DESPITE HAIL, PESTS, AND WEEDS, IOWA'S CORN AND SOYABEANS, LOOK REALLY GOOD.

There aren’t many farmers who claim to “love all things related to weeds.” Luckily for farmers in Iowa, there’s a weed-loving Extension agent at the ready to help identify and tackle tough weeds. Meaghan Anderson has served as a field agronomist in east-central Iowa for the past two years. Last year, her enthusiasm and dedication helped farmers and landowners detect and manage Palmer amaranth infestations in pollinator plots and CRP plantings.

This year, Anderson is back in the fields, keeping an eye out for Palmer amaranth and other pests as well as evaluating hail damage. Here’s what she’s seeing in the corn and soybean fields of eastern Iowa.

Palmar amaranth was spotted in fields in Linn County as well as Muscatine County. “We’re just approaching the best time to identify Palmer amaranth, so I’ve only seen a few locations with it so far this year,” says Anderson. “I suspect the hot, drier weather we’ve had has been good for its development, so more identifications will happen this summer.”

Marestail also looks like it could be an issue this season, comments Anderson. “Farmers have reported having trouble managing marestail, so I’ll be monitoring populations,” she says. “I think some farmers may need to consider a fall herbicide application if the populations in their fields germinate in the fall.” In addition to weeds, hail has been another issue for growers in Anderson’s region. “Hail damage was spread over several counties, but the most significantly damaged area was mostly small and spotty in Linn County,” she says.

Overall, Anderson says the corn crop is off to a good start for 2017. “I thought corn seemed more uneven early and also had some armyworm issues, but most looks really nice now,” she says. “I don’t think anyone would object to some more rain as long as it doesn’t bring hail with it.” The counties she covers are 1¼ inches below the climatology rain average for June.

In Washington County, Anderson is also noticing a fair amount of urea burn from sidedress applications. 

For soybeans, Anderson says some suffered from stand loss and damage from HG 14 herbicides used preemergence, pest feeding (armyworms and slugs), and crusting. “Most problems have been resolved at this point,” she says. “Corn and soybeans look really good after what seemed like a long planting season.”

According to the latest data from the USDA, 79% of Iowa’s corn crop is in good to excellent condition, on track with last year’s condition and up from the five-year average of 72%. Soybeans are trailing last year slightly with 74% in good to excellent condition compared with 77%, but still pacing ahead of the five-year average of 69%. BY JESSIE SCOTT.

U.S JUNE HOG HERD HIGHEST IN MORE THAN 50YEARS.

CHICAGO, June 29 (Reuters) - The number of hogs on U.S. farms during the March-May quarter climbed 3.0 percent from a year ago, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture report on Thursday, implying abundant supplies through the coming year.

Thursday's outcome was the largest on record for the period since 1964, maintaining a string of quarterly record highs dating back to March 2016.

Still, analysts viewed the data as neutral for Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures on Friday because the results were close to expectations.

Analysts attributed the herd expansion to improved producer profits, affordable feed and the need for more supplies to accommodate at least two new packing plants scheduled to come on line later this year.

A record number of baby piglets that survived during the quarter helped farmers to be more efficient and boosted herd sizes.

USDA's report showed the U.S. hog herd as of June 1 at 103.0 percent of the year-ago level or 71.650 million head.

The result topped analysts' average forecasts and was the most for the quarter since USDA began compiling data for the period in 1964.

Analysts, on average, had expected 71.597 million head, or 103.3 percent of the year-earlier herd.
The U.S. breeding herd was 102.0 percent of the year-ago level, at 6.069 million head, up from 5.979 million last year.

The average trade forecast was 6.069 million, or 101.5 percent of the previous year.
The June 1 supply of market-ready hogs for sale to packers was 104.0 percent of a year earlier, at 65.581 million head, up from 63.302 million last year. Analysts, on average, had estimated a 3.5 percent rise, or 65.490 million.

Allendale Inc chief strategist Rich Nelson called the record hog herd size "shocking," but said it would have no effect on the market. Industry observers for several months had expected record production and most of the results came in line with expectations, he added.

The industry will monitor whether two new hog plants will be operational by September to handle the massive supplies ahead, said Nelson.

"Any delays in the start of the two plants will be clearly taken as bad news by the industry," he added.
Bob Brown, an independent market analyst in Edmond, Oklahoma, agreed that the "numbers came in pretty much as expected - nothing outlandish."

