Drinking two glasses of tart cherry juice a day may reduce your risk of having a stroke or heart attack, according to a new study. This fruit drink is rich in healthy plant compounds called polyphenols, which lower blood pressure and cholesterol and protect against cardiovascular disease.

A study of people aged 65 to 80 also found that those who consumed the drink were less susceptible to inflammation and oxidative stress, which can lead to serious illness. This was shown by a decrease in the amount of CRP (c-reactive protein) and MDA (malondialdehyde), chemicals in the blood that indicate the process.

Tart cherry juice reduced “bad cholesterol” or LDL (low-density lipoprotein) by 11 percent and CRP by 25 percent in just 12 weeks. MDA levels decreased by 3%. It also increased the activity of a gene called OGG1, which is known to be involved in DNA repair.

“Our findings suggest that Montmorency tart cherry juice may be a good addition to a heart-healthy diet,” said lead researcher Dr. Shaw Ching Chai, a nutritionist at the University of Delaware in the US. ” he said.

The study involved 34 randomly selected older men and women who consumed either 8 ounces of juice or a control beverage twice a day. “Ultimately, participants in the tart cherry group had lower systolic blood pressure and lower LDL cholesterol than participants, and lower levels of certain substances in the blood that indicate inflammation and oxidative stress (biochemicals such as CRP and MDA),” Dr. Chai said. “The levels of cancer (including markers) were also low.” to the control group. ”

Systolic blood pressure is the first number that measures the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats. Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg. Dr. Chai said, “Participant compliance was very high at 94%, suggesting that a twice-daily glass of tart cherry juice can be easily incorporated into an overall diet and enjoyed.” .

Dr. Chai said a daily serving of 16 ounces of Montmorency tart cherry juice contains only 181 calories and 34 grams of sugar. This is lower than other commonly consumed fruit juices and soft drinks. Participants’ weight, insulin levels, and insulin resistance did not change.

Dr Chai said: “This suggests that Montmorency tart cherry juice can be easily incorporated into the diet without increasing calorie or sugar intake, especially when taken in place of sugary drinks.” Stated.

Tart cherries, also known as sour cherries or dwarf cherries, have become increasingly popular in recent years. They are different from the sweet cherries that are enjoyed raw. This juice is made from the fruit of the Prunus tree, which is native to Southwest Asia and Europe.

It has also been associated with many other health benefits, including increased muscle strength, improved sleep, reduced symptoms of arthritis, and prevention of brain diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Dr. Chai, whose research was funded by the Cherry Marketing Institute, which represents U.S. growers, said the study was the largest human trial of its kind.

She called for larger, longer-term follow-up studies to confirm the results.