Year after year, the number one New Year’s resolution is to lose weight and get fit. Many of us renew lapsed gym memberships and pledge to eat more fruits and vegetables. This year, the trend is less about fad diets and more about dietary strategies that improve overall health and wellness and may also help you lose weight.
Get the Tart Cherry Boost Drink recipe!
Metabolism is a complex biochemical process that combines calories in food and beverages with oxygen to release energy. Simply put, it is the process that converts what you consume into the energy your body needs to function. Boosting metabolism is desirable when wanting to lose weight.
The apple cider vinegar diet has been touted as a boon to weight loss for many years. It is true that vinegar (not just apple cider vinegar) is effective at reducing the speed with which glucose enters the bloodstream, which lowers blood sugar levels. This makes consuming vinegar beneficial for those looking to lose weight and for diabetics, as well.
Apple cider vinegar is highly acidic and can irritate the throat. Japanese vinegar is less acidic than distilled western vinegar and has a sweeter and more mild flavor. For these reasons, beverages made with rice vinegar are more palatable.
Try making this Tart Cherry Boost Drink that is rich in powerful antioxidants and is a mix of tart cherry juice, apple juice, Marukan rice vinegar and cayenne. Tart cherry juice has been the subject of numerous studies for its beneficial effect on inflammation and insomnia.1 2
Gout is a painful arthritic condition caused by an excess of uric acid. Drinking tart cherry juice regularly has been associated with reducing uric acid and alleviating symptoms of gout3 as well as promoting weight loss.4
Cherries are also high in potassium, which reduces hypertension and supports the heart, brain, kidneys and muscular tissue.
Tart Cherry Boost Drink Nutrition Analysis: per 4 ounce serving
Calories 47 Protein 0g, Carbohydrates 12g, Fiber 0g, Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Calcium 11mg, Sodium 7 mg, Potassium 38 mg
Article provided by Marie Oser, best-selling author, writer/producer and host of VegTV. Her latest book is The Skinny on Soy. Follow Marie on Facebook and Twitter
1. Lynn A, Mathew S, Moore CT, Russell J, Robinson E, Soumpasi V, Barker ME. Effect of a tart cherry juice supplement on arterial stiffness and inflammation in healthy adults: a randomised controlled trial. Lynn A et al. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. (2014)
2. Howatson G, Bell PG, Tallent J, Middleton B, McHugh MP, Ellis J. Effect of tart cherry juice (Prunus cerasus) on melatonin levels and enhanced sleep quality. Howatson G et al. Eur J Nutr. (2012)
3. Arthritis Rheum. 2012 Dec;64(12):4004-11. doi: 10.1002/art.34677. Cherry consumption and decreased risk of recurrent gout attacks. Zhang Y1, Neogi T, Chen C, Chaisson C, Hunter DJ, Choi HK.
4. Seymour EM, Lewis SK, Urcuyo-Llanes DE, Tanone II, Kirakosyan A, Kaufman PB, Bolling SF. Regular tart cherry intake alters abdominal adiposity, adipose gene transcription, and inflammation in obesity-prone rats fed a high fat diet. J Med Food. 2009 Oct;12(5):935-42.