers a complex combination of a number of Melatonin, Gallic Acid, Ellagic Acid, Peonidin, Perillyl alcohol and other phytonutrients that is naturally absorbed into the body.
What are the Best Way to Take Tart Cherries Daily?
This superfruit is available in a number of forms including:
No matter how you enjoy the natural health benefits, it is best to remember to ensure you are getting the same level of efficacy as an 8-ounce glass of cherry juice for athletes. It takes the juice of approximately 100 cherries to make juice 1-ounce of cherry concentrate.
You should look for a minimum of 1000mg of tart powder, either in powder or capsules to enjoy the benefits for athletes.
