[caption id="attachment_930" align="alignleft" width="125" caption="Cherry_Juice_Fruit_Advantage_Cherry_Juice"][/caption] Did you know that cherry powder and cherry juice are an excellent source for naturally occurring melatonin? Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant that helps the body to regulate natural sleep patterns. It helps us to be more wakeful during the day and sleepier during the night. Dr. Russell Reiter from the University of Texas, also known as the Dean of Melatonin, has conducted studies that indicated that no other fruit or vegetable has been discovered that offers more naturally occurring melatonin than tart cherries. In addition, according to research just one ounce of the Montmorency cherry juice delivers 100 ng (nanograms) of melatonin, while 1 ounce of tart cherry powder delivers 137 ng. So the next time you are looking to get a better night’s sleep drink a glass of the juice or try some powder a few hours before you go to bed.