Maraschino cherry juice is a fruit juice consisting of the juice of cherries. It is consumed as a beverage and used as an ingredient in various foods, processed foods, and also beverages. It is also marketed as a health supplement.
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Are Cherries Good For Us?
Cherries are low in calories and chock full of fiber, vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and other good-for-you ingredients. You’ll get vitamins C, A, and K. Each long-stemmed fruit delivers potassium, magnesium, and calcium too. They also bring antioxidants, like beta-carotene, and the essential nutrient choline.
Benefits of Maraschino Cherry Juice
There are also different types of cherries used to produce juice. Tart cherry juice is sour to taste and provides a higher amount of anthocyanins compared to black cherry juice, which is sweeter in taste and has fewer anthocyanins. Anthocyanins promote anti-inflammatory processes in the body. Both are great, nutritious options.
Read on for seven reasons to sip and savor cherry juice.
1. Helps Post-Workout Recovery
Cherry juice may help recovery post-exercise. It is naturally high in potassium, which conducts electrical impulses throughout the body.
This mineral also helps maintain blood pressure, hydration, muscle recovery, nerve impulses, digestion, heart rate, and pH balance. Cherries contain about 330 milligrams (mg) of potassium per cup, which is almost 10 percent of your daily recommended value.
2. Fights Inflammation And Arthritis Pain
Research shows that the antioxidants in tart cherry juice can reduce pain and inflammation from osteoarthritis (OA).
A 2012 study showed that drinking cherry juice twice a day for 21 days reduced the pain felt by people with OA. Blood tests also showed that they experienced significantly less inflammation.
3. Reduces Swelling
When people experience pain from swelling, they often turn to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, the effects of these drugs can be harmful, especially when you take them too often or have allergies.
A 2004 study found that cherry juice supplements can reduce inflammation and pain-related behavior in animals, showing promise as a treatment for swelling in humans.
4. Boosts immunity
Like all fruits and vegetables, cherries pack a powerful antioxidant and also antiviral punch. Flavonoids, a type of antioxidant in cherry juice, are made by plants to fight infection. Research shows that these chemicals can have a significant impact on immune system function.
5. Regulates Metabolism And Fights Fat
There is some evidence in animals that it can help adjust your body’s metabolism and your ability to lose abdominal body fat. One study showed that anthocyanins, a type of flavonoid responsible for cherries’ red color, act against the development of obesity.
Another study in rats found that it can help reduce inflammation and abdominal fat and lower the risk of metabolic syndrome.
6. Maraschino Cherry Juice Helps you sleep
The anti-inflammatory properties of cherry juice combined with a dash of sleep-regulating melatonin may help you sleep better, according to a small 2010 study. The results suggest that tart cherry juice has similar effects as insomnia medications like valerian or melatonin on older adults.
7. Maraschino Cherry Juice Blocks cancer growth
In a 2003 study, researchers pitted cherry juice against the NSAID, which is the most common preventive anti-inflammatory treatment for colon tumors. Although an animal study, it is notable that cherry juice — unlike the NSAID — reduced the growth of cancer cells.
Even without its antioxidants and nutrients, cherry juice is deliciously tart and refreshing. Try replacing sodas and sports drinks with something that can really make a difference to your health.
8. Rich in Nutrients
Maraschino cherry juice is rich in various nutrients. An 8-ounce (240-ml) serving contains 119 calories and the following:
- Carbs: 28 grams
- Fiber: 5 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
- Fat: 1 gram
- Vitamin A: 62% of the RDI
- Vitamin C: 40% of the RDI
- Manganese: 14% of the RDI
- Potassium: 12% of the RDI
- Copper: 12% of the RDI
- Vitamin K: 7% of the RDI
Maraschino cherry juice also contains smaller amounts of B vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, omega-3, and omega-6 fats, in addition to antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds. Compared to sweet cherry varieties, Maraschino cherries contain 20 times more vitamin A, and their antioxidant levels are up to five times higher.
