Tart Cherry Juice Reduces Muscle Damage

Athletes who drink tart cherry juice after a vigorous workout may reduce muscle damage and recover faster thanks to anthocyanins that reduce inflammation, according to a new study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. The findings also suggest the cherries could affect inflammation related to heart disease and arthritis.

Researchers at the Sports and Exercise Science Research Center at London South Bank University gave 10 trained athletes 1 ounce of an antioxidant-packed tart cherry juice concentrate (provided by CherryActive) twice daily for seven days prior to and two days after an intense round of strength training. The athletes’ recovery after the cherry juice concentrate was significantly faster compared to when they drank juice without the same phytonutrient content of cherry juice.

After drinking cherry juice, athletes returned to 90 percent of normal muscle force at 24 hours, compared to only 85 percent of normal at the same time point without cherry juice. Researchers suggest that the powerful antioxidant compounds in cherry juice likely decreased oxidative damage to the athletes' muscles the damage that normally occurs when muscles are worked to their max allowing the muscles to recover more quickly.

Sources:

* Cherry Marketing Institute: NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS TART CHERRIES COULD SPEED MUSCLE RECOVERY