Nearby CME hog futures will likely follow prices for market-ready, or cash, hogs and not focus on trading months further out associated with Thursday's report, said Brown. (Editing by Richard Chang). BY THEOPOLIS WATERS.

US inspectors will make sure Chinese chicken imports are safe, Agriculture secretary says

• Tight U.S. food inspections should give American consumers confidence in the safety of new Chinese chicken imports, Secretary Sonny Perdue says.

• The Agriculture secretary is set to travel to China on Wednesday to formally mark the return of U.S. beef there after a 13-year hiatus.

• Tight U.S. food inspections should give American consumers confidence in the safety of new Chinese chicken imports, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told CNBC on Tuesday.
  In last month's trade agreement with China, the U.S. agreed to allow Chinese cooked poultry to enter U.S. markets in exchange for China bringing back U.S. beef imports.

• "We're talking about cooked chicken," said Perdue, indicating uncooked chicken generally poses a greater food safety risk. "The good thing about it is our food safety inspection agency, in the USDA, does a marvelous job."

• Perdue, a former governor of Georgia, also said Chinese chicken won't hurt American poultry producers. "I don't think there's really any fear of major chicken poultry protein coming the U.S."

The secretary, who is not related to the family that owns Perdue Farms, is set to travel to China on Wednesday to formally mark the return of U.S. beef to the Chinese market after a 13-year hiatus. China banned U.S. beef imports after the discovery of a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Washington state in late 2003.

• "Those concerns were not justified. I think it was a single animal that came from Canada that had the BSE, or the mad cow disease. And we felt like the suspension of imports from the U.S. was a difficult and wrong decision," Perdue said. "We've had no experience and no evidence of ... [ mad cow disease] in over 13 years." BY MATHE J BELVEDERE.

DEPLOY A DRONE TO SCOUT FIELDS AND MORE.

With so many farmers having to deal with such a wet spring, drones have been an efficient way to identify areas that needed to be replanted and even ones that can’t be replanted. A drone is also a great tool to help identify weather-related damage without adding compaction to fields.

“The advantage of using a drone is that each picture is georeferenced, which allows a farmer to get accurate measurements for his claims adjuster with scientific evidence to back up that claim,” says Landon Smith, PrecisionHawk.

As you scout your fields this season, Smith says utilizing a drone can help you stay on top of potential issues.

“I recommend flying each field at least once a month to collect data that can be used to compare/contrast with previous data,” he says. “Whether that information is from a drone or your prescriptions, you can evaluate your crop’s progress (or lack of) easily with a drone.”
It can also help you be proactive when it comes to managing weeds.

“PrecisionMapper released an algorithm that allows you to determine weed pressure in your field,” says Smith. “With this information, you can increase your efficiency in spot spraying and identifying problem areas while they are still manageable and in some cases invisible to the naked eye.”
You can also use it to home in on areas that could benefit from improvements.

“For example, collecting data with standing water in your field will allow you to identify problem areas and come up with a solution to address them in the future, such as tiling,” says Smith.
The usefulness of a drone isn’t limited to the fields.

“Grain bins are slowly being emptied in anticipation of this year’s crop,” he says. “Rather than climb a bin, flying a drone over it is a safe alternative to identify problems or evaluate necessary maintenance.”  BY LAURIE BEDORD.

10 AMAZING HEALTH BENEFITS OF LETTUCE.

1. Low Calorie Content and Almost Zero Fat.

Lettuce has only 12 calories for one shredded cup.
This is why it is so good for weight loss.

2. Helps Weight Loss

Lettuce contains fiber and cellulose. Besides filling you up, fiber improves your digestion. Improving your digestion may not sound like a good thing for losing weight, but it is actually essential for long term weight control.

Fiber also helps remove bile salts from the body. When the body replaces these salts it breaks down cholesterol to do so. This is why lettuce is also good for your heart!
3. Heart Healthy

Lettuce’s vitamin C and beta-carotene work together to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. This prevents the build up of plaque.
4. Omega-3 Fatty acids.

Romaine lettuce has a two to one ratio of omega-3 to omega-6. That’s a great ratio.
The fat content in lettuce is not significant UNLESS you eat a lot–but we actually suggest you do!
5. Complete Protein

Romaine lettuce’s calories are 20 percent protein. Like all whole foods, much of this protein is complete, but the amount can be increased by combining with balancing proteins.

