Chronic low grade inflammation is now thought to be a major contributory factor in the development of a number of chronic diseases. In particular, the metabolic syndrome, a condition characterised by severe metabolic dysfunction is associated with a chronic and systemic inflammation. It is this inflammation that is through to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer in those with the metabolic syndrome. The ability of fruit to protect from these Western diseases is though in part to result from their ability to reduce the chronic inflammation associated with the metabolic syndrome. The beneficial effects of fruit may result from the presence of a number of biologically active phytochemicals in a wide range of edible fruits. Such chemicals include the flavonoid group of polyphenols that give fruits their vivid red, blue and purple colours. Flavonoids have been investigated for their anti-inflammatory effects and have been shown to have beneficial health effects in animals and humans.
A number of studies have investigated the effects of different fruits on chronic inflammation in humans. For example, in one study1, researchers assessed the effects of Bing sweet cherries on the presence of a number of known biomarkers of inflammation in healthy humans. The subjects were chosen because they had moderately elevated levels of a biomarker for systemic inflammation called C-reactive protein, suggesting that they were in an pro-inflammatory state. The results of the study showed that consumption of 280 grams of cherries per day for 28 days caused a reduction in nine marker of inflammation including C-reactive protein, but did not alter sixty seven other markers. Therefore Bing sweet cherries show anti-inflammatory effects in healthy human adults, and are able to reduce C-reactive protein levels, the accepted marker of systemic inflammation. These results support previous studies investigating the effects of fruits on chronic inflammation and show that cherries have medicinal properties.
Dr Robert Barrington’s Nutritional Recommendation: Fruit may be beneficial to the health because it is a good source of biologically active chemicals that interact with human cells. In particular, cherries are a good source of anthocyanins, flavonoids that are responsible for the dark red colour of their skins. Anthocyanins are thought to be responsible for the ability of cherries to lower chronic inflammation because they inhibit the cyclooxygenase enzymes that participate in the inflammatory reaction. The anthocyanins in cherries have been compared to anti-inflammatory drugs and been found to compare favourably to the effects of ibuprofen and naproxen. Cherries should be consumed as part of a healthy diet, particularly if an anti-inflammatory effect is required.
RdB
