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Although cherry juice is widely available in many different forms, it is important to choose a product that is highly concentrated and is free from added sugar, sweeteners, flavouring and colourants.
Cherries are naturally nutrient dense so in whole fruit form offer a whole host of benefits. In sport, cherry juice is most commonly used as a post-exercise recovery drink.
Cherry juice is rich in melatonin, a natural hormone that helps to control your sleep-wake cycle. Sleep is an integral part of your recovery from exercise and training, and the quality and duration of sleep are closely correlated to a number of performance factors.
Tart cherry's rich antioxidant content also helps to promote muscle recovery and to reduce muscle soreness.
A 30ml portion of concentrated sour cherry juice mixed with 300-500ml of water after exercise should help to promote recovery.
The timing of cherry juice intake is still up for debate. Many experts recommend drinking it 30 minutes after exercise to promote muscle recovery, and ideally in the evening to aid sleep.
Nothing beats a healthy, balanced diet to provide all the nutrients we need. But when this isn’t possible supplements can help. This article isn’t intended to replace
medical advice. Please consult your healthcare professional before trying supplements or herbal medicines.