If you have gout or have suffered from gout attacks, then you have probably heard that cherry juice is considered the natural food to treating gout.  But have you ever wondered why?  And is there any truth to this claim or is cherry juice for gout not as effective as some doctors claim?  In this article, I will explain why cherry juice works for treating gout and share a couple of recent studies to support this claim.

Researchers did a small case study of 12 people who actively had gout.  The study was to determine whether cherries and cherry juice had a positive effective for treating a gout attack.  They took these 12 people and had them eat a half pound of fresh cherries.  In another group, they had them eat canned cherries.  In the final group, they let them drink a full quart of cherry juice.  What were the results.

In all 12 people, regardless of whether they were getting their cherries canned, fresh or juiced, their uric acid levels returned to a normal level and their gout stopped.  Which cherry to choose?  The study tested all types of cherries; black, sweet yellow and red sour cherries and found that all worked in treating gout.

The secret to how cherry juice cures gout is really a no brainer though. Cherry juice or cherries and all the fruits associated with cherries including blueberries and strawberries are all capable of neutralizing uric acid in the body and therefore reducing or preventing the chances of getting gout.

Additionally, because cherries neutralize uric acid, they are also effective in reducing the length of a gout attack when it happens.  And some of the properties in cherries are antioxidants that help to "de-clog" arteries packed with uric acid crystals before they can find their home in and around your foot joints.

If you believe the case study above, you would agree that it doesn't matter what varietal the cherry is. But did you know that both the sweet cherry and the sour cherry bring different things to the table in regards to treating gout?

The sweet cherry is packed full of nutrient rich fiber and is naturally low in calories. It also contains a property that is known for its analgesic and has been used as a sedative for hundreds of years called melatonin. What this means in layman's terms is that the sweet cherry will not only help to neutralize uric acid but will also help ease the pain that comes with gout.

And not only do the sweet cherries help with gout pain but they also have natural anti-inflammatory properties in them that will help lower the pain even more. Sweet cherries will lower the level of certain properties in your body responsible for the swelling and inflammation such as nitric oxide and c-reactive proteins.

Now what about the sour cherries? Are they just as effective? Sour cherries will de-clog channels and arteries that have uric acid buildup. In addition to this, just like sweet cherries, they are low in calories and high in nutrients that pack a punch for anyone suffering from a gout attack or simply wanting to prevent gout.

So, at the end of the day, it really doesn't matter what type of cherry you choose.  Cherries, just like all fruits and vegatables are more effective if eaten raw.  If you are suffering from gout then simply by adding 100 grams of cherries (or a couple handfuls), you can reduce the effects of a gout attack and possibly even completely prevent gout from happening in the first place.