Dear Healthy Friend,

Have you ever wondered where the saying "it's the cherry on the top" came from? I went googling and this is what I found... the practice of finishing off desserts with a nice maraschino cherry on top of the whipping cream. The cherry is that final touch that makes the dessert special!

And now for the REAL cherry on the top... Francois Lubbe tells us why cherries could indeed be the cherry on top of your good health...

In the name of good health,

Taryn Strugnell
Managing Editor of Nutrition & Healing

P.S. Dr Wright reveals some natural stress-busting herbs... Keep reading...

The remarkable health benefits of cherries...
Francois Lubbe
Editor, Daily Health

Cherries (Prunus cerasus) are known for their numerous health benefits and antioxidant power. Their potent anti-inflammatory properties make them beneficial for relieving gout pain and for aiding muscle recovery after exercise.

Acute inflammation is part of the body's protective response to injuries, infections and other irritants, but long-term low grade inflammation puts you at risk of serious conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

Now, new research reported on at the Experimental Biology annual meeting in California last month, adds even more evidence to support cherries ability to alleviate inflammation.

In one study, 10 overweight or obese men and women were given about 250ml of tart cherry juice or a placebo beverage daily for four weeks. The results were encouraging. The participants drinking the cherry juice showed significant reductions in known markers of inflammation and lower levels of triglycerides (blood fats) and LDL cholesterol - both known risk factors for heart disease.

Researcher, Dr Mitch Seymour, who led an animal study at the University of Michigan, in which tart cherries were again found to lower inflammation, said: “Chronic inflammation is a whole body condition that can affect overall health, especially when it comes to the heart. This study offers further promise that foods rich in antioxidants, such as cherries, could potentially reduce inflammation and have the potential to lower disease risk."

In June 2007, Health Sciences Institute reported on the remarkable antioxidant power of tart cherries. In the article, they focused on the much-needed pain relief cherries could bring to gout, osteo and rheumatoid arthritis sufferers, as well as fibromyalgia sufferers.

With the latest research supporting what was said back in 2007, we see a bright future for tart cherries especially as a safe, natural and effective alternative for relieving pain.

Here’s a quick recap of the Health Sciences Institute's 2007 article:

To start with, tart cherries can aid muscle recovery following exercise. A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine revealed that strength-loss and pain following exercise were significantly less in the cherry juice trial compared to the placebo trial. Most notably, strength-loss averaged over the four days after exercise was 22% with the placebo, but only 4% with the cherry juice-drinkers.

Several earlier studies have confirmed that tart cherries offer benefits for patients with autoimmune, neurodegenerative and connective tissue diseases, particularly rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. Studies show that tart cherries not only reduce pain and inflammation, but could also offer protection against cancer. These effects are attributed to the high amounts of plant phytochemicals, known as anthocyanins, they contain.

Research has shown that a diet containing cherries is beneficial in reducing the risk of colon cancer. When researchers fed a diet containing tart cherries, anthocyanins or cyanidin (a non-sugar breakdown product of anthocyanins) to mice with a genetic susceptibility to colon cancer, the animals developed significantly fewer and smaller colon tumours. This study also revealed that these compounds effectively reduced the growth of two human colon cancer cell lines.

The cancer-protective benefits of this fruit were validated in another experimental study, in which cherry fruit extract reduced the growth of both human colon cancer cells and human breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent fashion.

Researchers have suggested that a possible mechanism by which cherries may confer these benefits is through shutting down the growth of cancer cells by depriving them of the proteins they need to grow.

Tart cherries are one of the few food sources of melatonin, a chemical released in the body by the pineal gland that is closely connected with the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle. Melatonin also acts as a powerful antioxidant, providing neuro-protective and immune-modulating effects.

Ongoing scientific studies are demonstrating how foods naturally rich in melatonin – like Montmorency cherries – can help sufferers of insomnia gain deep, restful sleep.

Tart cherries are also rich in phenolic compounds, which have strong neuro-protective activity. In a laboratory setting, cherry phenolics protected neuronal cells from cell-damaging oxidative stress in a dose-dependent manner. Tart cherry compounds may, therefore, play an important role in protecting ageing adults against neurodegenerative conditions such as memory loss, senile dementia and perhaps even Alzheimer’s disease.

Inspired by this remarkable fruit, John Carey developed a product called CherryActive – which won the Natural Trade Show 2007 award for best product in the supplements and remedies category.

CherryActive is made with Montmorency cherries, which are grown in the northern US states. According to scientific analysis, there are at least 17 antioxidants in Montmorency cherries, including proanthocyanins from the flavonoid family, superoxide dismutase (a powerful enzyme and cellular antioxidant) and melatonin – one of the most potent known antioxidants ever discovered.

CherryActive capsules contain about one hundred powdered Montmorency cherries per capsule, with a recommended dose of one to two 500mg capsules daily.

There are no contraindications associated with CherryActive. However, if you are on existing medication it’s always wise to consult your GP before use.

CherryActive capsules and liquid are available from most health shops as well as Health Works (011) 325-5168.

Relieve stress naturally...

Q: Are there any safe, natural remedies to help alleviate stress?

Dr. Wright: There are several natural supplements that are known to have a calming effect. First there are the nutrients niacinimide and vitamin B12 (which generally works best when taken intravenously). Both need to be used under a doctor's supervision in order to have dosages and responsiveness closely monitored. Then there are the herbs kava and St. John's wort, which have both been shown in numerous studies to help alleviate stress and anxiety.

But before you take any of these supplements, you may want to look at your diet to see if it is too high in refined sugar and carbohydrates. Eliminating refined sugar, white flour and other highly processed foods from the diet can help the body regulate insulin. This is important because when the body's blood sugar falls, adrenaline is released to compensate, which in turn, can induce the symptoms of anxiety. Eating smaller, more frequent meals containing a variety of protein and vegetables is a wiser choice, as is staying away from caffeine.