According to the Daily Mail, a study found that participants who drank one glass of unsweetened cherry juice in the morning and evening slept better. The study by researchers at the University of Rochester in New York was led by Dr. Wilfred Pigeon and published in the Journal of Medicinal Food.
Treating insomnia is a major health challenge today. One in four adults suffer from insomnia and 50% of them often sleep less than five hours per night.
Psychiatrist Wilfred Pigeon argues that the benefits of cherry juice could derive from its high melatonin content. This is the hormone that regulates the body’s sleep-wake cycle.
Researchers examined the sleep patterns of participants on two varying routines. The first time they drank cherry juice and the second time they were given a comparable fruit juice. Participants had on average about 17 minutes more sleep after drinking the cherry juice.
Dr. Pigeon summarized the results: "Given the side-effects of some medications, it is encouraging to have a natural alternative."