Use tart cherries to mend muscle

If you do strength training, or other exercises that lead you to experience muscle pain as a result, try 12 ounces of cherry juice each day.  In an 8-day study of weight-training men, U of Vermont researchers discovered that those who imbibed a tall glass of a cherry-juice blend twice a day retained more strength, and experienced faster pain relief.

A concentration of inflammation-fighting antioxidants in cherries helps erase the pain.  They minimize the microscopic muscle tears that occur during forceful contraction.

Look for a brand with “red tart cherries” but without added sugar.  One source is R. W. Knudsen.  Another is Cherry Pharm.

Some health food stores will have tart cherries available in bulk.

More about sour cherries
Tart or sour cherries are different from the Bing sweet cherries we are used to eating. Tart cherries are primarily grown in Michigan and have a slightly acidic but pleasant taste and are mostly used in pies and tarts and other baked goods.

The tart cherry has a more healthful reputation having more antioxidant compounds than the sweet cherries, thus giving it it’s richer darker color.

The two main types of tart cherries are the Montmorency and Balaton cherries. They both have very high levels of melatonin, which is an antioxidant, but the Montmorency have about six times as much as the Balaton.  You can find out more about Montmorency cherries by doing an online search.

Tart cherries are also lower in sugar by about 3.3 grams in a half cup.

Here is some nutritional information for 1 cup of tart or sour cherries:

• Calories: 88
• Calories from fat: 2
• No cholesterol
• Sodium: 17 mg
• Carbohydrates: 22 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Sugars: 19 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Also a good source of manganese, iron, and vitamin A

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