Question: What does a 400 pound gorilla eat at the salad bar?
Answer: Anything he wants to!
I don’t imagine gorillas gain all that muscle by just eating lettuce but here is a short video of one doing that very thing!

Gorilla Eating Lettuce

6. Helps with Insomnia
The white fluid that you see when you break or cut lettuce leaves is called lactucarium.
This has relaxing and sleep inducing properties similar to opium but without the strong side effects. Simply eat a few leaves or drink some lettuce juice.
7. Lettuce is Alkaline Forming

The minerals in lettuce help remove toxins and keep your acid/alkaline balance in order. Once you are balanced on this level there are a host of benefits including greater energy, clearer thinking, deep restful sleep, and youthful skin. To browse more benefits check out Benefits of An Alkaline Body.
8. Low Glycemic Index

Lettuce has an average glycemic index of 15, but because it has so few calories, its glycemic load is considered zero. Foods with low glycemic indexes are great for anyone watching their blood sugars for medical reasons, or for weight management.
Of course, lettuce has no refined or white sugars and the host of problems that come with them.
9. Whole Life Food

Lettuce is almost always eaten raw, providing us with many micronutrients not found in cooked or processed food. Eating raw food also adds vital energies not recognized by nutritional science.
Large food corporations have not found a way to package lettuce long term or stick it in cans or boxes. Let’s hope they never do!
In fact, lettuce is one of the few foods which can be found organic and prewashed already in bins for you to eat immediately.
10. Lettuce Tastes Great.

Even though lettuce is very low in calories, many varieties still have a sweet taste. To maximize benefits from your food you should really WANT to eat it with your whole body–not just your mind saying it is good for you. If you like the bitter taste you can find more bitter lettuce options, too! BY DIANA HERRINGTON.

WHEAT FUTURES DECLINE OVERNIGHT; TRUMP VISITS IOWA TO TALK TRADE, ETHANOL

1. Wheat Lower Overnight as Investors Who Were Long Book Profits
Wheat futures were lower in overnight trading as those who were long the market, or bet on higher prices, sold contracts and booked profits after prices hit two-year highs. Corn and soybeans were little changed.

The price had been rising for the past several days as dry weather threatens U.S. spring wheat. The crop was rated 41% good or excellent as of Sunday, down from 45% a week earlier and 76% a year ago.

Adverse weather also is expected to curb overseas production of the grain, leaving many to wonder how much of the grain will actually be produced this year.

Still, global inventories at the end of the 2017-2018 marketing year are expected to be at record highs, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That will, at the very least, temper enthusiasm from bulls until more is known about global production.  

Wheat futures for July delivery fell 5¼¢ to $4.67¼ a bushel overnight on the Chicago Board of Trade. Kansas City wheat lost 4¾¢ to $4.69½ a bushel.
Corn futures added ¾¢ to $3.70¾ a bushel in Chicago.

Soybean futures for July delivery rose ¼¢ to $9.28 a bushel. Soy meal was unchanged at $300.90 a short ton, and soy oil fell 0.01¢ to 32.01¢ a pound.

2. President Trump Expected to Visit Cedar Rapids Wednesday to Talk Trade, Ethanol
President Donald Trump is expected to visit Iowa today along with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

With those two in tow, it’s likely the topic will be on trade, and judging by the venue, Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, it’s likely it will have something to do, in part at least, with agriculture.

There’s a lot to talk about. Trade is always a hot topic, as is ethanol. Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa said on a conference call that he doesn’t believe Trump will announce ethanol-blend obligations during his visit today, but he said it’s possible they’ll be announced sometime this week.
The plan is to talk to those in the agricultural program at KCC then hold an evening rally at the convention center in Cedar Rapids.

Trump has long expressed his support for the ethanol industry. In February, he sent a letter to attendees of the National Ethanol Conference saying he valued “the importance of renewable fuels to America’s economy and our energy independence.”

He said at the time he’d work with the Renewable Fuels Association to boost the industry and reduce regulations that have harmed ethanol producers.

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3. Tropical Storm Cindy to Hit Gulf, Extremely Hot Weather Expected in Nebraska
The weather maps are all shades of color along the Gulf Coast as Tropical Storm Cindy makes its way to land.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for much of east Texas, Louisiana, and parts of Alabama and Mississippi, according to the National Weather Service. Further inland, flash flood warnings and tornado watches have been issued.

