| A new study suggests that drinking tart cherry juice may improve sleep quality.Cherries have been used as both food and medicine. African cherry (Prunus africana) has been used to treat enlarged prostate and other disorders. Cherries contain polyphenols, which may have antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties. However, there is limited scientific evidence to support these uses.
In a new study, researchers sought to assess the reported high levels of melatonin in Montmorency cherries and there potential effects on sleep quality. Melatonin is a hormone produced in the brain. The synthesis and release of melatonin are stimulated by darkness and suppressed by light, suggesting the involvement of melatonin in circadian rhythm. Several human studies have suggested that taking melatonin by mouth may reduce the time it takes to fall asleep. Researchers randomly assigned 20 participants to receive tart cherry juice concentrate or placebo for seven days. Sleep quality and levels of melatonin in the urine were evaluated throughout the study period. The researchers found that total melatonin content was significantly higher in the tart cherry juice group when compared to the control group. Furthermore, the tart cherry juice group saw significant improvements in the time in bed, sleep efficiency and total sleep time. The authors concluded that drinking tart cherry juice may significantly increase melatonin levels and improve sleep quality. Larger-scale studies are necessary to further evaluate these findings. Reference: Republished with permission of Natural Standards Research Collaboration ©2012. |