Tart Cherries May Help Reduce Risk Factors for Developing Type 2 Diabetes

A recent animal study indicate that diets enriched with tart cherries may significantly lower insulin and fasting glucose levels (pdf), key markers for the development of type 2 diabetes. Adding cherries to the diet also lowered the animals’ total cholesterol levels and triglycerides after 90 days.

The study also showed the cherry-fed groups had lower levels of a plasma marker of oxidative damage and increased blood antioxidant capacity – not surprising since cherries are one of the richest sources of antioxidants.

The study used whole tart cherries in powder form, which was fed to rats as one percent of
their total diet. While the amount of cherries used in the study could equate to reasonable amounts in a human diet, humans and rats differ substantially in the ability to absorb nutrients like anthocyanins and more research is needed to translate this science into a diet recommendation.

The study, which has been was presented at the scientific conference Experimental Biology and has been submitted for publication in a medical journal.

Note that tart cherries have also been linked to lower the risk of metabolic syndrome (also called insulin resistance syndrome) and cardiovascular disease, and a host of other health benefits.