Cherries in a Gout Diet

Cherries are touted as one of the best natural remedies for gout. They’re healthy, nutritious, and delicious. Best of all, they can be prepared in many ways, you’ll never run out of excuses not to consume them. But before we delve into that, let’s take a look at the reasons why cherries are great for your gout:

● Antioxidants: Cherries are very high in antioxidants which are good for the body. They help protect you against chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, mental decline, and certain cancers.

● Vitamin C: A cup of cherries provide 18% vitamin C of the daily required value. This is essential for gout since vitamin C helps reduce uric acid in the body by as much as 50%. It also controls the painful inflammation in your joints.

● Fiber: Cherries are a great source of fiber. When you have gout, it’s important to keep your digestive system healthy with fiber so you’re able to eliminate waste regularly. Just like urination, keeping your bowels moving prevents toxins from accumulating in your body.

Shopping for Cherries or Cherry Products

There are several varieties of cherries to choose from. The best one for gout are tart cherries. They are not as sweet as other varieties but they’re just as enjoyable to eat. When at the market, you want to choose ones that are soft and juicy.

Tart cherries are extremely fragile because of their thin skin so don’t be surprised to find a few bruises in your bunch. When you buy them, handle them delicately on the way home and store in the refrigerator immediately. These cherries will last you a few days but you can prolong their life by storing the extra in the freezer.

If you can’t find tart cherries, sweet cherries will do although you need to be watchful of the sugar content. When choosing, go for ones that have bright green stems. Avoid those with stems that are brown, have spots, bruises, or discoloration in them. They store very well uncovered in the refrigerator for five days. You can also throw them in the freezer to prolong their life. When slightly defrosted, sweet cherries make for a perfect addition to your dessert.

Cherries are only available during summer and early fall season. If you’re lucky, they can be available at your local supermarket all year round as they’re flown from abroad. But you can also make your own preserve so you have some cherries to enjoy during the winter.

The cherry is an ideal fruit to preserve since they retain their flavor well, provided you store it properly. The only issue with cherries is that you need to remove the pit. You can do this manually or use a special contraption called a cherry pitter.

If you don’t want to go through all that work, you can just buy ready-made cherry products at the grocery. They’re available in different forms whether it’s canned, frozen, cooked, or juiced. When doing so, make sure to read the label’s ingredients and find out how much serving of cherries is in it. For example, a tablespoon of cherry concentrate can easily be 45 to 60 cherries. In that case, you want to control the amount and dilute it with water.

16 Ways to Add Cherries in Your Diet

Here are ways you can incorporate cherries into your diet.

1. Enjoy cherries by itself as a quick snack.
2. Use it as a topping to rice pudding or oatmeal.
3. Consume dried cherries which are available all year round. Just like raisins, they can be eaten as a snack, added to trail mixes, cereal, and fruit salads.
4. Indulge in a superfood dessert of chia pudding or yogurt by adding cherry on top of it.
5. Blend the cherries into a smoothie along with other fruits for that added antioxidant punch.
6. Enjoying a sundae? Lessen the guilt by topping it with cherries.
7. Elevate your basic green salad with cherries paired with balsamic vinegar.
8. Instead of using sweet cherries, try tart cherries for your next cheesecake. It’s guilt-free and it adds a fun twist to the traditional cheesecake.
9. Ran out of blueberries or strawberries? Cherries make for a great substitute to recipes that require these ingredients.
10. Beat the heat by making your own cherry-infused cold water drink. Just combine ice, water, cold seltzer, and some pureed cherries.
11. Cook tart cherries until the pulp and skins become soft and tender. The process of cooking helps develop its flavor making it a great addition to pies, sauces, and jams.
12. Drink a cup of cherry juice or concentrated cherry powder that’s been mixed with a cup of water.
13. Try a peanut butter and cherry spread on your bread instead of the usual PB&J.
14. Create your very own sweet and savoury barbecue sauce by adding cherries into it. You can then use this sauce to meat dishes for that rich flavor.
15. Make your own cherry salsa by slicing cherries and mixing it with herbs, then serve with savory meals.
16. Cherry mustard sounds foreign but it’s possible! Whip up some in your kitchen and serve it with roast beef sandwiches, grilled chicken, and even fish.

How Much Cherries is Safe to Consume for Gout?

Cherries are good for you but you don’t want too much of it. The recommended amount for gout patients is 20 cherries per day. This is just the right dose that may help protect you against painful gout symptoms. Don’t forget to take the sugar content of cherries into account. Cherry is still a fruit and it contains fructose or sugar, where too much can result in elevated uric acid levels.

Alternatively, you can consume cherry supplements which eliminates the need for you to consume cherry fruit everyday. These supplements contain the safe daily recommended amount of cherries so there’s no need for you to measure or worry whether you consumed too much or too less of it.

How has your gout symptoms changed ever since you started adding cherries in your diet? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

✅ If you or somebody you know suffers from gout, make sure to checkout my personal website for more tips on battling gout at www.goutandyou.com

Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional for any health concerns.