Researchers evaluated the efficacy of a cherry juice blend in preventing the symptoms of muscle damage and inflammation after exercise.
In the first study, participants were asked to either drink a bottle of the cherry juice blend twice a day for three days before exercise and for four days afterwards, or to drink a placebo juice containing no cherries. The 12-ounce bottle of juice contained the liquid equivalent of 50 to 60 tart cherries blended with commercially available apple juice.
The participants performed a type of muscle-damaging eccentric exercise during 20 min. The whole process was repeated all over again two weeks later, with those who had taken the placebo juice taking the cherry juice blend instead, and vice versa. Muscle tenderness, motion, and strength were assessed on each of the days before and after exercise and muscle strength had slightly improved after 96 hours in those drinking cherry juice. The degree of soreness differed little between the two groups, but the average pain score was significantly less in those drinking cherry juice.
Another laboratory studied the effect of cherry juice after a marathon. 20 marathon runners drank either a tart cherry blend juice or a placebo drink twice a day for five days before taking part in the London Marathon and for two days afterwards.
The findings indicated that the group who drank the cherry juice recovered their strength more rapidly than the control group over the 48-hour period following the marathon. Inflammation was also reduced in the cherry juice group, as was oxidative stress, a potentially damaging response that can be caused by strenuous physical activity, particularly long distance endurance exercise.
The anthocyanins found in cherries have anti-inflammatory and antioxidating properties, which the research has shown to be effective in helping exercisers to recover from strenuous physical activity.
Although it remains to be examined, these findings will not only benefit marathon runners but could also have serious implications in the treatment of people living with inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis.
From :
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100401131106.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/06/060623101220.htm
