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The Health Benefits of Balaton Cherry Juice

Balaton cherries are a tart variety of the fruit that have long been used for their medicinal properties. Recent scientific studies have found tart cherries to be rich in a number of nutrients, particularly vitamins A and C, melatonin and anthocyanins, all of which are thought to have health benefits.

  1. Reducing Inflammation

    • The pigments that give Balaton cherry juice its vibrant red color are powerful disease-fighting antioxidants called anthocyanins. Studies at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore found that the anthocyanins in tart cherry juice may help lower some types of inflammation and pain, with one serving equivalent to about one aspirin. Other studies have shown that tart cherries can reduce symptoms of gout by lowering the level of uric acid in blood, which causes the condition.

    Sleep Disorders

    • Balaton cherry juice is also a source of melatonin. Made in the brain by the pineal gland, melatonin helps regulate our sleep-wake cycle and may also act on the vascular system to reduce inflammation. Studies have shown that eating tart cherries or drinking Balaton cherry juice may help raise the melatonin level in the blood, possibly helping people with sleep disorders.

    Heart Health

    • Some of the compounds in Balaton cherries may protect against heart disease and stroke. Studies have shown a diet high in tart cherries can increase the amount of anthocyanins in the blood and may help lower total cholesterol while raising the level of high-density lipoproteins (HDL---the "good" cholesterol) in the blood. Studies on animals, including one by researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine, found that eating or drinking large amounts of anthocyanins helped relax blood vessels. Researchers believe that people with high levels of a protein called C-reactive protein (CRP) may have an increased risk of heart disease. A study conducted by the Human Nutrition Research Center at the University of California found that people who ate 280g of cherries for a month had lower levels of CRP and possibly lowered their risk of atherosclerosis.

    Managing Diabetes

    • Balaton cherry juice may also help reduce weight gain and make managing diabetes easier. One study found that cells exposed to anthocyanins had a higher production of insulin and may help prevent type 2 diabetes. Another study, on rats, showed that anthocyanins in Balaton cherries can help reduce fasting blood glucose levels and increase glucose tolerance. Anthocyanins in tart cherries may also prevent damage to blood vessels caused by diabetes, which can lead to blindness and amputation.

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