A new study shows tart cherries,
one of today's hottest "Super Fruits," may help reduce inflammation,
potentially lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease
in animals. The study was presented by University of Michigan researchers
today at the Experimental Biology annual meeting. As science continues to
reveal inflammation may be a marker for many chronic diseases, the
researchers say emerging studies like this are important in examining the
role diet may play in disease management and prevention.
At-risk rats with metabolic syndrome (obese, pre-diabetic) and lean,
healthy rats were fed a cherry-enriched "Western Diet," characterized by
high fat and moderate carbohydrate -- in line with the typical American
diet. Cherry-enriched diets, which consisted of whole tart cherry powder as
1 percent of the diet, reduced two known markers of inflammation by up to
50 percent. TNF-alpha was reduced by 50 percent in the lean rats and 40
percent in the at-risk rats and interleukin 6 (IL-6) was lowered by 31
percent in the at-risk rats and 38 percent in the lean rats.
While inflammation is a normal process the body uses to fight off
infection or injury, according to recent science, a chronic state of
inflammation could increase the risk for diseases.
"We're learning how important reducing inflammation is for our overall
health and lowering the risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes -- two
of the most critical health epidemics we have in this country today," said
study co-author Dr. Steven F. Bolling, a cardiac surgeon at the University
of Michigan Cardiovascular Center who also heads the U-M Cardioprotection
Research Laboratory, where the study was performed. "This study offers
further promise that foods rich in antioxidants, such as cherries, could
potentially reduce inflammation and lower disease risk."
Both lean and at-risk rats also experienced lower cholesterol and
triglyceride levels on the cherry-enriched diet, two other key risk factors
for heart disease. The most at-risk animals also reduced their abdominal
fat and total fat mass -- particularly important given the link between
excess abdominal fat and disease.
Researchers say the animal study is encouraging and will lead to
further clinical studies in humans to explore the link between diet,
inflammation and lowering disease risk.
Tart cherries, frequently sold as dried, frozen or juice, contain
powerful antioxidants known as anthocyanins, which provide the bright, rich
red color. Studies suggest these colorful plant compounds may be
responsible for cherries' anti-inflammatory properties and other health
benefits.
This new study is the latest linking this red hot "Super Fruit" to
protection against heart disease and inflammation. In fact, research
suggests the red compounds in cherries that deliver the anti-inflammatory
benefits may also help ease the pain of arthritis and gout. There have been
more than 65 published studies on the potential health benefits which can
be found in the Cherry Nutrition Report posted on
http://www.choosecherries.com.
|
