Do you suffer from hypertension? There's good news for you: a new study has revealed that adding at least one glass of cherry juice to your daily meals can significantly reduce the pain linked with this ailment.
Delicious cherries have been associated with a wide array of health benefits, such as reducing osteoarthritis symptoms, inducing deep sleep and helping drinkers lose weight.
Now, the new report has found that cherry juice can lower the blood pressure of drinkers, perhaps to an extent that the need for medication may be eliminated.
Scientists from Northumbria University, Newcastle studied 15 adults with blood pressure readings of at least 130/90 mmHg, suggesting the risk for heart disease-related problems.
The research team found that men with early signs of hypertension who drank cherry juice saw a 7 percent reduction in their blood pressure levels in the 3 hours after intake, compared to men who drank fruit-flavored cordial.
To the surprise of experts, the lower blood pressure prompted by the cherry juice can be compared to the levels achieved by blood pressure medications such as ACE inhibitors or beta blockers.
Study co-author Professor Glyn Howatson says they believe the benefits offered by cherry juice could be linked to the combined actions of the plant compounds within the juice and the positive impact they have on vascular function.
The findings of their study will be featured in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Meanwhile, another study published in 2014 revealed that drinking tart cherry juice can alleviate gout pain because of its effect on uric acid metabolism.
The report, which was again conducted by scientists from Northumbria University, explored the impact of cherry juice consumption in healthy participants, determining uric acid levels in the urine and blood.
Each of the 12 study participants was given two doses of concentrated cherry juice for several phases. The phases lasted two days with a 10-day washout period. The first dose of cherry juice was given during the morning, with 30 mL (1 fluid ounce) of cherry juice mixed with 100 mL (3.38 fluid ounces) of water. The second dose was taken before dinner, with double the mL of cherry juice but with the same amount of water.
In the end, researchers found no difference between the doses of cherry juice given. Uric acid levels in the blood became lower while uric acid in the urine spiked, revealing that the juice indeed promotes elimination of harmful acids in the body.
Photo: Quinn Dombrowski | Flickr
