Cherry Supplement 

Common sense, clinical experience, basic science and clinical research teaches us that the best way to get our overall nutrition is through our diet.  Ideally, you are eating plenty of fruits and vegetables per day.  Fruits and vegetables contain powerful antioxidants that are good for the body in general, and also good for fighting arthritis.  One fruit in particular has been suggested to be particularly healthy as well as particularly adept at fighting the pains of arthritis.  Tart cherries contain a significant amount of antioxidants, including quercetin, beta-carotene, and anthocyanins.  Anthocyanins are the compounds that give fruits their pigmentation.  They are largely credited in giving red and blue colored fruits their impressively potent amount of powerful antioxidants.  The best way to make sure that you are getting enough cherries, as with any fruit, is by eating it.           

            A report published in 1999 in the Journal of Natural Products revealed that consuming 20 cherries per day were as effective as some pain medications for relieving pain.  Texas investigators found that eating half a pound of cherries per day may help prevent gout.  Their sample size was too small (N=12) for definitive conclusions to be drawn.  Still, the results are tantalizing and suggest that cherries may have the potential to play an important and safe role in the management of arthritis pain.  Indeed, another study with a small sample size (N=10) likewise found that eating two servings of Bing cherries after fasting overnight led to decreased levels of uric acid, which is associated with gout, as well as decreased markers of inflammation.   

            Cherries are known to be rich in antioxidants.  If you eat more than ½ pound of cherries per day, a cherry supplement is not necessary.  However, if you do not intend to eat this amount of cherries per day, and if you are interested in pursuing a nutritional supplement to help with pain associated with arthritis, a tart cherry supplement from a company you trust may prove to be very helpful to you.  Of course, as a rule, and so it is done under a controlled situation, always consult your physician before starting any new supplement or medication.