Montmorency Tart Cherry Juice and Gout Pain

Gout is known to afflict joints throughout the body including the toes, ankles, feet, elbows, arms, knees, and wrists. However, it is usually most prevalent in the area of the big toe since these joints have large spaces between them, allowing uric acid crystals to form.

Usually gout is handled with anti-inflammatory treatments and other therapies that diminish uric acid levels in the blood. However for some individuals these types of treatments may have unfavorable side effects or could bring about unfavorable outcomes. That is why more and more individuals are searching for natural gout remedies for this painful affiliation.

The Cherry Juice Remedy for Gout Pain

An increasingly popular natural remedy for gout is to add some tart cherry juice to your daily anti-gout routine. This Northern Michigan-grown red fruit has demonstrated its ability to help reduce inflammation naturally. According to research, the anti-inflammatory ability of tart cherries and cherry juice is due to the synergistic way all of the compounds work together to reduce inflammation in the body naturally.

In addition, the presence of anthocyanins are also credited with helping to reduce inflammation in the body, too. It doesn’t matter if the tart cherries are fresh, cherry capsules, canned or juiced. However, the cherry juice and tart cherry capsules seem to offer higher levels of these compounds when compared to other types of cherry products.

The region that grows the highest amount of tart cherries in the United States is the Traverse Bay Farms region of Michigan. This part of the Michigan is also known as the “Cherry Capital of the World”. The reason is this region grows over 50% of all tart cherries in America.

The compounds and phytochemicals found in the tart cherry also help to dissolve the uric acid crystals that form between the joints and cause pain and redness. Uric acid crystals are caused by increased levels of purines in the body. As purine levels increase at a faster rate that can be removed from the body naturally, they tend to crystallize.

Since these crystals are heavier than the blood carrying them, they succumb to gravity and are naturally pulled to the lower parts of the body including the ankles and feet. Since the area of the big toes has largest spaces between the bones, many of these crystals settle in this area. That is usually why one of the first symptoms of gout is redness and pain in the area of the big toe.

The phytochemicals in tart cherry juice actually helps to dissolve these deposited crystals between the joints and helps to keep them in liquid form to be excreted out. Below are a few of specific compounds found in the tart cherry that fight gout pain.

Quercetin

This naturally occurring bioflavonoid is an important antioxidant. While the onion is the one of the best source of food-based quercetin, it is also found in cherries and apples. An article in the July 2004 edition of the “Journal of Ethnopharmacology” shared the results of a study that indicated the combined compounds of quercetin and rutin actually reduced uric acid levels by inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase. This enzyme is partially responsible for the production of uric acid in the body.

Rutin

The published research also shared the anti-inflammatory properties of Rutin and its ability to reduce inflammation caused by the buildup of uric acid in the joints. The tart cherry delivers both of these bioflavonoids into a powerful uric acid lowering and inflammatory combination.

Bromelain

Another enzyme that helps to fight inflammation in the body and joints is Bromelain. This compound helps with the digestion of proteins. This is especially important in combating inflammation in soft tissue inflammation. In addition to being present in tart cherries, it is also abundant in pineapples.

Anthocyanins

This tiny red fruit is an abundant source of the anthocyanins. This compound has been shown to naturally lower the production of uric acid since it helps to inhibit the functionality of xanthine oxidase. By lowering uric acid levels in the body, it helps to fight current gout attacks and prevent future attacks, too.

As you can see, the tart cherry has a number of enzymes, phytochemicals and compounds all working together to fight gout pain and lower uric acid levels naturally.

Where to Get Tart Cherries or Cherry Juice?

Did you know you can actually grow a tart cherry tree in your own back yard? If you live in cooler climate regions you may be able to pick your very own tart cherries right from your own tree and combat gout pain. The type of tart cherry tree you would be most interested in would be the Montmorency variety. The fruit ripens in mid to late July and a full grown tree can produce up to 5,000 cherries per tree per harvest season. Willis Orchards actually ships partially grow tart cherry trees across the country.

However, if you don’t have a green thumb or don’t live in moderate to cooler climates, look for cherry juice concentrate or tart cherry capsules. Both of these types of cherry products deliver high amounts of antioxidants and the other compounds found in the tart cherry. Best of all, you don’t have to wait several years for your newly planted cherry tree to bear fruit.