Is Tart Cherry Juice Good For Arthritis?

Is Tart Cherry Juice Good for Arthritis?

As we all know, a lot of people struggle with joint pain and stiffness.

So could this natural juice help alleviate arthritis symptoms?

Well, let's explore its potential benefits:

how it works
possible side effects
guidelines for using it correctly

If you're curious about this remedy, let me share some important points down the line.

Note: This article includes references and studies on tart cherry juice and arthritis.

Table Of Contents show

Tart Cherry Juice Good For Arthritis? (In A Nutshell)

Firstly – tart cherry is a vibrant red fruit with a sour taste.

It's native to the Carpathian Basin and it comes from the plant family called Rosaceae.

Now – its juice is popular because of several benefits it has.

But in this article, we will focus on its effects on arthritis.

So far – here's what you should know about how it works:

reduces the production of the pro-inflammatory molecules
supports muscular nerves
lowers the risk of cell damage and oxidative stress
alleviates pain and arthritis symptoms

The bioactive compound responsible for these benefits is its anthocyanin content.

It's an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic properties.

As I've mentioned, it's known to improve muscle soreness and pain.

However – muscle issues are not the root cause of arthritis.

So in reality, tart cherry juice is far from a potent solution for pain and inflammation (unlike turmeric):

doesn't improve the root cause
only helps with pain and swelling
effective for one of the symptoms of arthritis (not its main trigger)

Now – don't be discouraged.

Since you have nothing to lose, just go ahead and incorporate this into your everyday routine.

Just make sure to drink it in moderation (to avoid its potential adverse reactions).

Other than that – it can provide your body with a lot of benefits (even for joint pain).

But if you're looking for a stronger solution for improving arthritis, tart cherry juice is not the one.

What Is Tart Cherry Juice?

Let's start by discussing the origin of the juice [1]:

it's derived from the fruit called Tart Cherry (Prunus cerasus)
Rosaceae is its plant family
is native to Carpathian Basin (Hungary and Romania)
some people pertain to it as sour cherry, due to its sour taste
also, it's characterized by a vibrant red color
the juice can be obtained by pressing the cherries or by commercial methods

So how come Tart Cherry Juice is that famous?

Besides it being widely available, it has several potential benefits for the body [2]:

improves muscle soreness and damage
reduce high blood sugar and bad cholesterol
decreases oxidative stress
supports a better sleep (in terms of duration and quality)
increases immunity and energy

But as I said, these benefits are rather general.

As I promised at the beginning of this article, let's focus further on its effect on arthritis.

Tart Cherry Juice & Arthritis

Let's look at the relationship between tart cherry juice and arthritis:

what is arthritis
this condition's main symptoms
how tart cherry juice can improve it

With that – let's further talk about each of them down below.

1. Arthritis

To give you an idea, here are the things you need to know about this condition [3]:

it's an umbrella term for conditions that affect the joints, joint tissues and connective tissues
can include osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, fibromyalgia and gout
its causes are very varied

In most cases – arthritis is a long-term chronic condition or even a lifelong disease.

So that's why there's a constant drive for research to find its possible cure or prevention.

2. Arthritis' Top Symptoms

How do you know if you're experiencing arthritis?

Well – the symptoms below are the common signs that you need to watch out for [4]:

aching and swelling in the joints
heat and redness
stiffness (usually in the morning)
reduced mobility
muscle pain
fever or fatigue
weight loss or anemia

Moreover, these symptoms can get worse with a sedentary routine or lack of physical activity [5].

So we conclude that a healthy lifestyle schedule can help alleviate arthritis in some ways.

3. Tart Cherry Juice's Potential

Another way to relieve the symptoms of arthritis is by including tart cherry juice in your daily routine.

According to some studies, it claims to have:

anti-arthritic benefits
anti-inflammatory potential
antioxidant effect [6]

The bioactive compound responsible is the anthocyanin content inside it.

Just like other anti-inflammatory herbs (turmeric, boswellia and ginger), its mechanism is quite similar.

Anthocyanins inhibit the activity of pro-inflammatory mediators (Th17 cells, COX, PGE2 and signaling pathways) [7].

Also – tart cherry's antioxidants can reduce oxidative stress by destroying harmful free radicals [8].

In return, here are the potential effects of tart cherry juice on your body [9]:

decreases the incidence of arthritis
lowers histological inflammation
reduces cartilage damage
improves oxidative stress

Again – some common types of arthritis are caused by inflammation.

So adding tart cherry juice can contribute to reducing the trigger behind this condition.

Lastly – anthocyanins could improve neuromuscular function and decrease soreness and damage [10].

But its current research is more focused on athletes (than on arthritis sufferers).

Besides – arthritis is not caused by aching muscles, this is rather one of the symptoms.

Conclusion

Overall, you can consume tart cherry juice to alleviate arthritis (especially the muscle pain related to it).

However – there are still very few studies that prove its potential.

So don't rely solely on it for prevention and treatment.

In most cases, it won't make a huge difference on your arthritis pain (especially if you have no muscular pain additionally).

Side Effects

In general – tart cherry juice is safe for consumption.

However – just like other things, it's highly discouraged to drink it in excess.

In fact – the recommended dosage is around 130-490 mL per day [11].

Sure enough, this still depends on your physical state and everyday activities.

With that, here are the possible adverse reactions of overly consuming tart cherry juice:

upset stomach or diarrhea
bloating or constipation
heartburn or acid reflux
headaches or nausea
vomiting or feeling sick
allergic reactions

Now – tart cherry juice is fairly acidic, so it might cause acid reflux [12].

Additionally – the issue above are typical side effects when overdosing with any type of food/supplement.

So they're not necessarily specific to tart cherry juice.

Even so, the percentage of these side reactions is very low.

Overall – it's best to take tart cherry juice in moderation and seek medical help if you feel something is wrong.

How To Take Tart Cherry Juice Correctly

Firstly – you need to remember that tart cherry juice is different from tart cherry extract.

So be mindful of the product you get and always read the label.

With that, here are the general guidelines for taking the juice properly:

Always consume pure and high-quality juice of the tart cherry.
You can also create a fresh one by placing the pitted cherries in the blender.
You can then add water afterwards (the amount depends on how concentrated/diluted you want it to be).
Start with a small amount and monitor how your body adjusts to it.
Gradually increase the intake if you can tolerate it.
You can take it at any time of the day or before any physical activities.
Consume it with a meal if you want to avoid stomach upset or acid reflux.
Be consistent in drinking it.
If there are unusual side reactions, talk to your doctor to address them immediately.