Muscle soreness and pain can be a significant hindrance to daily life. As we age, we naturally lose muscle, resulting in weaker, more achy muscles. However, research demonstrates that a delicious fruit juice could be the key to relieving your muscle pains and reducing inflammation: tart cherry juice.
Tart cherry juice: The secret weapon against muscle pain
Tart cherry juice not only helps lower oxidative stress, but it also combats inflammaging — inflammation that occurs in the muscle tissue due to aging. This powerful juice is so effective that pain medication manufacturers convinced the FDA to send out warning letters to cherry growers, demanding they stop telling people that scientific studies found that chemicals in cherries can reduce pain and inflammation.
In fact, tart cherry juice is such an effective natural anti-inflammatory remedy that it works just as well, if not better, than over-the-counter pain medications. All without the side effects.
Get back on your bike with tart cherry juice
One study focused on cyclists who engaged in intensive bicycling, revealing that consuming cherry juice led to a 30 percent reduction in inflammation. Intense exercise often leads to oxidative stress and inflammation, which can cause muscular damage, soreness, and a negative impact on recovery time.
Glyn Howatson, the researcher behind the study, notes that natural substances found in tart cherries, such as anthocyanins, are responsible for helping the body resist these harmful processes. Although previous studies have investigated the impact of tart cherries on recovery after weight lifting exercise and marathon running, this is the first study that has considered recovery after strenuous cycling exercise. Howatson explains, “We found that those cyclists that consumed Montmorency tart cherry juice had statistically significant lower indices of inflammation and metabolic oxidative stress.”
How to consume tart cherry juice
While it’s possible to obtain tart cherry juice in dried extract form as a supplement, it’s always better to get nutrients from food sources as close to their natural form as possible, unless there is a real deficiency. So, opt for real tart cherry juice at specialty health food stores. Ensure it’s 100 percent organic and not made from concentrate. Trader Joe’s and Lakewood Organic both offer 32-ounce bottles of fresh-pressed, all-natural tart cherry juice.
Pain-relieving sleepy-time smoothie
If you’re looking for an effective way to relieve pain and enjoy better sleep, try a pain-relieving sleepy-time smoothie. Here’s a recipe you can follow to make your own at home.
A concluding thought
In summary, tart cherry juice offers a natural, highly-effective alternative to over-the-counter pain medications for muscle pain relief and reducing inflammation. Adding tart cherry juice to your daily routine may lead to noticeable improvements in muscle recovery and pain reduction, allowing you to regain control of your life and avoid being slowed down by muscle soreness any longer.