In the Midwest, hot weather is again creeping into parts of Nebraska. While the heat won’t be as intense as the 120˚F. temperatures in the southwestern U.S., parts of Nebraska may see heat indexes in the triple digits this afternoon, the NWS said, which could stress newly planted corn and soybeans.
The good news is, scattered thunderstorms are expected in parts of Iowa, Wisconsin, and northern Illinois starting today and stretching into tomorrow evening, the agency said. BY TONY DREIBUS.

4 STEPS TO MINIMIZE DRIFT POTENTIAL WHILE SPRAYING.

Herbicide-resistant weeds in corn and soybeans threaten your bottom line. Fortunately, help is on the way. Soybeans that tolerate new formulations of dicamba are on the market, and soybeans that tolerate 2,4-D and HPPD inhibitors are in the works. However, these new products and increased use of older ones raise herbicide-contamination concerns. Off-target management by drift and volatilization is also a potential threat. If you grow row crops in areas where specialty crops (such as grapes and tomatoes) are grown, you need to be even more vigilant.

Here are four steps you can take to minimize drift potential and to avoid product contamination.

1. Monitor Wind Speed

“Keep in mind, when you’re making those applications, wind speed has a huge role in off-target movement,” says Greg Kruger, cropping system specialist at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As wind speed doubles, off-target movement at 90 feet downwind increases 700%, says Kruger.
“There is no substitute for common sense. If the wind is blowing, droplets will move,” says Kruger.

2. Manage Boom Height

Doubling the boom height from 18 inches to 36 inches can boost off-target movement 90 feet downwind by 350%, says Kruger. “The higher the boom, the longer it takes for the droplets to reach the ground,” he says.

Kruger says you should monitor speed. As it increases, so does the boom height, generally. “As you go faster, boom height goes up, but so does drift potential,” he says.

3. Maintain Distance From Susceptible Vegetation

If downwind distance is doubled from 100 to 200 feet, just 20% as much drift exists at 200 feet as at 100 feet, Kruger says.

4. Control Droplet Size

You can’t control wind direction, neighbors, or wind speed, but you can control droplet size. “One of the easiest things you can do is to control the pressure,” Kruger says. By dropping the pressure to create larger droplets, you will significantly reduce drift potential.

It’s a Balancing Act

New nozzle designs are specifically built and engineered to reduce drift, says Bob Wolf, co-owner of Wolf Consulting and Research in Mahomet, Illinois. Reducing drift is a necessary part of an effective application, but there are trade-offs.

“When selecting a nozzle, consider both drift potential and the ability of the nozzle to provide proper coverage to control weeds or targeted pests,” says Wolf.

Selecting the right nozzle to provide proper coverage for optimal pest control while simultaneously minimizing spray drift with larger drops is a balancing act.
That’s your challenge: to find the proper droplet size.

“Nozzle selection has the greatest influence on particle size. The nozzle type you select is going to be the biggest way you can change the droplet size and drift potential,” says Kruger.

Nozzles that worked well with older chemistries won’t necessarily provide the same coverage with new chemistries.

“Most labels are going to have some sort of indication in terms of spray nozzles,” Kruger says. BY KACEY BIRCHMIER.

ANTICIPATING THE JUNE 1ST CORN STOCKS ESTIMATE.

The USDA’s release of the Quarterly Grain Stocks report on June 30 will provide an estimate of corn stocks in storage as of June 1, 2017. Since many of the consumption categories for corn can be derived from data provided during the marketing year, this estimate provides the ability to calculate the magnitude of feed and residual use of corn during the third quarter. The calculation offers the basis for evaluating the probable feed and residual use during the entire marketing year and imparts information on the potential size of ending stocks. While the information imparted by the June Acreage report released on the same day will likely eclipse the Quarterly Grain Stocks report, the estimated corn stocks have important implications for the current marketing year.

The supply of corn available during the first half of the 2016-17 marketing year is the base for estimating June 1 stocks. Corn stocks at the beginning of the quarter were estimated at 8,616 million bushels in the March Grain Stocks report. Currently, the Census Bureau estimates for corn imports are only available through April. In the first half of the marketing year, corn imports totaled 26 million bushels. Imports for the third quarter might have been around 12 million bushels. By combining imports with the beginning stocks, total available supply for the second quarter comes in at 8,628 million bushels.

