Cherries for gout? Definitely. But what's the best way of eating or drinking them ?
Art Print WHICH CHERRIES FOR GOUT? Which juicy cherries for gout? There are hundreds of varieties. But the good news is that any variety can be considered a "gout cherry." Sweet cherries have higher amounts of anthocyanidins than do tart (sour) ones in the USDA National Nutrient Database. (Visit the free gout resources page on this website to download your own free copy of this excellent database). However, other assays have found that Montmorency tart (sour) cherries contain more anthocyanidins. The cherries that lowered uric acid levels in the ARS study were sweet red ones. You have to eat about ˝ a pound (225 grams) of cherries daily to get enough of their anthocyanidins. That's about 20 cherries. In the ARS study 45 cherries were eaten at breakfast. HOW EASY ARE CHERRIES TO INCORPORATE INTO A GOUT DIET? Cherries are low purine, either moderately alkaline or just moderately acidic (pH balance). They are also low calorie. Raw red cherries have 50 calories per 100 grams of fruit (minus stones) and sweet red raw cherries have 63 calories per 100 grams of fruit (minus stones). All this makes it easy to get them into many kinds of diets. But if you are on a restricted carbohydrate diet, you'll have a problem eating cherries. 100 grams of cherries raw, sour, are 12 grams of carbs; 16 carbs if raw, sweet. You could drink cherry juice within your carb budget, but the juice may cost you too many carbs, because for one quality brand, an 8ozs serving of tart (sour) cherry juice made from concentrate costs 19 carbs out of a daily allowance of for example 35-40 carbs. You would do better spending those carbs on low carb fruit and vegetables, unless you are certain cherry juice or cherries help your gout, as so many people say. Here's the answer. You can get low carb tart cherry capsules. Traverse Bay Fams in Michigan, U.S.A. quote the number of carbs of a serving of two tart cherry capules on their website. It is less than one gram of sugar and carbohydrate in a two capsule serving. And you would take one serving a day. Less than one gram a day is irrelevant. Traverse Bay Farms deliver to the U.S., and internationally, quickly to certain countries - see their website. There's a link bottom left. But, if you do eat cherries they are a low Glycemic (Glycaemic) Index food which is Atkins positive. It means glucose is slowly absoprbed. Don't eat Maraschino cherries - they are very high in carbs. CHERRY PICK YOUR PURCHASE Cherry pick your purchase – choose the ones with the darkest colour (color). The flavonoids are mainly found in the skin and a darker skin suggests more flavonoid anthocyanidins because they give them their colour (color). And the fresher they are the better of course. Rock hard cherries are not ripe, and cherries don't ripen after picking. They should be medium firm. If bought frozen, they are likely to have fewer anthocyanidins and less vitamin C, but you will probably find they are still useful, and you won't know till you try. Your selection skills will grow with repeat buying. Don't forget to choose the darkest coloured (colored)ones. FINDING CHERRY GROWING AREAS In the U.S., Michigan, Oregon and California are the leading cherry producing states. I think Montana too. In Great Britain, Kent is the leading cherry growing county. In Canada, British Columbia is a leading cherry province. In Australia – Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. In Australia, more details from www.cherrygrowers.org.au or www.cherries.com.au You might be able to find out leading cherry growing areas in other countries by typing "cherries (or cherry orchards) and name of country" into the search box at the bottom of this article. Or "cherries (or cherry orchards) and name of state/ name of county/name of region." Or "cherry growers association of (name of country)." WHAT OTHER CHERRY FORMS? Cherries are only in season for about three months each year. They freeze well, with or without their stones, but you’d need a lot of freezer space to keep nine months supply. Imported cherries may not be available. So you may have a problem getting sufficient cherries for gout for nine months. The answers are to buy frozen and canned cherries, and that cherry juice for gout is just as good. Many gout sufferers have reported the beneficial effects of cherry juice. They often say they have to drink it daily. Cherries are an expensive fruit in many countries, but frozen or canned are cheaper. And gout sufferers have reported that canned cherries work too. You won't know until you try.
If you buy juice, make sure it's pure cherry juice, (nothing added), made only from cherries. You're likely to find this product in natural food stores, not supermarkets. If this is too expensive, buy dehydrated cherries which are cheaper. You can eat them dried. You can also make your own juice. Cherries, like other fruits and berries, do not have the large sums of money behind them that are required to trial new gout drugs, gain approval from medical authorities, bring them to market and promote them. But the study evidence, small as it is, and the testimonials, cannot be ignored. Get them into your gout diet in some form. If cherries cure gout for you...celebrate! THREE CHEERS FOR CHERRIES ! You've got off the gout hook lightly and cheaply. Life's again more than "just a bowl of cherries." (Apologies to George Gershwin). This cherries for gout page was last reviewed on 19 June 2010.
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