The Cherry (Juice) on Top
- By Lauren Smalley
- Aug 2, 2018
Cherry season may be winding down, but you may want to keep cherries in mind. Especially tart cherry juice. Tart cherry juice brings with it a wealth of health benefits, including promoting sleep. It has even been studied for its role in relieving insomnia.
How does tart cherry juice promote sleep
Tart cherry juice contains melatonin, which is a hormone that aids in sleepiness. There has not been extensive research done on using tart cherry juice as a sleep aid, but two studies have shown favorable results. The studies had adults with insomnia drink 8 ounces of tart cherry juice twice a day for two weeks. These participants ended up sleeping an hour and a half longer than participants that did not drink the cherry juice.
Besides melatonin, the pigments in tart cherry juice help to increase the availability of tryptophan. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that is known to aid in sleep. Reduced levels of tryptophan are a precursor to insomnia.
What’s the deal with insomnia?
Those who struggle with insomnia often struggle with chronic pain, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and a decline in cognitive function. All to show that quality sleep is essential to your overall health. Many with insomnia turn to medications, where tart cherry juice could provide a natural solution to getting some shut eye.
Benefits for all
Even those who do not suffer from insomnia can benefit from tart cherry juice, too. As mentioned previously, the health benefits from drinking tart cherry juice are plenty. Tart cherry juice has high levels of vitamin A, vitamin C, and manganese. It also is a rich source of antioxidants that can help protect your body from inflammation.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-foods-to-help-you-sleep#section5
