Tart Cherries – A Traveler’s Best Friend #ChooseMontmorency
Great question! We did a little more research and found the studies indicate that frozen and canned can be just…
This post was sponsored by Choose Cherries. The opinions are 100% our own based on our experiences.
Perhaps you’ve heard of the health benefits associated with tart cherries? I have to admit, I was only aware of their use to help decrease pain of traveling (and even sedentary) gout sufferers. When I dug a little deeper into Montmorency tart cherries, it was plain I was missing out. Tart cherries have a myriad of uses to benefit the traveler. Muscles aching after a long day of lugging suitcases? Can’t sleep at your destination – or once you’ve returned? What if a simple glass of tart cherry juice could fix all of that…and much more? Read on…
What Are Montmorency Tart Cherries?
Montmorency is the varietal of tart cherry most commonly grown in the U.S. Choosing this U.S.-grown superfruit means supporting local agriculture and preserving generations-old family farms. Tart cherries are harvested in the summer months, but you probably won’t find them fresh unless you live in one of the growing regions, which include Michigan, Washington, Utah, New York, Oregon, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
Fortunately, Montmorency tart cherries are available year-round in dried, frozen, juice, concentrate and canned forms. They have a unique sweet-tart flavor profile that is becoming more and more popular across the country. Because Montmorency tart cherries come in so many forms, they can be enjoyed from morning until night, and while on the road, as delicious snacks, in smoothies, as a topping on yogurt or oatmeal, and incorporated into energy bars, trail mixes and baked goods, to name a few. And, they are easy to throw into a suitcase or backpack when traveling!
In addition to their unique taste and versatility, scientific research continuously links Montmorency tart cherries to an array of important health benefits, some of which may be beneficial to travelers looking to get the most out of their trip.
Tart Cherry Choices
What Are Tart Cherries Good For?
Montmorency tart cherries have been studied more than any other type of cherry – and the evidence is growing. In fact, there are more than 60 research studies supporting the potential health benefits of Montmorency tart cherries, including aiding in:
- Easing Post-Workout Soreness – Studies suggest Montmorency tart cherry juice may help reduce muscle pain and weakness after bouts of intense strength training, as well as after long-distance running.
- Promoting Better Sleep – Research indicates that Montmorency tart cherry juice, a natural source of melatonin, may help improve the quality and duration of sleep, reduce the severity of insomnia and increase overall sleep efficiency.
- Reducing Inflammation – Research indicates that Montmorency tart cherries may help reduce inflammation related to arthritis and gout.
- Promoting Heart Health – Studies indicate that Montmorency tart cherries may help lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, reduce inflammation and improve belly fat – all factors specifically linked to heart disease risk.
How Much Tart Cherry Juice is Recommended?
Research recommends drinking tart cherry juice or concentrate twice a day (once in the morning and once at night). Recommended servings sizes are 2 tbsp. of tart cherry juice concentrate (either drank as a shot or mixed with 8 oz. of water) or 8 oz. glasses of tart cherry juice.
Learn More About Montmorency Tart Cherries
One of the best resources to learn more about Montmorency tart cherries is Choose Cherries. Here you’ll find great tart cherry recipes, Tart Tales, and a Tart Cherry 101 guide to answer any of your questions about the potential benefits of tart cherries in all of their forms.
Huh, yummy. I’ve also switched to a healthier lifestyle and training with SportMe running app and travelling a lot. Finding new running routes where I travel is fascinating.
I love cherries but had no idea of these health benefits. I’m happy to learn this so I can indulge in more!
I just added this to my Travel Tips Pinterest board. As a “What Boundaries?” reader of a certain age, it seems as though tart cherry juice should be added to my diet. In any case, it doesn’t come with a page of fine print warnings, so that’s a start.
Thank you for the Pinterest Board add. It is refreshing to find a product you can use without the serious list of side effects isn’t it? Mother nature really provides with these tart cherries!
Cherries are really abundant in NY now and I’m going to put them on my shopping list again!
Cool information. So, are the health benefits still evident in frozen and canned form? Or just in fresh cherries?
Great question! We did a little more research and found the studies indicate that frozen and canned can be just as beneficial. Be sure to look at that canned label though to check you are not buying the syrupy sweet cherries in sugar. That cant’t be too good for you either way!
Thx for the very informative post about the benefits of tart cherries. The fact that they promote better sleep and reduce inflammation are of great interest to me.
Doreen Pendgracs recently wrote an awesome post…Holguin: Gateway to Eastern Cuba
We actually have a supply of the tart cherries with us now for those two reasons! After walking around a new town my knee tends to get inflamed so I have been enjoying the delicious cherries with the side effect of reduction in inflammation!
Those cherry pics are tempting! It was just this past week that I learned that cherry juice is good for gout problems (my aunt with gout issues is going to try it). I’m really interested in it being good for sleep. Thanks for the tips.
We were always surprised to learn of all the additional health benefits the tart cherries provide. Lisa had known of the gout relief from her previous work, but that was just the tip of the iceberg!