In this article, we are going to talk about the possible good effects of eating cherries for gout. We know that cherries is one of the most loved fruits in the whole wide world. Can this fruit be beneficial for the betterment of gout, or is it the other way around? Give this article a read and you will get to know the answer. No need to worry, because you will certainly learn a lot from this article! Sit back, relax, and enjoy the read!
Cherries…
Cherries are drupe fruits of the genus Prunus. The edible cherries are renowned for having flower clusters and smooth fruit. Moreover, they have a central stony-hard seed that’s surrounded with fleshy edible pulp. They usually come in small sizes, measuring around 2 centimeters in diameter. On the outside, they are covered by bright, and shiny purple or red, thin peel or skin. Cherries are native to the Northern Hemisphere. America has 2 species, Europe has 3, and the rest is in Asia.
Moreover, cherries are popular because of their own juicy and sweet characteristics. However, more and more research suggests that cherries are tremendously beneficial to the health too. The nutrients, as well as the bioactive components in it, support their own preventive health benefits. furthermore, recent research also indicates that cherries are beneficial in removing the excess body fat and increase the melatonin, thus supporting a much healthier sleep cycle.
Nutritional Content of Cherries
100 grams of tart and sweet cherry fruit contains the following nutrients:
| Principle | Amount | % Daily Value | ||
| Cherry type | Sweet | Tart | Sweet | Tart |
| Energy | 63 cal | 50 cal | 3% | 2.5% |
| Carbohydrates | 16.1 grams | 12.18 grams | 12% | 9% |
| Protein | 1.06 grams | 1.00 grams | 2% | 2% |
| Total Fat | 0.20 grams | 0.30 grams | 2% | 3% |
| Cholesterol | 0 milligrams | 0 milligrams | 0% | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.1 grams | 1.6 grams | 5.5% | 4% |
| Vitamins | ||||
| Folates | 4 micrograms | 8 micrograms | 1% | 2% |
| Niacin | 0.154 milligrams | 0.400 milligrams | 1% | 2.5% |
| Pyridoxine | 0.049 milligrams | 0.044 milligrams | 4% | 3.5% |
| Riboflavin | 0.033 milligrams | 0.040 milligrams | 2.5% | 3% |
| Thiamin | 0.027 milligrams | 0.030 milligrams | 2% | 2.5% |
| Vitamin A | 640 IU | 1283 IU | 2% | 2.5% |
| Vitamin C | 21 milligrams | 43 milligrams | 21% | 43% |
| Electrolytes | ||||
| Sodium | 0 milligrams | 3 milligrams | 0% | 0.2% |
| Potassium | 222 milligrams | 179 milligrams | 5% | 4% |
| Minerals | ||||
| Calcium | 13 milligrams | 16 milligrams | 1.3% | 1.6% |
| Copper | 0.060 milligrams | 0.104 milligrams | 7% | 11.5% |
| Iron | 0.36 milligrams | 0.32 milligrams | 4.5% | 4% |
| Magnesium | 11 milligrams | 9 milligrams | 3% | 2% |
| Manganese | 0.070 milligrams | 0. milligrams | 3% | 5% |
| Phosphorus | 21 milligrams | 15 milligrams | 3% | 2% |
| Zinc | 0.07 milligrams | 0.10 milligrams | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Phyto-nutrients | ||||
| Carotene-ß | 38 micrograms | 770 micrograms | — | — |
| Carotene-α | 0 micrograms | 0 micrograms | — | — |
| Lutein-Zeaxanthin | 85 micrograms | 85 micrograms | — | — |
Cherries for Gout: The correlation between the two
A study in 2003 discovered that amongst 10 healthy women eating two portions of Bing cherries, the uric acid fell by around 15%. Moreover, another study from 2006 discovered that 18 healthy adults who ate 280 grams of Bing cherries every day for one month had a significant reduction in the blood levels of the substances connected with the immune cell activity and inflammation.
Furthermore, another study of 633 gout patients who consumed cherries was less likely of succeeding gout flare-ups by about 35%. Those gout sufferers who ate more cherries of about 3 servings in two days, had an even lower 50 percent reduction in the risk of gout. All the more, the gout risk was reduced by about 75% when allopurinol and cherry are taken together.
Cherries for Gout: The conclusion
If you are suffering from gout, it is essential that you restrict your own fructose or sugar intake to lower than 25 grams every day. This includes the sugar from various fruits. There is a need to do this as the sugar or fructose drives up the uric acid levels in the body. Take note, treatments may vary according to people, it is a must that you adjust the dose consequently. For instance, the regular cherry concentrate is thick and sweet. A tablespoon is equal to around 45-60 cherries.
If you are to use cherries for gout, you should choose the tart cherry. This is more effective than any other cherries. It is beneficial in treating arthritis, thus working better in preventing and treating gout through the reduction of the uric acid levels and breaking up the crystals responsible for the joint pain.
