If you watched the Tour de France closely, you’ll have become accustomed to a familiar ritual—riders crossing the line and promptly being handed a dark red drink.
Over a gruelling three weeks, the 2,600-plus mile race took athletes across the country, up both the Pyrenees and Alps.
And crucial to their recovery arsenal was a red juice, made from Montmorency cherries.
Advocates say the juice is packed with antioxidants, helping to reduce stress and inflammation in the muscles, staving off cell damage.
Research has also long suggested it can even boost gut health by protecting the gut lining, improve sleep quality and help beat gout.
But now, diet experts say the juice, available from the likes of Waitrose and Holland & Barratt for as little as £4, may also help fend off a hangover, by relieving debilitating symptoms.
The benefits are believed to come from Montmorency cherries unusually high levels of polyphenols, an antioxidant compound which gives them their deep red hue.
Rob Hobson, a registered nutritionist and author of Unprocessed Your Life told the Daily Mail: ‘Tart cherry juice is a well-researched aid for recovery in athletes, and it may have some properties that make it supportive after drinking alcohol, particularly around sleep and hydration.
Over a gruelling three weeks, the 2,600-plus mile race took athletes across the country, up both the Pyrenees and Alps. Pictured, Tadej Pogačar after one Tour de France stage
Diet experts say the juice, available from the likes of Waitrose and Holland & Barratt for as little as £4, may even help fend off a hangover, by relieving debilitating symptoms
‘Its polyphenols may reduce inflammation, which is a factor in hangover symptoms.
‘Its carbohydrate content and hydration effect may support recovery from alcohol’s dehydrating and glycogen-depleting effects.
‘Its melatonin content could help restore sleep, which is often disrupted after drinking alcohol.
‘Given, however, alcohol affects the body in a complex way beyond just inflammation it’s unlikely it can cure a hangover single handedly.’
Professor Gunter Kuhnle, an expert in nutrition and food science at the University of Reading, also told the Daily Mail that its ‘sugar content to replenish glycogen stores’ and ‘rehydration benefits’ may also help a hangover.
‘It obviously tastes nice too, which helps,’ he added.
Smaller research papers have also suggested the cherry juice’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties may help combat the oxidative stress and inflammation caused by alcohol consumption.
It is larger studies, however, that have repeatedly focused on and shown the drink does help reduce muscle soreness, inflammation and strength loss after intense exercise and also improves blood flow.
For cyclists, its main benefits lie in its high concentration of carbohydrates, helping riders to replenish their glycogen stores fast
‘The positive effects are thought to come from its rich content of anthocyanins and polyphenols, which act as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds,’ Mr Hobson said.
‘The polyphenols in cherries can help the body make more nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels and improves circulation.
‘A few small studies suggest this can lower blood pressure and support blood flow, a bit like what we see with beetroot or pomegranate juice.
‘But the research is still early and not as strong as the evidence for recovery or sleep.
‘The juice contains melatonin and tryptophan, both linked to sleep regulation, and there are studies showing improvements in sleep duration and quality.’
One US study even suggested that drinking the juice twice a day for two weeks helped increase sleep time by nearly 90 minutes among older adults with insomnia.
Presenting the findings at the American Society of Nutrition, researchers at Louisiana State University hypothetised that the unique combination of melatonin and tryptophan in the cherries was likely helping and it could be a safe way to treat insomnia.
Earlier this year, scientists from the University of Hertfordshire and Central Lancashire also discovered that drinking two glasses of cherry juice per day could help reduce gut inflammation and boost quality of life in bowel disease patients.
Crucial to Tour de France cyclist’s recovery arsenal this year was a red juice, made from Montmorency cherries. Pictured, stage 21 of the Tour de France earlier this year in Paris
It was found to slash the risk of stomach cramps and diarrhoea in ulcerative colitis sufferers.
Professor Lindsay Bottoms co-author of the study from the University of Hertfordshire said: ‘While cherry juice cannot replace medicine, our findings offer hope that it could be used alongside pharmaceutical treatments to help improve a patient’s quality of life and reduce symptoms and, possibly, even help in delaying further intensive medical treatment or surgery.’
Studies have long shown that tart cherry juice and supplements carry very few side effects too.
Many trials use 30 to 60ml of juice concentrate, adding roughly 100 to 200ml of water to make it a concentrated juice.
Litre bottles of the juice are available at the likes of Holland & Barrett, Waitrose and Ocado.
For cyclists, however, its main benefits lie in its high concentration of carbohydrates, helping riders to replenish their glycogen stores fast.
Speaking earlier this summer at the Tour de France, EF Pro Cycling Head Doctor Jon Greenwell, said: ‘It has become the first step in our recovery strategy.
‘The riders drink their cherry juice, and then rehydrate with more water. And then we move on to protein, and then more carbohydrates with a post race meal.
‘During a stage race, it is especially important that they drink their cherry juice as soon as they cross the line.
‘We know that muscles are most receptive as soon as you have finished exercising, particularly when you are trying to refill with carbohydrates, as well.
‘So, the sooner the better.’
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