One easy way to tell cherries from sweet varieties is by their color. Sweet cherries tend to be darker in color, whereas Maraschino cherries retain their bright red color after being harvested. Keep in mind that some varieties of Maraschino cherry juice contain substantial amounts of added sugars, so opt for an unsweetened variety.
9. Maraschino Cherry Juice May Increase Strength And Reduce Muscle Soreness
Physically active individuals may be particularly interested in Maraschino cherry juice’s effect on muscle strength and soreness. A majority of studies have reported beneficial effects. In one study, long-distance runners drank either 24 ounces (710 ml) of Maraschino cherry juice or a placebo in the seven days leading up to as well as on the day of a race.
Additionally, Maraschino cherry juice and supplements may increase muscle strength. One group of men has given Maraschino cherry supplements or a placebo in the days leading up to and immediately following an intense resistance training session.
They lost up to 4% less muscle strength as a result of the training when compared to men given the placebo. The supplements may also reduce muscle breakdown, and muscle soreness and speed up recovery in resistance-trained individuals.
Although the majority of studies report beneficial effects, it’s important to note that a few found no benefits. Thus, more research is needed on this topic
10. Maraschino Cherry Juice Might Promote Brain Health
Degenerative brain disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s are thought to be caused, in part, by oxidative stress. Maraschino cherry juice contains large amounts of antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds that may have protective effects on brain cells.
In one study, consuming 16 ounces (480 ml) of Maraschino cherry juice daily improved antioxidant defenses in healthy older men and women. In another study, older adults with mild-to-moderate dementia consumed either 6.5 ounces (200 ml) of Maraschino cherry juice or a placebo for 12 weeks.
Adults in the cherry juice group experienced improvements in verbal fluency and short-term and long-term memory, whereas those in the placebo group experienced no improvements
11. May Aid in Weight Loss
Don’t swap your workout with a glass of juice just yet—more research needs to be done to determine the benefits of tart cherries for weight loss. That said, tart cherry juice does show some promise because of its anti-inflammatory properties (and because obesity and systemic inflammation are closely connected). In fact, one study showed that tart cherry powder reduced abdominal fat by weight and body fat by percent in rodents. The takeaway? As long as you steer clear of the sweetened stuff, cherry juice won’t hurt your waistline—and it might even help you make some progress.
Recipe of Cherry Bomb Cocktail Made From Maraschino Cherry Juice
Ingredients
- 30ml Cherry Brandy
- 60ml Cherry Juice
- Top Up Pink Champagne
Method
- In a champagne glass, add the cherry juice first
- Then add cherry brandy
- Topping up with champagne and serving
This solution contains red food dye, sugar, and oil of bitter almonds or an oil with a similar flavor. The end result is bright red, very sweet cherries. At this point, they’re pitted and have their stems removed. They’re then covered in a sugar-sweetened liquid with added preservatives.
And a classic to use for pink lemonade, or Shirley Temples. Summer will be here before you know it. Lots of cool summertime drinks benefit from a splash of maraschino cherry juice.
They contain anti-inflammatories
Cherries also contain anti-inflammatories, so they’re a good post-workout snack to ease inflammation and soreness.
Maraschino can be served straight or on the rocks and it makes a wonderful digestif to enjoy after dinner. It has also been used in many cocktails for over a century.
Cherries contain a number of beneficial nutrients, such as vitamin C and antioxidants. Some evidence suggests that they may also help lower inflammation, protect heart health, and improve sleep as part of a healthy diet.
Cherry trees thrive in a location that gets full sun and has well-drained, fertile soil. “Full sun” is defined as at least 6 to 8 hours of sun each day. Sunlight is critical to fruit production and quality, and also helps keep fungal issues from getting a foothold.
Conclusion
Maraschino cherry juice intake in the days leading up to and immediately following intense physical exercise may reduce muscle strength loss and soreness. It may also speed up recovery. It can also help increase the body’s melatonin levels. This helps reduce symptoms of insomnia and can result in better quality sleep.
Its anti-inflammatory effects may help reduce symptoms of arthritis and gout. However, the effect seems small and more research is needed. The high antioxidant levels in juice may help improve brain function and reduce symptoms of mild-to-moderate dementia.
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