5 Health Benefits of Tart Cherry Pills and Tablets

Note: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve supplements for safety or effectiveness. Talk to a healthcare professional about whether a supplement is the right fit for your individual health, and about any potential drug interactions or safety concerns.

While fresh cherries are a delicious seasonal treat, tart cherry supplements make it possible to get a concentrated dose of this superfruit year-round. Typically made from Montmorency tart cherries (Prunus cerasus‌), tart cherry pills and tablets may help support restful sleep and inflammation reduction, among other potential health benefits. Dietitians typically recommend prioritizing whole foods over nutritional supplements, but tart cherry supplements may provide another way to reap the rewards of this powerful fruit.

1. Tart Cherry Provides Ample Antioxidants

Tart cherries are a rich source of flavonoids like anthocyanins, the deep red, purple, and blue pigments in the fruit that exhibit antioxidant properties. They’re also a helpful source of antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E, as well as a variety of polyphenols.

Anthocyanins are understood to support the body’s cellular cleanup processes, as well as reduce oxidative stress and promote intestinal health. Consumption of these compounds is associated with improved longevity and reduced risk of age-related conditions such as neurodegenerative disorders, osteoporosis, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

2. Tart Cherry May Support Muscle Recovery

Strenuous workouts can trigger symptoms of ‌delayed-onset muscle soreness‌, which may discourage people from maintaining a consistent exercise routine. Supplementing with tart cherry may help enhance muscular recovery processes, thanks to the fruit’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which may help your body feel ready to jump back into your chosen physical activity sooner. While research is mixed whether tart cherries help reduce muscle soreness specifically, plenty of anecdotal evidence supports this effect.

3. Tart Cherry May Support Healthy Sleep

Tart cherries are a rich source of tryptophan, melatonin, and serotonin, three biochemicals involved in helping you fall asleep and stay asleep. While research on the link between tart cherries and sleep quality is limited, melatonin is understood to help prepare the body for sleep, and short-term supplementation may help combat sleep issues such as insomnia and jet lag. Meanwhile, serotonin supports the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, and tryptophan plays an important role in the production of both melatonin and serotonin.

4. Tart Cherry May Help Reduce Chronic Inflammation

Chronic inflammation, which can be exacerbated by poor diet, is directly associated with heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and more. Prioritizing healthy foods with anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce these effects, and tart cherries are no exception. The active polyphenol compounds in tart cherries help target molecules involved in inflammatory pathways, reducing inflammatory markers in the body and your overall risk for inflammatory diseases. Tart cherries also offer cardiometabolic benefits such as reduced fasting blood glucose levels, which is key to managing conditions like diabetes and preventing associated inflammation.

5. Tart Cherry May Help Treat Gout

Cherry products have long been recognized as a potential treatment for gout. This form of arthritis occurs when the body accumulates too much uric acid, which then crystalizes in the joints, causing pain, inflammation, and swelling. The anthocyanin content of a tart cherry is understood to help decrease the amount of uric acid in the body and prevent the formation of these crystals. If you have inflammatory symptoms of gout, a tart cherry supplement may help you manage them, providing renal protection benefits as well.