Does Cherry Juice Lower Uric Acid?

Tart cherries have a reputation for being able to moderate excruciating joint pain from gout. Gout results from a buildup of uric acid in the blood and precipitation of urate crystals in the joints. A scientific study demonstrates that consuming Montmorency tart cherries alters uric acid metabolism and lower uric acid in the body.

How Scientists Studied Cherry Juice to Lower Uric Acid:

The small study was conducted in the UK and compared two different doses of cherry juice in healthy young volunteers (Journal of Functional Foods, Nov. 2014). For two days they drank diluted cherry juice concentrate morning and evening.

There was a ten-day washout period between the doses tested: one consisted of one ounce of cherry juice concentrate in 100 ml of water, while the other was two ounces of cherry juice concentrate in 100 ml of water. Both doses reduced blood and urinary levels of uric acid. C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation, was also reduced.

The dose did not matter. That’s probably good news for gout sufferers, since Montmorency cherries, while tasty, can be pricy. They do have a very high level of the antioxidant compounds known as anthocyanins, which give these cherries their red hue. Anthocyanins might also be responsible for the uric acid benefit.

Will Eating Cherries Help Kidney Stones?

Q. I don’t have gout, but I have had uric acid kidney stones. My uric acid level came down from 7.2 to 6 by drinking cherry juice and eating cherries. I did not take any medication. I have had no further kidney stone problems, and it has now been two years.

A. A meta-analysis found a link between tart cherry juice consumption and reduced uric acid levels (Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Dec. 4, 2019).  However, a recent randomized trial in 12 healthy adults did not identify a change in urate as a result of drinking tart cherry juice (Nutrition and Health, Jan. 28, 2026).

Since you have gotten good results, you might continue your practice. We do not know why studies are inconsistent in the results of tart cherry consumption on urate levels. Perhaps we can attribute this to the differing effects sweet or tart cherries have on cyclooxygenase (COX) compounds (Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease, May 17, 2019). To understand why that is important, just remember that NSAIDs like celecoxib (Celebrex) or ibuprofen (Advil) work by inhibiting COX activity.

Steve wrote:

“I am 62 years old and over the past several years have experienced painful gout attacks that lasted for weeks. Almost a year ago, after my last gout attack, I started a daily regimen of 2 tbsp black cherry concentrate in 4 oz of water. I haven’t had a tingle or feeling that a gout attack was lurking. I’m a believer.”

Cowgirl Swears by Black Cherry Juice for Gout:

Tart Montmorency cherries are not the only ones that are popular for pain relief. Many have found that black cherry juice is a wonderful remedy for gout.

Q. I am 53 and an aging old cowgirl. I’ve been beat up, banged up and thrown off livestock since I was 8 years old. Now all that has come home to roost.

I got my first signs of gout last year and went through hell with the doctors.

I decided to give cherry juice a try and sent someone into town to fetch me back a bottle of black cherry juice. It was twenty bucks for a quart jug. I took two tablespoons of it by mouth and also soaked my feet in an activated charcoal solution.

By the time I got up, I felt like I was 35 again. I was able to ride and rope again without pain in my feet. This really works for me.

Black Cherry Juice Reduces Gout Attacks

A. Although the lore about black cherry juice for gout was once thought to be an old wives’ tale, studies now show that tart or black cherry consumption reduces gout attacks (Arthritis and Rheumatism, Dec., 2012).  This is presumably because consuming cherries or cherry juice lowers the level of uric acid circulating in the body (Journal of Nutrition, Jun., 2003).

Activated Charcoal Foot Soak

Your activated charcoal foot soak is a new one on us. We are glad you’re now back in the saddle!

Word of Warning:

Anyone with chronic kidney disease might want to forgo cherries or cherry juice concentrate as a treatment. In at least one case, a person with chronic kidney disease suffered acute kidney injury from taking black cherry concentrate (CEN Case Reports, Aug. 2019). This outcome may be rare, but it is probably not worth the risk