Montmorency tart cherries are the most common variety of cherry grown in the United States, and drinking a glass of its juice before going to bed can induce sound sleep to those who suffer from insomnia. Sleeping tablets would go out of fashion as would counting the number of sheep that jump over the fence. It would also come as a big relief to those who want to avoid drugs to induce sleep.
The study was conducted by Louisiana State University and concludes that the drink must be taken an hour before retiring for the night. According to the findings, the Cherry Juice prevents the build-up of chemicals in the brain that are normally associated with sleep disorders.
The methodology adopted
Daily Mail UK reports that insomnia is a problem of modern day lifestyle, and is linked to several diseases. The seriousness can be gauged from the fact that a large section of adults suffer from insomnia. The study, carried out by the Louisiana State University study, was funded to some extent by the Cherry Marketing Institute, and the findings have been published in American Journal of Therapeutics
Each of the participants had sleep disorders at least three times a week. They underwent blood tests and answered questions about their insomnia before the tests began. One group was given the cherry juice group, the other a placebo that looked and tasted similar. The amount of juice was the same for both the groups.
The cherry juice was made from Montmorency tart cherries which contain some compounds that were missing from the other drink. After completing the tests, it was found that those who drank the cherry juice as prescribed slept for longer periods.
Insomnia can have serious consequences
Sleep is necessary to recoup lost energies and prepare oneself physically and mentally to face the challenges of a new day.
However, modern-day lifestyle is riddled with tensions that result in health issues, and insomnia is one of these.
The study has found that intake of cherry juice helped to reduce levels of a product which is believed to be responsible for sleep disorders. It also increased the amount of another product in the blood, which induces sleepiness.
Therefore, it was concluded that regular intake of the juice of Montmorency tart cherries could do away with medication
Lead researcher Professor Jack Losso has confirmed that insomnia is usually associated with older adults. If not treated in time, it can lead to complications like diabetes, dementia, heart disease, stroke, and depression. Most people hate the idea of depending on medication to go to sleep, and they would welcome the concept of cherry juice.
