The Benefits of Montmorency Cherry

Montmorency Cherry

Montmorency Cherry (Montmorency Cherry) is rich in melatonin, a natural sleep hormone, making it excellent for improving sleep quality and regulating sleep cycles. Additionally, these cherries are high in antioxidants like anthocyanins, which help reduce inflammation, improve recovery from exercise, and support joint health. They also provide benefits for cardiovascular health due to their antioxidant content.

Key Highlights of Montmorency Cherry

• Improves sleep quality
• Supports memory and learning ability
• A powerful anti-inflammatory
• Rich in melatonin
• Reduces inflammation
• Supports joint health

Biochemistry Timeline

Montmorency Cherry supplementation may alleviate gout and joint pain symptoms in about four weeks, while benefits like improved sleep and reduced inflammation can be noticed within two weeks. Its rich antioxidant content supports overall joint health and recovery.

What is Montmorency Cherry?

Montmorency Cherry is a variety of sour cherry widely found in Europe, America and Canada. A nutritional necessity it contains essential micronutrients and vitamins A, C, K, potassium, manganese and copper. It also provides smaller, but substantial amounts of B vitamins and magnesium.

It was the Romans that discovered this brightly coloured fruit along the Black Sea and on their travels they planted cherry trees alongside the Roman roads so passing soldiers could use the fruit for food. During this time, it was discovered that Cherry’s appeared to relieve pain and so the pain relieving benefits of cherries were discovered. Of course we now have the research on this tart little fruit to back up its anecdotal tale.

The Amazing Benefits of Montmorency Cherry

Anti-inflammatory Properties

Montmorency Cherries are a rich source of polyphenols and vitamin C which have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties needed for a healthy immune system. In particular the high antioxidant properties may help to reduce oxidative damage that can be created by environmental toxins and chronic stress.

Particularly beneficial to help reduce inflammation, one study found that Montmorency cherry juice reduced upper respiratory tract symptoms in athletes. Post-race infections can be a common problem among endurance athletes. Athletes aside, this is also relevant for those of us that are not athletes!

In a review study where multiple papers were reviewed, results from animal and human studies suggest that cherries may reduce the risk of several chronic inflammatory diseases including, arthritis, cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, and cancer.

Neuropathy Management

Cherries may also help reduce peripheral neuropathy, a type of pain caused by nerve damage.

Insomnia Relief

Montmorency Cherry naturally contains melatonin at a high enough level to provide significant benefit to our sleep/wake cycle (circadian rhythm). Not only this, cherrys have been shown to elevate its levels in our blood helping us to nod off naturally. For these reasons it has been welcomed as an effective way to help with insomnia and aid a better night’s sleep in general.

Melatonin Production

Montmorency Cherry also contains a good amount of tryptophan and anthocyanins, two compounds that are known to help the body create even more melatonin and increase its effects.

One study showed the benefits of Montmorency Cherry in improving sleep duration and quality in healthy men and women concluding that it could be of benefit in managing disturbed sleep.

Oxidative Damage

Montmorency Cherries contain significant amounts of important nutrients including polyphenols, carotenoids, vitamin C and potassium which help to fight off oxidative damage assisting in keeping the brain in tip-top condition.

Memory Enhancement

Recent research has shown that after just 12 weeks, those drinking cherry juice showed improved scores in both cognitive function and subjective memory. The subjects showed a 5% increase in satisfaction with their ability to remember things, and a 23% reduction in errors made during a visual memory task (which assesses visual memory and new learning) compared to placebo. They also exhibited a 3% improvement in visual sustained attention (which measures visual information processing) and an 18% reduction in errors made during a working memory task.

Mood Benefits

Hypertension, inflammation and oxidative stress are important factors in the development of cognitive damage. Studies have demonstrated that Montmorency Cherry can lower blood pressure and improve inflammatory and oxidative stress status which in turn can help with the overall ability to tackle daily tasks.

High Antioxidant Content

Neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s are thought to be triggered by oxidative stress. Montmorency Cherries contain large amounts of antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds that may have protective effects on brain cells against oxidative stress.

One study showed that consuming Montmorency Cherry daily improved antioxidant defences in healthy older men and women. Another study showed that those with mild-to-moderate dementia, when taking Montmorency Cherry showed improvements in verbal fluency and short-term and long-term memory, whereas those in the placebo group experienced no improvement.

