Tart Cherry is another food that is also a medicinal herb. It is recommended for those with gout or arthritis because it is said to strengthen collagen structures and reduce uric acid and nitric acid in the blood, which helps to reduce inflammation. It is also said to slow aging, repair some cell damage, and decrease the risk of illness in general. Tart cherry is also used to reduce back pain and aching muscles.  It is also said to aid those with diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's. The anthocyanins in tart cherry protect and heal brain cells. Insomnia can also benefit from tart cherry. 
    Another recent study found that tart cherry helped reduce inflammation in areas of the body that would lead to reduced risk of obesity and heart disease. In tests with rats, those given a diet that included tart cherry powder had lower body fat and cholesterol. Similar results came from a second study with humans who drank eight ounces of tart cherry juice a day for a month. Another study showed that tart cherry may restrict the growth of some tumors. Another good reason for using tart cherry juice or capsules is that is has no known harmful side effects unlike drugs used to treat similar conditions.