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2012’s Trendiest Health Foods

Add these 9 healthy foods to your diet this year.
Tart Cherries
Tart cherries (aka sour cherries) are the next superfruit to follow goji berries and acai — and, unlike exotic fruits, most are grown right here in America! New studies suggest that just 2 tablespoons of concentrated tart cherry juice a day (or a handful of dried tart cherries) can help athletes relieve aches and pains after a workout and speed muscle recovery. In addition, there’s preliminary evidence that tart cherries may also help with arthritis and possibly even reduce gout attacks (the more common sweet cherries may have similar benefits, but the research so far has been done only on the tart variety). That’s because tart cherries are especially rich in antioxidants that fight inflammation and reduce oxidative damage in muscle tissue. Fresh are in season only for a short time in certain parts of the country, but they’re available year-round frozen, dried, or as juice concentrate. You can also order dried tart cherries or concentrated 100% tart cherry juice online from retailers like Amazon.
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