| Arthritis and cherries By Rodger L. Hardy Deseret News staff writer SANTAQUIN — Cherries aren't just for dessert anymore. Not since a University of Michigan study found some health benefits of the fruit, that is. South Ridge Farms' Phil Rowley, a fourth generation fruit grower, is capitalizing on the new health hoopla. He's touting the reported pain-relieving benefits of tart cherries — and has produced a video to sell the concept. Tart cherries are usually used in pies or as a topping for cheesecakes. But they also have the potential of relieving pain associated with arthritis inflammation and gout, according to a study from the National Food Safety and Toxicology Center at the Michigan research school. "I can't ever remember having a headache during harvest," Rowley said. "It was probably because I was eating them as I was harvesting." For most people, though, tart cherries are not eaten fresh. They are usually processed for the consumer. Rowley believes the processing doesn't damage the reported health benefits, however. Anthocyanins, the natural chemicals that give cherries color, are still found in the skin of dried cherries and in concentrated juice. The chemicals are 10 times stronger that aspirin, researchers say. They are a source of antioxidants, also found in Vitamins C and E. Consuming about 20 cherries a day could reduce inflammatory pain and provide needed antioxidants, the study suggests. Rowley has his supporters. Former California Highway Patrolman Greg Dettinger said drinking concentrated cherry juice in his daily Coke has relieved pain he's suffered for years. Dettinger, now a teacher at Manti High School, was injured in 1985 while working as a patrolman. JoLynn Tasker, Mona, injured two years ago when a horse fell on her, said that after drinking concentrated cherry juice and eating dried cherries for about six weeks, her pain has also eased. Both say they sleep better, pain free. However, the study is ongoing and hasn't yet been conducted on human subjects, according to current literature. If the study bears fruit, people may be able to someday take a "cherry pill" instead of eating a bowl of sour cherries, one researcher commented. Utah is the second largest cherry—producing state in the country. The No. 1 producer is Michigan, which grows about 70 percent to 75 percent of the produce, according to the Cherry Marketing Institute. Most of Rowley's cherries are marketed through a Michigan cooperative. But he also sells a variety of cherry—based products by mail order, through his Web site www.southridgefarms.com and through his year-old store near Interstate 15, just south of Santaquin. |
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