Montmorency Cherry

Other Names:

Tart Cherry, Dwarf Cherry

Nutrition:

Montmorency cherry is more sour in taste compared other cherry varieties, however are richer in nutrients – 20 times more vitamin A and the antioxidant levels are up to five times higher. Just one cup of these cherries contains 62% of the RDI of vitamin A, 40% of the RDI of vitamin C, 14% of the RDI of manganese, 12% of the RDI of potassium, 12% of the RDI of copper and 7% of the RDI of vitamin K. As well as this impressive nutrient profile, Montmorency cherries contain small amounts of B vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium and omega-3 and -6 fats.

Health Benefits:

May improve sleep

Melatonin is a hormone that helps sleep, and Montmorency cherries are naturally high in this hormone. They also contain good amounts of tryptophan and anthocyanins, which help the body to create melatonin and prolong its effects. There have been various studies into the effectiveness of Montmorency cherry in improving sleep, one particular study found that after supplementing with the cherry for two weeks, participants suffering from insomnia increased sleep time by 85 minutes.

Benefits muscle strength

Montmorency cherry may be beneficial to physically active individuals due to its effects on muscle strength and soreness. A study found that when taking the supplement for seven days before a race, runners experienced less pain and soreness during and after the race compared to those who took a placebo. Other studies have shown that the cherry may also increase muscle strength. A group of individuals were given cherry supplements leading up to a resistance training session and it was found that they lost up to 4% less muscle strength compared to those who were given a placebo.

Could reduce symptoms of Arthritis and Gout

It is suggested that the consumption of Montmorency cherry could reduce joint pain and inflammation – symptoms that are often related to arthritis. This is said to be due to its ability to reduce certain blood markers of inflammation. Some studies have also looked at the cherry’s effectiveness on gout, a type of arthritis in which suffered have repeat attacks of swelling and intense pain. It has been found that drinking Montmorency cherry juice reduces the levels of a chemical that can trigger gout when found in too high concentrations, called uric acid.

Typical Uses:

Unlike sweet varieties of cherries that are usually consumed fresh, due to the bitter taste of Montmorency cherries they are more often consumed dried, frozen, juiced or as a supplement such as our Montmorency Cherry Capsules.

Sources:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20438325/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20459662/