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Cherry juice hailed as SuperFood
Equivalent of 23 portions of fruit in a single glass

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated: 26th September 2008

Drinking a glass of cherry juice a day offers the same health benefits as eating 23 portions of fruit and vegetables, research reveals. It found 250ml of the juice contained more antioxidants than five portions of peas, tomatoes, water melon, carrots and banana.

Previous research has shown that antioxidants - which target harmful molecules in the body called free radicals - can help prevent cancer, heart disease, stroke and ageing. The research, led by Dr Robert Verkerk and published in Nutritional Practitioner, compared the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity -

the levels of anti-oxidant in food - of 25ml of diluted cherry juice concentrate with various food and vegetables.

It found the ORAC level of cherry juice was 8,260, compared with 1,790 for fruit and vegetables.

Patrick Holford, a leading nutritionist, said: 'A recent BBC2 Horizon documentary showed the longest-living people in the world all achieve a very high intake of antioxidants, measured as over 6,000 ORAC units a day.'
However, the study also revealed eating cherries may not offer the same protection. The scientists tested juice made from the Montmorency tart cherry, which is grown in the U.S.
Slow Impact of Ageing
Vitamins E and C and the flavonoids found in cherries and other fruits may slow ageing and they may slow or even reverse the symptoms of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Cherries also contain compounds that can help to slow or inhibit the progression of cancer (Polyphenolics Egallic acid and Lignans).
Healthy Cherries
U S Department of Agriculture

A study by the has shown that fresh Bing cherries may help sufferers of arthritis and gout.

However, the FDA warns that these are yet unproven claims. Bing cherries are high in anti-oxidants.
Australians can enjoy delicious, sweet, fresh cherries this summer knowing that they are also looking after their health.
The Victorian Cherry Association, after it had commissioned a *study, has conclusively concluded that “fresh cherries are indeed very beneficial in maintaining good health”. At least one serving of cherries per day is required, with additional servings delivering more benefits. Forget moderation! When it comes to the health impact of cherries, more is better!Cherries have a unique combination of vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds which act together to deliver health benefits not available in supplements. Fresh foods not only retain more of their nutrients than processed foods or supplements, but these act together to naturally provide the body with a more complex and potent mix of the compounds it requires to prevent disease.
(* The Health benefits of Cherries, Charlotte Brunt BSc (Hons) Swinburne University 2004.)
Cherries Nutritional Value

Energy 260 kj per 100 g
Carbohydrates 16 g
- Sugars 13 g
- Dietary fibre 2 g
Fat 0.2 g
Protein 1.1 g
Vitamin C 7 mg 12%
Iron 0.4 mg 3%

Percentages are relative to US
recommendations for adults.
Source: USDA Nutrient database
Cherries Are Good To Eat
Good source of vitamin C
Good for dietary fibre
Good for other vitamins
and minerals

Chronic Diseases
Antioxidants are necessary to clear the body of damaging free radicals and they are most effectively acquired through diet. If we don’t consume enough antioxidants, damage can occur, leading to degeneration and disease including cardiovascular disease, arthritis, cancer, inflammatory conditions and neurological diseases. Sweet cherries contain 16 antioxidants, plus a suite of other compounds with beneficial health benefits.

Cherries may benefit people suffering from chronic inflammatory conditions such as gout, pancreatitis, or prostitis, as well as allergic conditions including asthma, hay fever, eczema and hives because they contain the compounds cyanidin and quercetin. So cherry lovers can indulge to their heart’s content, because the study concluded that cherries have significant health benefits in slowing or inhibiting the progression of cancer, ageing, neurological diseases, cardiovascular disease and inflammatory conditions. They may also aid in detoxification of foreign substances.
Cherries contain anthocyanins, the red pigment in berries. Cherry anthocyanins have been shown to reduce pain and inflammation in rats. Anthocyanins are also potent antioxidants under active research for a variety of potential health benefits. According to a study funded by the Cherry Marketing Institute presented at the Experimental Biology 2008 meeting in San Diego, rats that received whole tart cherry powder mixed into a high-fat diet did not gain as much weight or build up as much body fat, and their blood showed much lower levels of inflammation indicators that have been linked to heart disease and diabetes. In addition, they had significantly lower blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides than the other rats.
 
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