[Nubella News] - You come in from a strenuous workout in the gym or from jogging or brisk walking. Your muscles are sore - and you want relief. These muscle aches take the fun out of exercising and keeping in shape.

A healthy brew of cherry juice and apple juice just may do the trick.

Dr. Declan Connolly, director of the University of Vermont's Human Performance Laboratory in Burlington, says the right mix is 50-60 fresh cherries mixed with apple juice because of the numerous antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents in the little red fruits.

"The anti-inflammatory properties of cherry juice have been examined before, but the focus of this research was on a new area  muscle damage repair," Connolly said. "Only two species of mammals suffer this type of muscle damage - horses and humans."

A new sports drink?

The results show important practical applications for athletes, because loss of strength and pain primarily affects performance after strenuous exercise, he added.

Could a new liquid be far behind in the $3 billion sports-drink market, not just for athletes but for the rest of us? Right now, Gatorade dominates with 82 percent of the market, followed by Powerade with 13 percent, according to Nutraingredients.com.

Connolly studied the effects of cherry juice on 14 male college students, who drank 12 ounces of the stuff twice a day for eight straight days. They then performed arm exercises involving flexing and tensing, which created contractions in which the muscle is lengthened, much like "arm curl" exercises you do in the gym or at home with weights.

The students who quaffed the cherry juice had significantly less pain and loss of strength in their arms compared to a group that drank Kool-Aid. In fact, any pain the cherry drinkers experienced peaked after about 24 hours, while the pain the Kool-Aid group continued for the next two days.

Other treatments for cherry juice?

Cherry juice didn't affect the range of motion or muscle tenderness.

Connolly is seeking funding and other researchers to further study how cherry juice affects helps muscle repair, especially in arthritis.

"Current anecdotal evidence suggests the drink may be effective in treatment of arthritis and gout, and thus offer a potentially safer alternative than prescription drugs," Connolly said.

The study was funded by Cherrypharm, Inc., of West Hartford, Conn., the cherry-juice maker. Connolly and others on his research team own a 2.5 percent equity in the company.
 
Their research appears in the online version of the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Doctors from Cornell University and New York's Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma also participated in the project.

Source: Nubella News
Posted by: Steve Smith
Reference: British Journal of Sports Medicine
Website: www.nubella.com

This summary by Nubella News is a snapshot of a larger, more detailed study and/or research project. Nubella News encourages all site visitors and readers interested in understanding the material contained within this article at a more detailed level, to perform additional research and investigation into the article topics, references, and any links provided within the material. Nubella News does not intend to offer medical advice. We recommend that all readers ask their doctor or medical professional for additional advice, guidance, and/or recommendations pertaining to this article.

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