This flavorful and refreshing tart cherry sports drink will rehydrate and refuel – with an added inflammation-busting punch from the tart cherry juice.
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Thank you to the Cherry Marketing Institute for sponsoring this post.
You guys know by now that I’m a huge tart cherry fan. Through my partnership with the Cherry Marketing Institute this year, I’ve talked about how tart cherries make a delicious, satisfying snack (recipe: Tart Cherry Pie Snack Balls), and how they can help with sleep due to the natural melatonin they contain (recipes/info: Microwave Tart Cherry Oatmealand Tart Cherry Kale and Feta Stuffed Chicken).
This month, I’d like to talk more about their other big benefit, which is especially important to me as a runner: inflammation-busting. Research has shown tart cherries can serve as a natural recovery aid when consumed in the days before and after intensive exercise!
Tart cherries are high in anthocyanins, which are flavonoids that contribute to their sourness, intense red color, and, most importantly, their anti-inflammatory health properties. Due to these anthocyanins, tart cherries have been found useful for those suffering from joint paint (arthritis) and gout, and can also help to ease muscle soreness following a hard workout, too. When you’re sore after a workout, this is due to a few things – muscle damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The good news is that the anthocyanins in tart cherries seem to help with all three of these!
In fact, studies suggest Montmorency tart cherry juice has the ability to reduce muscle pain and weakness after bouts of intense strength training, as well as after long-distance running. Here is a little overview of the running-specific studies I took from ChooseCherries.com. There’s more info over on their website!
- Faster recovery: Marathon runners who drank Montmorency tart cherry juice five days before, the day of and two days after running experienced a faster recovery of strength compared to those who drank a different beverage. 1
- In another study Montmorency tart cherry juice helped improve the recovery time after intensive exercise compared to the placebo beverage that was used. 2
- Decreases muscle pain: Runners in an annual 196-mile relay race in Oregon reported significantly less muscle pain after the race if they drank Montmorency tart cherry juice twice a day the week before and on the day of the long-distance race. 3
After reading about all of tart cherry’s benefits this spring, I actually started bringing dried tart cherries with me as fuel on a few of my long runs, and having a swig of tart cherry juice before and after a run, too. Feel free to take that approach, if you like – or, give this tart cherry sports drink recipe a try. You can enjoy it before, during, or after your run – whichever you prefer! I like doing a little before and a little after, but I think I’m going to pick up a little container that I can fit into my hydration vest so I can fill it with some of this sports drink for any longer runs/hikes this summer. (An entire backpack full of sports drink would be a bit much for me – but a small bottle of it would be perfect as an addition to my water!) If you’re having this after your run, just be sure to pair it with some protein, too. 🙂
Joining with the tart cherry juice in this recipe is water, lime juice, honey, and a little salt. I made it with pure maple syrup in place of the honey recently and that was really good, too. You can also leave out the honey/maple syrup if you’re doing a lighter workout/don’t want it as sweet. Your choice!
Here’s the recipe. Happy running and inflammation busting!
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 cups tart cherry juice
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 2 tablespoons honey or pure maple syrup
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
- Place all ingredients in a large jar and shake vigorously until combined.
Did you make this recipe?
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FAQs
2 cups tart cherry juice. 1 cup water. 1/4 cup lime juice. 2 tablespoons honey or pure maple syrup.
Does tart cherry juice hydrate you? ›
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.
How to use tart cherry juice for athletes? ›
For active athletes, studies show the ideal dosage is 8 - 12 ounces of tart cherry juice twice a day, four to five days before a sporting event. For recovery, the same dosage should be taken two to three days after the event. This should be continued for 2-3 days afterwards as well as an aid in recovery.
Who should not drink tart cherry juice? ›
Tart Cherry Juice Warnings
If you have diabetesor another condition that affects blood sugar, you should speak to your doctor before adding tart cherry juice to your diet. Sorbitol, a natural sugar alcohol found in tart cherry juice, can also cause belly pain and diarrhea for some people.
