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Health benefits of Anthocyanins

Article Summary: Learn why anthocyanins help reduce inflammation and help reduce gout and arthritis pain.

Anthocyanins seem to be the newest buzz in the nutraceutical industy for offering a whole host of benefits. However, what is amazing this natural compound has been around since the beginning of time.

Anthocyanins are responsible for giving nature its vibrant colors in fruits and vegetables. You can see the overwhelming presence of this pigment when you visit an orchard or the fresh produce section of your local grocery store. Anthocyanins are present in blueberries, cherries, strawberries, apples, peaches, red raspberries to name a few. In addition, they are also responsible for the changing of the leaves from green to fiery red, orange, purple, yellow and more. But what are they?

Anthocyanins have long been the study of botanists due to their phytoprotective capabilities. To date, over 300 distinct types of Anthocyanins have been identified. Based upon research, Anthocyanins belong to one class of flavonoids. Flavonoids include a number of different classes including flavones, flavonones, flavon-3-ols and flavonols. Different classes of flavonoids have different oxidations states.

These compounds are of increased interest in the dietary intake for natural therapeutic roles. One of the most publicized research of late is the "French paradox." According to the research red-wine drinkers from Italy and French have healthier cardiovascular health than Westerners. In addition, some fruits that are high in Anthocyanins, including tart cherries, blueberries, raspberries, black currants, etc., are high in ORAC (oxygen radical absorption capability) values. This is the ability to fight free radicals in the body.

Free radicals are unstable molecules that have lost an oxygen molecule. These unstable molecules take oxygen molecules from healthy cells. One example of the affects of free radicals on healthy cells is the browning of fresh cut apple or potato. If you have ever cut an apple or a potato and let it set on the counter for 20 minutes you have witnessed the affects of free radicals. The browning of the cut of the healthy fruit is what is called "cellular rust.

Anthocyanins may help fight free radicals.

This compound is increasingly gain interest for daily dietary intake. The daily consumption of Anthocyanins contained in fruits, vegetable and other foods may be vital maintain a healthy lifestyle. Tart cherries are a natural and high source of naturally occurring anthocyanins. Although, anthocyanins are present in also any number of colored fruit, the unique make-up of the compounds found in the tart cherry helps to fight joint pain. So in other words, the compounds in the tart cherry are natural COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors. In addition to fighting joint pain, research also shows tart cherry juice helps to soothe sore muscles due to physical exercise.

In addition to fresh cherries and cherry drinks you can also choose from tart cherry juice concentrate and tart cherry capsules. One of the benefits of tart cherry juice concentrate is it takes approximately 100 cherries to make just one ounce of tart cherry juice. So the tart cherry juice is a highly concentrated way to get your daily dose of cherries.

Tart cherry capsules are another way to get tart cherries. Tart cherry capsules are made with tart cherry powder and the cherry powder is made using the freeze-dried process. This process maintains the most amount phytocompounds when compared to ther production methods. The company Fruit Advantage offers a complete line of tart cherry products including tart cherry capsules.

Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

About the Author:
Russ Anderson
Russ is an avid writer on the natural health benefits of simple everyday food. Here are the links to the companies in this article: http://www.traversebayfarms.com, http://www.fruitadvantage.com