METABOLIC SYNDROME AND CHERRIES

The term metabolic syndrome didn’t come into use until sometime in the late 1970’s. Nature had figured out what to do about it many eons before. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that raises the risk of many serious health problems like cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Before it was even a catch word, scientific studies in 1950 showed cherries, particularly tart cherries, could reduce the effects of metabolic syndrome. The most common symptoms of metabolic syndrome are: weight gain, abdominal fat, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure and high uric acid. All of these symptoms are indicators of future type 2 diabetes.

Approximately one family in three in the US has the genetic tendency to develop metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Recent, 21st century, animal research showed positive results indicating cherries may be extremely beneficial in controlling and reversing metabolic syndrome helping to prevent type 2 diabetes.

In 2009 a research study at the University of Michigan Integrative Medicine Program and Section of Cardiac Surgery showed rats who were fed a high fat diet with whole tart cherry powder mixed in, didn’t gain as much weight, abdominal fat or overall body fat as rats that didn’t receive the cherry powder. The researchers also found the rats blood showed much lower levels of local and systemic markers of inflammation. Cholesterol and triglycerides were lower in the tart cherry fed rats. The results were the same in rats bred to have a tendency to obesity and those bred to be lean.

In 2008 the same research group did a study that included lean rats bred to have impaired glucose tolerance, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The study included two groups fed the same low fat diet with the exception of cherry powder in one group. At the end of 90 days rats in the cherry enriched diet showed less insulin resistance, reduced fasting blood sugar, increased plasma antioxidant capacity, lower cholesterol and triglycerides and reduced liver fat.

Cherry juice has been used for centuries to treat gout. In 2003 a small research study was done on 10 women whose blood and urine levels of uric acid were tested before and after they ate Bing cherries, a sweet cherry variety. The study group’s urinary uric acid rose and their blood levels of uric acid dropped significantly after eating the cherries.

Uric acid is a major antioxidant and a normal metabolite in our bodies. Uric acid can crystallize in joints and cause very painful gout attacks when blood levels get too high. Recent research has shown that elevated levels of uric acid can damage the kidneys, which can result in type 2 diabetes. According to some authorities, high uric acid may possibly be the most dangerous aspect of metabolic syndrome. Many research studies indicate that metabolic syndrome is entirely reversible, and type 2 diabetes preventable, with diet, exercise and supplementation.

The researchers also stated the cherry powder lead them to believe a “…trend toward decreased inflammatory indices adds to the in vitro evidence that compounds in cherries may inhibit inflammatory pathways.” The FDA sent warning letters threatening Michigan cherry producers with dire consequences if they continued to report scientific truths about the health benefits of cherries. By sending warning letter the FDA is in violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The FDA receives multimillions of dollars yearly from pharmaceutical companies, the same pharmaceutical companies that could be monetarily damaged if everyone with metabolic syndrome knew the health promoting truth about cherries., Everyone could make the decision .

Which makes more sense: inexpensive cherries with numerous health benefits, no side effects and be able to make the decision for yourself whether cherries are beneficial or not, or expensive patent medications with warning laden labels and known side effects?