Black cherry juice for gout: Is it useful?

Gout is a kind of inflammatory arthritis and it occurs when uric acid accumulates in the blood and forms crystals in a joint. This causes pain and swelling. The main areas where gout develops are the joints of the knee, ankle, and big toe.

Black cherry juice contains anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are antioxidants which are purple or red in color and are found in vegetables and fruits. Purple cabbage, beets, blueberries, and cherries all contain anthocyanins. Black cherry juice contains a lot of anthocyanins and it is known to provide relief in the pain caused by gout. Not much research has been done in this area and we need more studies to know if black cherry juice provides relief from gout-induced pain. Black cherry juice contains antioxidants and these antioxidants help to reduce the uric acid. This could be the reason why black cherry juice might be useful in treating the pain caused by gout.

How to take black cherry juice for relief in gout

• Consuming cherries and black cherries could provide relief from the pain. You could also take out the juice of black cherries and consume it.
• To treat gout, you should drink plenty of water and stop the consumption of alcohol. Drinking black cherry juice alone will not relieve you of gout but it certainly can improve health.
• Black cherries also provide relief from inflammation. You can consume black cherries raw or drink black cherry juice to get the same benefits. You could also take a black cherry supplement but it is best to consume natural, unprocessed cherries.

Risks of black cherry consumption

• If you are allergic to black cherries, it is best to avoid them.
• Over-consumption of black cherry juice can cause stomach cramps and diarrhea.
• Remember to consult your doctor first before you consume black cherries.