It seems that Americans need help falling asleep. The National Institutes of Health reports that Americans spend over $84 million each year in search of the best over-the-counter sleep aid.
Insomnia Signs
The National Sleep Foundation finds that more than half of adults in America experience symptoms of insomnia at least a few nights a week. Insomnia can be an acute problem that lasts just a night or two, or it can be a chronic problem, lasting months or even years. Besides being a disruption to sleep, insomnia affects people’s health and wellbeing. The insomnia signs include:
- difficulty falling asleep at night
- waking up frequently during the night
- difficulty falling asleep after waking up during the night
- waking up too early in the morning
- sleep that does not refresh
- sleepiness in the daytime
- difficulty in concentrating
- irritability
Tart Cherries Offer Insomnia Solution
For those people who have spent time looking for that best over-the-counter sleep aid, there is good news. Researchers have discovered that tart cherry juice can be helpful to those who have trouble sleeping. Researchers published their findings in the Journal of Medicinal Food, June 3, 2010 issue. The team included researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, University of Rochester, and the VA Center of Canandaigua.
Researchers conducted a pilot study on the sleep habits of older adults. The adults in the study drank eight ounces of tart cherry juice beverage each morning and evening for two weeks. Following that two-week period, researchers had the subjects drink a comparable juice drink (but not a tart cherry drink) for two weeks. Their findings revealed significant reductions in the severity of the insomnia symptoms these adults were experiencing.
It seems that the tart cherry juice is probably beneficial because of the melatonin found in cherries. Melatonin is a natural antioxidant found in cherries; it has the ability to help regulate a person’s sleep-wake cycle. Natural melatonin helps to induce sleepiness at night and aids wakefulness during the daytime. Some people use melatonin supplements to help their body’s sleep cycle. But it could be that foods rich in melatonin, like cherries, are an even better insomnia solution.
Other Health Benefits of Cherries
Besides their ability to aid those who need help falling asleep, there are other health benefits of cherries. Research seems to point to the usefulness of cherries in helping to reduce inflammation, aid muscle recovery, and reduce the risk of age-related conditions.
References:
sleepfoundation.org. “Can’t Sleep? What To Know About Insomnia” (accessed July 13, 2010)
eurekalert.org. “New study suggests tart cherry juice can be a natural solution for insomnia” (accessed July 13, 2010)
Journal of Medicinal Food, “Effects of a Tart Cherry Juice Beverage on the Sleep of Older Adults with Insomnia: A Pilot Study” June 3, 2010
Donna McKinney - Donna McKinney has a 25-year career writing on topics ranging from science and technology to health to Christianity. Her articles are ...
Join the Conversation