I am always amazed by all of the foods that come from the earth and their incredible benefits to our bodies. The more I learn about healthy and nutritious foods the less I reach for the unhealthy choices. In my experience it is true that you crave what you eat.
This summer I was listening to a podcast and they were talking about all of the benefits of tart cherries. I had no idea. There is emerging research along with studies and randomized controlled trials showing all of the health benefits of this superfood including but not limited to:
Improve exercise endurance
Improve muscle recovery
Improve glucose metabolism
Preserve bone density
Boost cognition
Anti-inflammatory
Rich in antioxidants
Rich in polyphenols
Increase sleep quality - (high amount of melatonin, tryptophan and anthocyanins content)
Boost immunity
Its nutrient profile packs a serious punch including copper, potassium, manganese, magnesium, iron and vitamin A. The sleep benefits alone make this a game changer. There is research showing that tart cherry juice directly increases levels of melatonin and can help improve quality and duration of sleep. I can attest to that! The first time that I drank it at night I couldn’t keep my eyes open. A study on insomnia found that participants who drank 480ml of tart cherry juice daily for two weeks increased average sleep time by 85 minutes! That’s pretty incredible.
So why tart cherry over regular cherries? Tart cherry juice is extracted from Montmorency cherries, also known as sour cherries. They have 5 x the antioxidant concentration than that of a regular cherry.
I am learning and experimenting with different ways to consume tart cherry. I buy tart cherry concentrate and this gives me more options for how to use it. Drink it as a juice by combining 7oz water and 1 oz concentrate and pour over ice. It’s delicious and refreshing…fruity but not sweet. My 2 1/2 year old granddaughter LOVES it!
One of my favorite snacks is whole milk cottage cheese and berries. We were out of berries so I got creative and drizzled tart cherry concentrate over cottage cheese and a new snack obsession was born. So good!
At bedtime I heat a cup of tart cherry juice, pour it into a mug, draw a hot bath, and sip it like tea. It’s so relaxing. I even figured out how to upgrade a cocktail! Vodka and tart cherry juice with a squeeze of lime.
I purchase Stanton Orchards Tart Cherry Concentrate at Whole Foods. I love that I can support a family farm in Lake Leelanau, Michigan. Since I am consuming more and more of it I plan on purchasing in bulk on their website.
Tart Cherry is so very healthy, delicious, nutritious, and versatile. I know there are many more ways to enjoy tart cherry. I would love to hear your ideas. Cheers!