Tart cherry juice is a popular, all-natural health booster that athletes, doctors, and fitness enthusiasts everywhere love. Tart cherries, sometimes called sour cherries, are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory polyphenols, all of which can help you look, feel and perform better in everyday life.
The best part is that whether you love the taste of cherry or not, you can still reap the benefits through supplements! If you’re interested, keep reading to learn more about how and why you should add tart cherry to your day.
What Are the Health Benefits of Tart Cherry Juice?
There are numerous studies showing that adding a tart cherry supplement to your diet can have significant health benefits. Here are a few of the most common ones:
- Increased melatonin production to help you get better, more restful sleep
- Anti-inflammatory compounds to speed muscle recovery and potentially help with chronic pain and inflammation (e.g., gout and arthritis)
- Sharper mental focus and better brain health
- A boosted immune system
Of course, it’s always a good idea to ask your doctor before you start taking tart cherry juice, especially if you have any medical conditions like IBS or take prescriptions like blood thinners.
The Best Way to Add Tart Cherry Juice to Your Diet
If you’ve considered adding tart cherry juice to your health regimen, you’ve probably noticed that there are pills, extracts, powders, supplements and liquids that all claim to be the best. This can be confusing, especially if you have specific health goals in mind.
So, which is actually the best? Well, it depends. If you want the extra boost of energy that comes from the natural sugars in the fruit, go ahead and grab the pure juice form of tart cherry. The juice is also suitable for anyone who is trying to reach a weight target or simply enjoys the taste.
If you’re looking for the quickest, most accessible method of getting tart cherry juice benefits, capsules or powders from reputable brands are the way to go. You can take them anytime, anywhere or add the powder to a smoothie or yogurt. If you like the taste of tart cherry, you can even get a concentrated bottle of extract to add to your food or drink.
Regardless of which method you choose, taking tart cherry with a meal is recommended to prevent stomach upset.
Why Wait? Start Getting Tart Cherry Juice Benefits Right Away!
Tart cherry juice has tons of benefits for adults of all ages and fitness levels. Whether you’re a pro athlete, an amateur bodybuilder or someone who just wants to live a healthier, happier life, tart cherry has the potential to boost your mental clarity, improve your sleep, and lower overall inflammation. So, grab a bottle of juice or capsules and see what it can do for you!
FAQ
What does drinking tart cherry juice do?
Various studies have shown that adding tart cherry juice to your diet may help with insomnia, mental clarity, and healthy blood pressure. It’s also a great source of iron, zinc, antioxidants, calcium and magnesium.
What’s the difference between cherry juice and tart cherry juice?
Cherry and tart cherry juice are not the same, despite how similar they sound! Other forms of cherry juice are typically sweeter and have fewer anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, any cherry juices that are not 100% juice should be avoided since they’re usually more sugary and less beneficial.
Should you drink tart cherry juice in the morning or at night?
The best time of day depends on what you hope to achieve by drinking tart cherry juice. In general, since it increases melatonin production, it’s often best to drink an hour or two before bed.
Why do bodybuilders drink tart cherry juice?
Tart cherry is packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, which help athletes and bodybuilders recover faster.