Tart Cherries And Cherry Juice - Foods That Protect You From Inflammation


by Russ the Fitness Writer - Date: 2008-07-16 - Word Count: 653 Share This!

Medical research is linking inflammation in the body to a wide array of allegories, illness and disease. From simple allegories including hay fever to heart disease and even depression has been linked to inflammation in the body. In addition, inflammation in the skin has been also linked to wrinkles, laugh lines and crow's feet. So inflammation in the body can be the cause of a whole host of illnesses and aging issues.

A healthy lifestyle and healthy eating habits are the first lines of defense against excessive inflammation. Making healthy lifestyle such as not smoking, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and eating anti-inflammatory foods will help to minimize inflammation in the body.

What is Inflammation?

Inflammation is an excellent indicator that tells you the healing process is taking place. The pain may be caused by a stubbed toe or the flu. Some of the common symptoms of inflammation include localized redness, swelling, pain and even in some instances, loss of function and movement of the affects areas. Basically, when inflammation occurs the body increases blood flow to the localized area and sends white blood cells to repair damaged cells and fight off bacteria. In addition, the body may also experience increase heat in the affected area. In the short-term inflammation benefits the body because once the damaged area has been repaired the inflammation and heat disappears.

However, when low-grade inflammation continues you may not even know you have an issue that needs to be addressed. When this occurs, you may not even be able to pinpoint the exact location of the chronic inflammation in the body.
Generally, ongoing inflammation in the body can be a result of viruses, allergies and ongoing muscle and back pain. In addition, being overweight, especially in the stomach-area is also considered an important factor in inflammation. The reason is belly fat is active tissue that actually produces hormones just like an organ so making wise food choices can help to fight inflammation and assist in weight loss.

Foods That Protect You from Inflammation

Adding foods to your diet to help reduce inflammation with improve how you feel and can even decrease your risk of ongoing illness. Below are some anti-inflammatory foods suggestions and information about the amazing anti-inflammatory benefits of tart cherries.

Below are some examples of anti-inflammatory foods that you should add to your diet. These include soybeans, olive oil and Omega-3 sources including walnuts, pumpkin seeds and oily fish flax. Whole grains, fruits and vegetables. These foods provide inflammation fighting antioxidants including flavonoids, cartotenoids, phytochemicals and vitamin A, C, and E.

The tart cherry is one fast becoming known as "Mother Nature's Healing Fruit". This ruby red fruit has a long history of fight inflammation pain caused by gout and arthritis. In regards to joint pain and inflammation, Michigan State University was the first medical university to identify that the Anthocyanins in tart cherries may naturally inhibit the COX 1 and COX 2 enzymes. According to research, tart cherries inhibit COX 1 and COX 2 (cyclooxygenase 1 and 2) enzymes and prevent inflammation in the body.

Tart cherries help the body to produce similar types of chemical process as non-sterodial anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Some examples of NSAIDS drugs are ibuprofen and aspirin. Tart cherries compounds function in the same manner to NSAIDS. The inhibitors found in the tart cherries are of the flavonoids class. Unlike NSAIDS, research shows these flavonoids protect against stomach damage and don't upset the stomach.

According to research, people can feel the difference with as little as 20 cherries per day. However, since fresh tart cherries are only available for a few short weeks during the summer months, many are drinking tart cherry juice concentrate for year round benefit. One ounce of tart cherry juice concentrate equals 100 cherries. One source for Traverse Bay Farms

So if you are looking to fight inflammation in the naturally, consider adding anti-inflammatory foods and tart cherry juice to your diet.

Related Tags: exercise, baby boomer, arthritis, anti aging, anti-inflammatory, inflammation, gout, joint pain, tart cherry, cherry juice, tart cherry juice, antiinflammatory

Russ Anderson is an avid writer about natural health solutions. To learn more about varicose veins and the natural health benefits of tart cherry juice visit www.traversebayfarms.com

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