Tart cherry juice has a reputation for fighting inflammation. Readers of our syndicated newspaper column have been singing the praises of tart cherries for decades. They have been using this sour fruit to treat gout attacks, ease arthritis pain and lower blood pressure, There is growing evidence that if you drink cherry juice it may also be good for your brain.
A Placebo-Controlled Trial:
Tart cherries are rich in polyphenol compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. To find out if they might have cognitive benefits, scientists recruited 50 healthy middle-aged volunteers.
These individuals went through a comprehensive computerized battery of cognitive tests before the investigators assigned them to consume 30 ml of Montmorency cherry concentrate or a look-alike placebo twice daily for three months (British Journal of Nutrition, Feb. 3, 2020). They took tests designed to examine the same cognitive capabilities at the close of the study.
The researchers found that those taking the cherry concentrate were better able to sustain their attention. Here is what the researchers found in their own words:
“The main finding of this study was that tart cherries have a positive impact on cognitive performance and perceptions of fatigue and alertness and upregulate plasma amino acids, with no influence on CBF [cerebral blood flow], sleep or health. In the current study MC [Montmorency cherries] improved sustained attention measured by DV [digit vigilance]. Both sweet and tart cherries have been shown to improve aspects of cognitive function following 12-week supplementation in older adults, including sustained attention, however it is currently unknown whether this is a result of improved CBF or due to the potential neuroprotective properties of tart cherry anthocyanins.”
The conclusions:
“These data provide new information that bioactive foods that are rich in anthocyanins and other (poly)phenolic compounds, can have an anti-fatiguing effect during periods of high cognitive demand, which are beneficial in daily tasks requiring vigilance.”
Should you drink cherry juice to ward off cognitive decline? Here is another study that demonstrates that if you drink cherry juice there can be positive outcomes.
Older People Who Drink Cherry Juice:
Investigators at the University of Delaware recruited three dozen volunteers (Food & Function, July 9, 2019). All of the participants were between 65 and 80 years old and had normal cognitive function.
The investigators assigned them randomly to drink cherry juice or placebo for the next three months. Specifically, the volunteers consumed a cup of tart cherry juice each morning and evening or a cup of cherry-flavored Kool-Aid. To assess their cognitive abilities, they took a battery of standardized tests both at the beginning of the study and at the close.
What Were the Results?
At the end of the study, those drinking cherry juice scored better on cognitive tests than the group on placebo. Happily, the cherry-juice drinkers also reported improvements in everyday memory.
Why Could Cherry Juice Boost Brain Power?
Like blueberries and blackberries, cherries contain anthocyanins as well as polyphenols. These compounds appear to reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure.
In addition, some studies show that Concord grape juice, also rich in anthocyanins, can boost brain power. In contrast to Concord grapes, Montmorency tart cherries also contain melatonin and have been shown to improve sleep among older individuals (European Journal of Nutrition, Dec. 2012). Better sleep, lower blood pressure and less inflammation could all contribute to better cognition.
Cherry juice can be pricey. That’s why we buy cherry juice concentrate. It is more affordable this way. The authors of the latest study got their Montmorency cherry juice concentrate from the Cherry Marketing Institute (USA). “Participants were instructed to dilute each 30 ml serving in 240 ml of water as recommended.” Two “doses” (60 ml of cherry juice concentrate) contain about 200 calories.
In summary, the current clinical study that had older people drink cherry juice reinforces prior research in animals showing that tart cherry juice may have benefits for health. If you would like to learn more about tart cherry juice against arthritis, check out our eGuide to Alternatives for Arthritis. It can be found under the Health eGuides tab at this link.
