by Jeffrey Dach MD, July 23rd, 2013 | From jeffreydachmd.com

If you own a cherry orchard, don’t be surprised when heavily armed federal agents wearing bullet proof vests and riot gear raid your farmhouse.

An Unapproved Drug

The FastFruit Company in Traverse City Michigan makes concentrated cherry juice, extracts and gelcaps. Along with 29 other fruit companies, Fast Fruit received warning letters from the FDA ordering them to stop mentioning any health benefits of cherries, otherwise the FDA would pursue criminal prosecution for marketing an unapproved drug, the cherry. Excuse me, but could we please have a small dose of sanity introduced here? If the cherry is a new drug, then Vladimir Putin is Mickey Mouse.

Health Benefits of Cherries

Tart cherries have anti-inflammatory activity and are used for Gout, Arthritis, and Muscle and Joint Pain, and speeds recovery from marathons. There is considerable research regarding the health benefits of tart cherry anthocyanins in the medical and science literature. (4,5,6)

Anti-inflammatory Effect Comparable to NSAIDS !!

A 2001 report from Michigan State University showed the Anthocyanins from sweet cherries demonstrated cyclo-oxygenase (COX-1 and 2) inhibitory activity comparable to those of ibuprofen and naproxen.(9) These are commonly available NSAIDS found at the corner drugstore.

Speeds Recovery After Marathon Run !!

A placebo controlled study of 20 marathon runners in the UK was published in 2010 .(10) Half were given cherry juice and half placebo 5 days before and 2 days after the marathon run. The found the cherry juice speeded recovery of muscle function by reducing inflammation, and lipid peroxidation. (10)

35% Fewer Gout Attacks !!

A study on Gut and Cherries from Boston University was published in the December 2012 journal of Arthritis and Rheumatism, a mainstream rheumatology journal. Their study group included 633 individuals with gout. Cherry intake over a 2-day period was associated with a 35% lower risk of gout attacks compared with no intake. (11)

C-Reactive Protein Decreased by 20% !!

A USDA study looking at inflammatory markers in humans taking cherries was pubished in Journal of Nutrition March 2013. Sweet bing cherries reduced markers for chronic inflammatory diseases in healthy humans. (12) The drew blood samples on 18 men and women with chronic inflammatory conditions before and after supplementing with Bing sweet cherries. Cherry consumption decreased C-Reactive Protein by 20%, ferritin by 20%, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 by 20%, endothelin-1 by 14%, epidermal growth factor by 13%, and IL-18 by 8.% (12)

Peruvian Tea Will Perk You Up

The reality is that many foods have health benefits, and like cherries, certain foods have pharmacological activity. The list is a long one. For example, while vacationing in Peru, you can enjoy a cup of local tea, Mate de Coca, made from cocaine leaves. This is perfectly legal, being part of their culture, and relieves a long list of ailments. I wouldn’t recommend bringing this back on the plane, though. You might have trouble with the border police. Left Image Peruvian Mate de Coca courtesy of Wikimedia commons.

Why Am I Free to Discuss the Health Benefits of Cherries, and Fast Fruit Cannot?

Freedom of speech is a personal liberty protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. You might ask the question, why isn’t Fast Fruit’s Freedom of Speech also protected by the First Amendment? Good question. When you figure it out, let me know.

Personal or Commercial Speech ?

One might suggest that personal speech is more protected than commercial speech. This is true for false and deceitful product advertising which is harmful to the public and should not be allowed. However, speech involving truthful information in the scientific literature (see references below) by cherry farmers is an entirely different matter and should be protected by the first amendment of the constitution. The American Public has a right to know truthful information about the health benefits of cherries, or anything else for that matter.

Why is the FDA Acting to Suppress Truthful Information About The Anti-Inflammatory Benefits of Cherries?

The FDA does not serve the interests of the people. Rather, the FDA serves the interests of their corporate masters, the pharmaceutical industry. Suppression of truthful information about cherries and natural non-patented substances is essential for maintaining profits for drugs which have less efficacy and greater adverse side effects than their natural counterparts.