Over 9.2 million people in the U.S. suffer from gout and it requires lifelong treatment. This condition can be tricky to manage and the pain that comes with it is often unbearable although some gout attacks go away on their own.
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to naturally ease your symptoms and manage gout effectively – including eating cherries.
From helping with cardiovascular health, insomnia, and a number of chronic diseases, this tart yet sweet fruit is beneficial to our wellness in more ways than many of us might have thought. Keep reading to learn more about how cherries can help seniors, the benefits of cherries for gout, and the best way to add them to your diet today.
What Is Gout and What Exactly Causes It?
Gout or gouty arthritis as some call it is basically a form of arthritis that can occur either in a joint or a series of joints and the pain doesn’t go unfelt. It’s caused by the increase of uric acid in the blood. When this happens, uric acid (urate crystals) is deposited in the joint and that’s what causes the inflammation associated with gout.
What Makes Cherries Good for Gout?
Floridians know that oranges are a go-to fruit in Florida and that mangos are actually the most popular fruit in the state but cherries are a less sought-after option because it’s a lesser-known fact that Florida is a great host state for tropical cherries. If you’ve received a gout diagnosis, don’t worry too much, just add cherries to your diet.
Cherries are one of the best fruits to help with the condition for several reasons. First, they help to lower uric acid levels in the body, which is one of the main reasons why gout occurs. And when you lower uric acid levels, you could lower your risk of gout attacks.
Cherries are also a rich source of anthocyanin, which is a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to work against oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which are key factors in gout. What’s more is that they are also a rich source of fiber, which is essential for healthy digestion and gut health. High-fiber diets have been shown to help with gout, and cherries are no exception.
Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis that seniors suffer from. While many people often think gout affects the middle-aged the most, this isn’t necessarily true. Gout is extremely painful and this is one of the main reasons that seniors should explore ways to help
Taking Advantage of the Cherries in Florida
Cherries usually require a much cooler climate to grow in than what Florida has to offer but Florida actually has a variety of tropical cherry trees that successfully grows delicious cherries. If you’re a senior in Florida and you suffer from gout, you might want to try Bing and Rainier cherries in the months of June and July as it’s the best time during their growing season to have them.
You might also want to consider taking a trip to Brevard County for the gout-healing powers that cherries have. Here, you will find Barbados cherry, Pitomba, Surinam cherries, and many more that deserve formal taste testing.
Cherries don’t just have healing properties that can help with gout. They are an undeniable source of nutrients and believe it or not these fruits help reduce the risk of plaque buildup and the development of heart disease. Another thing is that anywhere between 40% and 70% of seniors have chronic sleep disorders and one of the lesser-known benefits of cherries is that they can help with sleep. Who knew that such a tiny fruit could help with so much?
So, How Should Seniors Have Their Cherries?
Liquid, supplement, or having a bowl of them….the route of administration doesn’t matter too much although black cherry juice is the top contender.
At least three servings per day, two at a minimum, could help you feel those beneficial effects that cherries have to offer and if you didn’t know, there are more than 1000 different types of cherries that grow in the U.S. but black cherries may be the best go-to for any local market.
A Rule for Seniors to Live By
As a general rule of thumb, you’re going to want to choose tart over sweet. This might not sound too pleasing but tart cherries like Morello or Montmorency have more anthocyanin antioxidants (remember, this antioxidant is essential for fighting inflammation) than the sweeter varieties although black cherries are great for leveling uric acid.
If you’re a senior in Florida and you suffer from gout or have other health concerns, you might be able to take advantage of cherries and their benefits You can find out more about cherries and gout by clicking here.
