Cherry Juice for the Gut
By Editorial Staff
If you suffer from ulcerative colitis (UC), you know how life-altering it is; if you don't suffer from it, trust us, you don't want to know. As the name implies, UC is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, specifically affecting the lower portion of the large intestine (colon and rectum), that causes inflammation and ulcers. The symptoms: diarrhea, abdominal pain and bleeding – thus the reference to UC being life-altering.
There's currently no cure for ulcerative colitis, but research suggests a natural intervention can improve quality of life in UC sufferers. In the study, published in the peer-reviewed journal
Life, patients who drank tart cherry juice (approximately 1/4th cup daily for six weeks) reported significant improvements in quality of life compared to patients who did not drink cherry juice; and also experienced lower levels of intestinal inflammation as measured by bloodwork.
Inflammation is never a good thing, whether it's in the intestines or anywhere else in your body, so talk to your doctor about the power of an anti-inflammatory diet – whether you're suffering from an inflammatory disorder such as UC or want to avoid developing one.