Is it okay to drink tart cherry juice every day? ›
While many studies have shown the benefits of drinking two cups daily, adjusting your intake based on your individual health needs and preferences is important. It's a good idea to speak with a healthcare provider to determine how much tart cherry juice you should consume daily.
Is tart cherry safe for kidneys? ›
Cherries can be included in the diet for all stages of kidney disease. Cherries contain only trace amounts of sodium and are low in phosphorus. Sweet cherries are high in potassium (>200 mg in 3.5 ounces, which is almost one-half cup), while sour cherries are considered a low potassium food (<200 mg in 3.5 ounces).
Why do bodybuilders drink tart cherry juice? ›
Tart cherry (TC) juice has many antioxidant and anti-inflammatory polyphenol compounds. TC lessens pain and accelerates strength recovery after exercise and decreases blood markers of inflammation/oxidative stress. These improvements occur in both strength and endurance exercise.
How much cherry juice should an athlete drink? ›
Machowsky says that if you're drinking tart cherry juice in hopes of boosting your workout recovery, most research in athletes suggests consuming 8–12 ounces two times per day for four to seven days before the “target event” (such as a marathon or endurance competition), the day of, and two to four days after.
Should you dilute tart cherry juice? ›
Reasons to Consider Dilution
The red or tart cherries have less natural sugar content that the sweet or purple varieties. Acidity Concerns: The natural acidity of cherry juice might not sit well with everyone, especially those with sensitive stomachs or acid reflux issues. Diluting the juice can mitigate these effects.
How many ounces of tart cherry juice should I drink? ›
How much tart cherry juice should I drink? But even after getting the OK from your doctor, Ashley says it's still important not to overdo it. “If a person wants to add this juice to their diet, I'd recommend that they avoid drinking it daily and instead drink 8-16 ounces a few times a week,” she said.
In a study by Van Der Werf et al. [67] , a diet enriched with cherries helped maintain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory status, leading to a reduction in vascular and liver complications. ...
What is the disadvantage of tart cherry? ›
Note that tart cherry juice contains high levels of sorbitol, a naturally-occurring sugar found in many fruits and berries. Consuming sorbitol can result in gastrointestinal symptoms such as gas, urgency, bloating, abdominal cramps and diarrhea, according to the journal Canadian Family Physician.
Does tart cherry juice raise BP? ›
Regarding the 21 included trials, Tart cherry didn't affect blood pressure, heart rate, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6 (P > 0.05).
Can you drink tart cherry juice concentrate straight? ›
One packet is a perfect serving size of concentrate; either add to 7 ounces of water or other drink or simply drink straight from the packet. Montmorency Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate: Direct from the grower to your glass.
Is tart cherry juice good for your bowels? ›
It keeps your digestive system working, which promotes regularity by giving the bulk of your stool. Excess consumption of tart cherry juice may lead to: Stomach pain. Diarrhea.
How long does it take for tart cherry juice to work? ›
The tart cherry extract should start working within a few hours. You may notice that you sleep better and feel more rested after taking the tart cherry extract. But the long-term effect on your body starts showing in 6-8 weeks when it starts healing your body from the inside.
How long does it take to feel the effects of tart cherry juice? ›
The tart cherry extract should start working within a few hours. You may notice that you sleep better and feel more rested after taking the tart cherry extract. But the long-term effect on your body starts showing in 6-8 weeks when it starts healing your body from the inside.
Is tart cherry juice a laxative? ›
Cherry juice may help constipation because it is a good fiber source and contains sorbitol, a natural laxative. Cherry juice is also high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, which may help to reduce inflammation in the gut and improve digestion.
Do you have to mix tart cherry juice with water? ›
For a single glass of cherry juice, we recommend a mix of 7 parts water to 1 part concentrate. That's 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) of concentrate for an 8 ounce glass of juice. Another easy recipe is to mix 1/2 cup of cherry juice concentrate with 3 1/2 cups of water. This makes 1 quart of juice.
Can you drink tart cherry juice straight? ›
Tart cherry juice is similar in color to cranberry juice with a pucker-inducing sourness. Some producers cut the tartness of the juice by blending it with apple juice, but purists just drink it straight.
