Science Supports Cherries to Fight Gout

Q. I have heard that sour cherry juice can ward off gout attacks. Have you heard of this remedy? My doctor thinks it is ridiculous.
A. Cherries have traditionally been recommended for gout prevention, but the medical evidence has been limited. One study has shown, however, that uric acid drops after people eat Bing cherries (Journal of Nutrition, June 2003).
Elevated uric acid triggers the excruciating pain of a gout attack, so this finding supports the potential usefulness of cherries against gout. Another reader reported: “I used tart cherries to cure a gout attack and it worked. The real news is that the pain from osteoarthritis of the hip joint diminished also. I’ve been able to reduce my use of Celebrex from 400 mg/day to 200 mg/day and still have less pain. Cherry juice or cherry concentrate in pills (CherryFlex) may be helpful.