Research highlights benefits of cherry ingredients

Research shows that Montmorency tart cherries can aid in improved sleep quality and reduced inflammation, Lynn Vollbrecht says. (Image courtesy of the Cherry Marketing Institute) Today, an increasing number of consumers are turning to food and beverages to advance their health and wellness . To support this trend, experts highlight that quality research is helping ingredients new and old further their healthy association. For the cherry market, it remains no different. “Over the past decade, researchers have conducted any number of studies focusing on the role Montmorency tart cherries can play in a person’s pursuit of health, from aiding in sleep quantity and quality (they’re a naturally occurring source of melatonin) to reducing inflammation,” says Lynn Vollbrecht, director of strategic marketing for the DeWitt, Mich.-based Cherry Marketing Institute. At the beginning of 2019, a study published in Food & Function found that 8 ounces of 100 percent tart cherry juice consumed daily for four weeks significantly reduced certain biomarkers of inflammation that are associated with chronic disease among overweight and obese adults, according to a release from the Cherry Marketing Institute. “Tart cherries are among the richest sources of anthocyanins, and our results found that these polyphenols were effectively digested and absorbed,” said lead author Keith R. Martin, assistant professor at the Center for Nutraceutical and Dietary Supplement Research at the University of Memphis, in a statement. “We also observed a positive effect of tart cherry juice on the specific markers of inflammation related to chronic disease, potentially linked to these beneficial compounds.” Brian Gerberding, director of sales and marketing for Traverse City, Mich.-based Shoreline Fruit LLC, highlights that increased awareness around the health benefits of cherries has aided the fruit in formulation usage. “The message regarding the benefits of Montmorency tart cherries seems to be getting through to […]

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