What Is the Difference Between Cherry Juice & Cherry Cider?

Cherries offer plentiful benefits to those who consume them; they have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Cherries can be consumed in a whole or liquid form. There are two beverages made of cherries--cherry juice and cherry cider--that vary from one another greatly.

Juice and Cider Differences

• Cherry juice is considered therapeutic, but cherry cider is consumed for festive purposes. Cherry juice is a pain reducer and can even reduce the size of tumors.

Antioxidant Properties

• Cherry juice is a free-radical destroyer, but cherry cider is not. The antioxidant properties rank cherries as eighth in the Oxygen Radical Absorption Category (ORAC) in an independent study of fruits and vegetables. Tart cherry juice ranked number one.

Preventative Properties

• Drinking cherry juice can prevent heart attacks and strokes. It may also be a preventative measure to take for heart disease. It helps with gout, arthritis and varicose veins. Prevention and anti-inflammatory benefits with cherry cider are minimal.

Preparation

• Cherry cider is typically prepared and mixed with apple cider. It can be served spiced, and some people to to consume it with hard alcohol. Cherry juice isn't mixed with other juices; it's not commonly mixed with alcohol.

Benefits

• Cherry cider is not a curative like cherry juice, but it's not completely without health benefits. A study of Trader Joe's cherry cider showed that it's low in fat, cholesterol and sodium. It earned an above average nutrition score. However, it is high in sugar.