This flavorful and refreshing tart cherry sports drink will rehydrate and refuel – with an added inflammation-busting punch from the tart cherry juice.
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Thank you to the Cherry Marketing Institute for sponsoring this post.
You guys know by now that I’m a huge tart cherry fan. Through my partnership with the Cherry Marketing Institute this year, I’ve talked about how tart cherries make a delicious, satisfying snack (recipe: Tart Cherry Pie Snack Balls), and how they can help with sleep due to the natural melatonin they contain (recipes/info: Microwave Tart Cherry Oatmealand Tart Cherry Kale and Feta Stuffed Chicken).
This month, I’d like to talk more about their other big benefit, which is especially important to me as a runner: inflammation-busting. Research has shown tart cherries can serve as a natural recovery aid when consumed in the days before and after intensive exercise!
Tart cherries are high in anthocyanins, which are flavonoids that contribute to their sourness, intense red color, and, most importantly, their anti-inflammatory health properties. Due to these anthocyanins, tart cherries have been found useful for those suffering from joint paint (arthritis) and gout, and can also help to ease muscle soreness following a hard workout, too. When you’re sore after a workout, this is due to a few things – muscle damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The good news is that the anthocyanins in tart cherries seem to help with all three of these!
In fact, studies suggest Montmorency tart cherry juice has the ability to reduce muscle pain and weakness after bouts of intense strength training, as well as after long-distance running. Here is a little overview of the running-specific studies I took from ChooseCherries.com. There’s more info over on their website!
- Faster recovery: Marathon runners who drank Montmorency tart cherry juice five days before, the day of and two days after running experienced a faster recovery of strength compared to those who drank a different beverage. 1
- In another study Montmorency tart cherry juice helped improve the recovery time after intensive exercise compared to the placebo beverage that was used. 2
- Decreases muscle pain: Runners in an annual 196-mile relay race in Oregon reported significantly less muscle pain after the race if they drank Montmorency tart cherry juice twice a day the week before and on the day of the long-distance race. 3
After reading about all of tart cherry’s benefits this spring, I actually started bringing dried tart cherries with me as fuel on a few of my long runs, and having a swig of tart cherry juice before and after a run, too. Feel free to take that approach, if you like – or, give this tart cherry sports drink recipe a try. You can enjoy it before, during, or after your run – whichever you prefer! I like doing a little before and a little after, but I think I’m going to pick up a little container that I can fit into my hydration vest so I can fill it with some of this sports drink for any longer runs/hikes this summer. (An entire backpack full of sports drink would be a bit much for me – but a small bottle of it would be perfect as an addition to my water!) If you’re having this after your run, just be sure to pair it with some protein, too. 🙂
Joining with the tart cherry juice in this recipe is water, lime juice, honey, and a little salt. I made it with pure maple syrup in place of the honey recently and that was really good, too. You can also leave out the honey/maple syrup if you’re doing a lighter workout/don’t want it as sweet. Your choice!
Here’s the recipe. Happy running and inflammation busting!
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 cups tart cherry juice
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 2 tablespoons honey or pure maple syrup
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
- Place all ingredients in a large jar and shake vigorously until combined.
Did you make this recipe?
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FAQs
2 cups tart cherry juice. 1 cup water. 1/4 cup lime juice. 2 tablespoons honey or pure maple syrup.
How to make your own homemade electrolyte drink? ›
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice.
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice.
- 2 cups water (filtered or raw coconut water)
- 2 tbsp organic raw honey or organic maple syrup.
- 1/8 tsp Himalayan pink salt.
Lemon-pomegranate electrolyte drink recipe
- 1/4 tsp. salt.
- 1/4 cup pomegranate juice.
- 1/4 cup lemon juice.
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut water.
- 2 cups cold water.
- Additional options: sweetener, powdered magnesium and/or calcium, depending on needs.
If you have diabetes or another condition that affects blood sugar, you should speak to your doctor before adding tart cherry juice to your diet. Sorbitol, a natural sugar alcohol found in tart cherry juice, can also cause belly pain and diarrhea for some people.
What is the tart cherry juice trick? ›
Another study from 2018 of eight participants over 50 years old with chronic insomnia found that those who drank about 1 cup (240 milliliters) of tart cherry juice in the morning and another cup one to two hours before bed for two weeks saw their sleep time increase by 84 minutes.
How to replenish electrolytes at home? ›
How to get electrolytes
- Drink unsweetened coconut water. Coconut water is a good source of electrolytes. ...
- Eat bananas. Eat a banana for some potassium. ...
- Consume dairy products. ...
- Cook white meat and poultry. ...
- Eat avocado. ...
- Drink fruit juice. ...
- Snack on watermelon. ...
- Try electrolyte infused waters.
Healthy electrolyte drinks include coconut water, milk, fruit juice, smoothies, and sports drinks. MedlinePlus. Fluid and electrolyte balance.
Can I just add salt to water for electrolytes? ›
During exercise or sweating, not only water but also electrolytes like sodium are lost. Adding a small amount of salt to your drinking water helps replenish these lost electrolytes, promoting better water absorption and preventing dehydration.
What is the best homemade drink during workout? ›
During workout: Lemon grass, honey and lemon drink
Let it cool while you workout. During workout, when you are thirsty, take a glass of lemon grass water and add a teaspoon of honey, few drops of lemon juice and couple of mint leaves. This drink will get rid of the toxins from your body and relax your muscles.
What drink has the most electrolytes? ›
For the most concentrated electrolyte bang for your buck, Pedialyte Sport electrolyte blend is said to provide three times the amount of electrolytes—specifically, sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, and phosphate—and a fourth of the sugar compared to other sports drinks on the market.
Tart cherry juice side effects
And if you have diabetes, the juice's natural sugar content – and any added sugar – can negatively impact your blood sugar level. Other potential side effects include: Abdominal discomfort. Diarrhea.
Is tart cherry hard on the liver? ›
Interestingly, tart cherry supplementation enhanced both unfolded protein response (UPR) and autophagy. This study suggests that tart cherry supplementation, although it did not reduce body weight in the DIO rats, prevented its related risk factors and liver steatosis.
What is the healthiest tart cherry juice to drink? ›
If you prefer to buy tart cherry juice, make sure to choose 100% tart cherry juice with no added sugar to ensure you're getting the maximum health benefits.
Why do athletes drink tart cherry juice? ›
Abstract. Tart cherry (TC) juice has many antioxidant and anti-inflammatory polyphenol compounds. TC lessens pain and accelerates strength recovery after exercise and decreases blood markers of inflammation/oxidative stress. These improvements occur in both strength and endurance exercise.
Can you drink tart cherry juice straight? ›
Tart cherry juice is similar in color to cranberry juice with a pucker-inducing sourness. Some producers cut the tartness of the juice by blending it with apple juice, but purists just drink it straight.
How many cups of tart cherry juice should I drink a day? ›
The Studies:
A study in July 2017 noted that in evaluating tart cherry juice, “Timing and dosage vary widely, but most studies use 8 to 12 ounces (1oz if in concentrate form) twice a day.”
Can Apple cider vinegar be used as an electrolyte? ›
It can be taken before meals or anytime throughout the day. It is a natural and clean way to replenish electrolytes. Good news for all you athletes out there. It has been proven that apple cider vinegar can help replenish electrolytes in your system.
How do you make sugar free electrolyte water at home? ›
The easy way involves mixing water, salt, potassium, and magnesium, with a squeeze of lemon or lime. It's what we call an electrolyte homebrew.
