Cherries/dried cherries. Anti-inflammatory.

[Ulysees]

Just wanted to tell you about this as I know a lot of people suffer with inflammation.
I've had a lump on my finger joint for a while. Started off soft then became hard and painful. I've always used my fingers a lot with work and hobbies. I put it down to arthritis.
The lump started being sore (after a virus) and grew a little. So I did an econsult through our Gp.
I got an appointment for today and for the last few days I've been eating a few dried cherries as a snack as I'd read they're anti-inflammatory. I noticed my finger wasn't as sore and the lump looked smaller?
I've just come from the Gp and he was surprised at my finger as he had the photo on his screen. He couldn't believe the difference. So I told him about the cherries. He was actually interested and agreed that dried cherries did have health benefits.
Hopefully this isn't temporary. I'm going to keep having a few a day. I don't eat sweets or chocolate as don't have a sweet tooth. These are quite tart so suit me. Plus they go well with dark chocolate which I quite like 😁

Just thought I'd share as may be beneficial to someone?

Do you suffer regularly from inflammation or was this the first?

have you been diagnosed with arthritis?

Great. Ordering now, thanks very much.

Gp said it probably is? I'm in my 50s and post menopausal and have noticed more inflammation since the end of my periods. My hands and toes were stiff and sore but nothing too bad. Not now though. My finger was pretty bad that's why I looked at antiinflammatories instead of popping ibuprofen.

Hoping it keeps working?

The gp said it is “probably arthritis”?

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/health-benefits-cherries

Loads of information online. Note it may help. No guarantees.

What's your point? Lots of people my age and older get it. Part of life.I was just posting about what's worked for me. No pain now. I'm not going to reply anymore as you obviously think this is aibu.

Oh that's good to hear! I have frozen cherries in my breakfast every day (frozen cherries, frozen blueberries, greek yoghurt and some granola) If there's any truth to it at all I'm happy, if not I still enjoy my brekkie

Love that. Dh and I often have fruit and yogurt.

Appalling GP to just throw in “probably arthritis”

a condition that is chronic and can be debilitating

You ate in your fifties Op

hardly elderly. I’m less than 10 years younger than you and as active as I was in my twenties (more so as no longer drinking!)

for a gp to off handedly say “probably arthritis” would be very upsetting to me

I have had big toe gout and my GP gave me a relieving prescription but also recommended a book which recommended cherry capsules. I've been taking them for a year or more without any recurrence.

Well he is probably right. There isn’t a lot they can do if it is osteoarthritis but a lot more if it is inflammatory of course. I have both types and they aren’t going to do anything for OA until it becomes debilitating.

I’ve heard about the anti inflammatory properties of cherry juice before but it is very pricey.

You can buy capsules or juice off the Internet or health shops ( sour cherry/montmorency cherry, capsules work out cheaper). There has been research done on it and sportsmen use them to recover from inflammatory injuries. You've reminded me to order some👌I've used them in the past for injury but I'm a lot older than you op and seem to permanently have minor pains in joints ect so will try them again.

There is a huge amount that one can do to prevent the speed of deterioration especially someone in their fifties!

Yes Flip it seems to be cherries 😁🍒

So glad others are finding them helpful. I bought a big bag from Grapes shop for £7.99. The ones from H&B are easy to carry around in a Ziploc bag. Grapes ones are moister.

I'm also losing a bit of weight and hopefully a bit more. Eating healthier in general so that's probably helping? I don't fancy following the anti-inflammatory diet as it cuts out allsorts.

I'm active at work and walk loads. Also do exercises for upper body.

@Mossstitch hope they help? Do you do any exercise?

My DH drinks cherry juice to help ward off gout. I think it's recognised in being helpful with gout - makes sense that could translate to wider anti-inflammatory qualities.

Can I ask how long he's been drinking it? Does the juice have a lot of sugar and water in it?

That’s so interesting as my first pregnancy symptom (only 9 days after conception, I didn’t know yet I was pregnant) was a huge craving for dried cherries. And also tomato sauce. Was mad about cherries and tomatoes.

There’s a folk song about Mary being pregnant with Jesus and asking Joseph to go fetch some cherries, so I think it must be a thing.

There's some tablets called Cherry Active which contain the concentrated anti inflammatory properties of cherries. Supposedly good for arthritis and gout.

Interesting op thanks. I read somewhere sour cherry juice is supposed to help kids sleep too. Can't remember what it contains.

Contains melatonin apparently!

Yes they sound like a wonder food. Good for heart,sleep, inflammation. Anti cancer properties. That's a bonus as loads of cancer/ heart problems in my family.

I haven't looked at the label but it certainly doesn't taste as if it has much sugar in it! DH really likes sour/tart flavours though. He often drinks it mixed with kefir for extra repulsiveness

Dh and I like kefir but mixed with juice 🤮

He'd probably like the dried cherries they're tart.