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Do Cherries Help Gout?

Yes, cherries can help gout.

More Info: Studies have revealed that eating cherries helps to alleviate arthritic pain and gout.  Cherries lower plasma urate, the metabolite in plasma that is responsible for gout.

What Is Gout?

Gout is a painful form of arthritis that occurs when too much uric acid builds up in the body.  The body produces uric acid while breaking down purines, which are present in the body's tissue and is also present in foods.  Under normal conditions, the body simply eliminates uric acid through urination.  Gout occurs when the kidneys do not eliminate enough uric acid, the body begins producing more uric acid, or a person eats too many purines. 

Gout and Cherries Research

In a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, ten women were asked to fast and for two days before the study to avoid foods that have been indicated as possessing antioxidant properties such as wine, strawberries, and tea.  To capture a baseline, the urate levels in the blood plasma were measured.  Urate is a normal component of blood and when levels are elevated can lead to gout.

How Many Cherries for Gout 

The study found that within hours after consuming as little as two servings (280g/roughly 2 cups) of cherries, the plasma urate levels of the volunteers dropped, indicating that cherries do indeed have a direct effect on gout.