We have been promoting Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate to our patients for some time now.

Here’s why:

Anti-Inflammatory:

Chronic inflammation is fairly common in our society of “no-pain, no-gain”.  The degenerative and sensitizing effects of chronic inflammation are well documented, however, so are the serious side-effects of the drugs that treat it.  There is a growing body of evidence in the research literature to support the notion that a therapeutic dose of tart cherries is as effective as over-the-counter anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve), but without the significant Gastrointestinal risks and side effects.

Sleep Aide:

If you aren’t sleeping, you aren’t healing and recovering!  Tart Cherries naturally contain melatonin, a hormone that we naturally produce and has been credited with helping people get into their deeper stages of sleep.  Watching TV or working on a computer before bedtime has a negative effect on our melatonin production and can limit both quality and quantity of sleep.  Taking a therapeutic dose of tart cherry juice concentrate 2-3 hours before bedtime can have significant, positive effects on sleep.

Anti-Oxidant:

When you hear about foods containing anti-oxidants, most people think of dark chocolate, red wine and nuts.  However, tart cherry juice concentrate beats all of them in anti-oxidant content!

Our Recommendation:

Many online as well as local health food stores carry the concentrate, however be aware that the tart cherry juice that grocery stores carry is not concentrated.  When buying, look for organic and the serving size as this can change the relative value of the bottle.  We have teamed up with an upstate, family-run farm to offer the best, locally-grown tart cherry juice concentrate we could find.  Our juice contains the juice of 60 cherries in a 1-ounce serving (There is 20+ pounds of cherries in the 32oz bottle!).  It’s a little syrupy but can be reconstituted in 8 ounces of plain or seltzer water.

For the sleep-aide effect: take one serving 2-3 hours before you plan on going to sleep.

For an all-day anti-inflammatory effect: dilute one serving in a litre of water and sip throughout the day.