Summary

Montmorency Cherry is a tart cherry variety rich in melatonin and antioxidants like anthocyanins, beneficial for sleep quality, joint health, and inflammation reduction. It may alleviate gout symptoms and joint pain in about four weeks, while improvements in sleep and inflammation can occur within two weeks. This cherry variety also supports cognitive function, reduces oxidative stress, and enhances recovery from exercise. With essential vitamins and minerals, Montmorency Cherry offers a natural solution for better sleep, mood, and overall health. Regular supplementation can significantly improve quality of life by addressing various health concerns.

FAQs

Is there a recommended dosage for Montmorency Cherry? Common dosages range from 500 mg to 1,500 mg per day, but it’s best to follow product-specific instructions or consult a healthcare provider.

Are there any side effects? Montmorency Cherry is generally safe, but some individuals may experience mild digestive upset. Consult a healthcare provider if you have concerns.

Can Montmorency Cherry interact with medications? It may interact with certain medications, especially those affecting blood sugar or blood clotting. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting supplementation.

Can I get enough benefits from eating whole cherries? While whole cherries offer benefits, supplementation provides concentrated amounts of beneficial compounds, making it easier to achieve desired effects.

Research:

1. Howatson, G., Bell, P. G., Tallent, J., Middleton, B., McHugh, M. P., & Ellis, J. (2012). Effect of tart cherry juice (Prunus cerasus) on melatonin levels and enhanced sleep quality. European journal of nutrition, 51(8), 909–916.
2. Losso, J. N., Finley, J. W., Karki, N., Liu, A. G., Prudente, A., Tipton, R., Yu, Y., & Greenway, F. L. (2018). Pilot Study of the Tart Cherry Juice for the Treatment of Insomnia and Investigation of Mechanisms. American journal of therapeutics, 25(2), e194–e201.
3. Levers, K., Dalton, R., Galvan, E., Goodenough, C., O’Connor, A., Simbo, S., Barringer, N., Mertens-Talcott, S, U., Rasmussen, C., Greenwood, M., Riechman, S., Crouse, S., & Kreider, R, B. ( 2015) Effects of powdered Montmorency tart cherry supplementation on an acute bout of intense lower body strength exercise in resistance trained males. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 12, 41.
4. Dimitriou, L., Hill, J. A., Jehnali, A., Dunbar, J., Brouner, J., McHugh, M. P., & Howatson, G. (2015). Influence of a montmorency cherry juice blend on indices of exercise-induced stress and upper respiratory tract symptoms following marathon running–a pilot investigation. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 12, 22.
5. Kelley, D. S., Adkins, Y., & Laugero, K. D. (2018). A Review of the Health Benefits of Cherries. Nutrients, 10(3), 368.
6. Chai, S, C., Jerusik, J., Davis, K., Wright, R, S., & Zhang, Z. (2019). Effect of Montmorency tart cherry juice on cognitive performance in older adults: a randomized controlled trial. Food & Function, 7 (10), 4423-4431
7. Garrido, M., Espino, J., Toribio-Delgado, A. F., Cubero, J., Maynar-Mariño, J. I., Barriga, C., Paredes, S. D., & Rodríguez, A. B. (2012). A jerte valley cherry-based product as a supply of tryptophan. International journal of tryptophan research : IJTR, 5, 9–14.
8. Traustadóttir, T., Davies, S. S., Stock, A. A., Su, Y., Heward, C. B., Roberts, L. J., 2nd, & Harman, S. M. (2009). Tart cherry juice decreases oxidative stress in healthy older men and women. The Journal of nutrition, 139(10), 1896–1900.
9. Kent, K., Charlton, K., Roodenrys, S., Batterham, M., Potter, J., Traynor, V., Gilbert, H., Morgan, O., & Richards, R. (2017). Consumption of anthocyanin-rich cherry juice for 12 weeks improves memory and cognition in older adults with mild-to-moderate dementia. European journal of nutrition, 56(1), 333–341.
10. Kim, D. O., Heo, H. J., Kim, Y. J., Yang, H. S., & Lee, C. Y. (2005). Sweet and sour cherry phenolics and their protective effects on neuronal cells. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 53(26), 9921–9927.
11. Matchynski, J. J., Lowrance, S. A., Pappas, C., Rossignol, J., Puckett, N., Sandstrom, M., & Dunbar, G. L. (2013). Combinatorial treatment of tart cherry extract and essential fatty acids reduces cognitive impairments and inflammation in the mu-p75 saporin-induced mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of medicinal food, 16(4), 288–295.