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Many older adults who are concerned about their blood pressure, or experience fatigue and other troublesome symptoms from blood pressure medications, are reaching for tart cherry juice. Diet

plays a critical role in every aspect of our health and well-being, and the food-as-medicine movement is gaining momentum for a reason. However, that doesn’t mean that tart cherry juice is

right for everyone — or that it can replace blood pressure medication. Before you fill your cup, take a closer look at the science. WHAT IS TART CHERRY JUICE, AND HOW DOES IT TASTE?  Tart

cherry juice comes from Montmorency cherries, also called sour cherries. As the name implies, they’re tart — but that’s balanced out by a hint of delicious sweetness. Some people compare

tart cherry juice to an unfiltered red wine, so it’s a great choice if you’re experimenting with reducing your alcohol intake or exploring the sober curious lifestyle. In fact, it’s a key

ingredient in the viral “sleepy girl mocktail,” a low-calorie swap for your nightcap. (One note of caution: The mocktail includes a tablespoon of magnesium. Although that amount is safe

for most people, taking too much magnesium can carry risk for older adults and those with renal insufficiency.) You can buy tart cherry juice at various retailers, such as Amazon, Walmart

and Aldi. IS TART CHERRY JUICE NUTRITIOUS? Tart cherries are rich in many essential nutrients that older adults need more of as they age, namely potassium and vitamins A, C and K. They’re

packed with flavonoids — bioactive compounds that could help prevent illnesses that occur more often in older adults.  “Flavonoids are strongly associated with a lower risk of developing

type 2 diabetes among healthy people,” says Andres Ardisson Korat, a scientist II at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. “The benefits also

extend to the prevention of other conditions, including high blood pressure.”  Tart cherries could also play a role in reducing inflammation and, in turn, support healthy aging. “Studies of

tart cherries have found that consumption reduces the level of the serum C-reactive protein,” says David Benton, a professor of psychology at Swansea University. “This protein is produced

by the liver and helps to defend against bacteria. It’s associated with inflammation that results from disease, injury and infection.”  DOES TART CHERRY JUICE LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE?  The

science around tart cherry juice for high blood pressure is inconclusive. In a clinical trial of 37 men and women 65-80 years old published in the journal _Nutrients_, drinking tart cherry

juice each day for 12 consecutive weeks lowered blood pressure levels as well as LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. Another controlled clinical trial in the _European Journal of

Nutrition_ found that supplementing with Montmorency tart cherry juice in the short term improved fasting glucose levels and total cholesterol.