An estimate of corn exports for the third quarter is based on the cumulative weekly export inspections estimate available for the entire quarter. Cumulative marketing year export inspections through May totaled approximately 1,738 million bushels. During the first eight months of the marketing year, total Census Bureau corn exports were greater than cumulative export inspections by 45 million bushels. Assuming the margin is maintained through May, corn exports through three quarters of the year equaled 1,783 million bushels. Since exports in the first half of the marketing year totaled 1,095 million bushels, the estimate for third-quarter corn exports equals 688 million bushels.

The Grain Crushing and Co-Products Production report released on June 1 estimated corn used for ethanol and co-product production during March and April of 2017 at 893 million bushels. Weekly estimates of ethanol production provided by the Energy Information Administration indicates ethanol production increased by 5.5% in May 2017 from the preceding year. By calculating the amount of corn used to produce ethanol from these May numbers, corn used for ethanol production in May was approximately 449 million bushels. Total use for the quarter is estimated at 1,342 million bushels.
Corn used to produce other food and industrial products during the 2016-17 marketing year is projected at 1,470 million bushels by the USDA. Using historical corn use data, typically around 75% of the final marketing year food and industrial products use occurs in the first three quarters of the marketing year. If this historical pattern holds and the USDA projection is correct, corn use for the first three quarters of the marketing year totaled 1,102 million bushels. Corn use during the first half equaled 689 million bushels, which set the third-=quarter use estimate at 413 million bushels.

The current USDA projection for feed and residual use sits at 5,500 million bushels. The historical pattern of feed and residual use in corn may provide some indication of the third-quarter use. For the five previous marketing years, use during the first three quarters of the marketing year ranged from 90.5% to 94.2% of the marketing year total with an average of 91.6%. Third-quarter feed and residual use ranged from 15% to 21% of the total use over this time span. For this analysis, the 91.6% average during the first three quarters of the previous five marketing years is used to calculate expected feed and residual use during the third quarter. If the USDA projection is correct, feed and residual use during the first three quarters of the 2016-17 marketing year totaled 5,038 million bushels. Feed and residual use equaled 3,797 million bushels in the first half. Therefore, the third-quarter estimate totals 1,241 million bushels.

By adding the estimates for exports and domestic uses, the total use of corn during the third quarter is estimated at 3,684 million bushels. The total use estimate for the third quarter places June 1 corn stocks at 4,944 million bushels. At this level, June 1 stocks come in 222 million bushels larger than the estimated 2016 June 1 corn stocks.

A June 1 corn stocks estimate that supports the USDA projection of 5,500 million bushels of feed and residual use during the 2016-17 marketing year is considered neutral for corn prices. An estimate of corn stocks that deviates more than 100 to 150 million bushels from market expectations would provide an indication of changes in domestic feed and residual and alter expectations for ending stocks. This analysis indicates an estimate near 4,944 million bushels should not change expectations that feed and residual use is on track to meet the marketing year projection. BY TODD HUBBS

TOP 7 AMAZING HEALTH BENEFITS OF TURMERIC.

Antioxidant

The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which is known as a powerful antioxidant. This means it targets dangerous free radicals in the body and reduces the damage they are able to cause DNA and cells. When cells are healthy the body is healthy, which means turmeric offers general wellness benefits, as well as targeting specific health problems.

Anti-Inflammatory

Curcumin also has anti-inflammatory qualities. This makes it effective for fighting heart disease, osteoarthritis pain, and other health problems related to inflammation (researchers believe there are many links between inflammation and chronic illness). Curcumin is believed to reduce certain enzymes in the body known to trigger inflammation.

Heart Health

Turmeric reduces the risk of blood clots and prevents the build up of plaque in the arteries, which helps in the battle against stroke and other clot-related problems. There are also studies showing turmeric is beneficial for reducing bad cholesterol and improving good cholesterol, both of which play a role in a person’s heart health.

Slows the Progression of Alzheimer’s

Researchers studying the effects of curcumin in relation to Alzheimer’s cite the health of those living in regions that consume turmeric in high quantities. People in India aged 70 and older have a much lower rate of Alzheimer’s disease than those in the same age group in the United States. Many believe this difference is due to the high intake of Indian curries, which are made with turmeric. Further research points to turmeric’s ability to remove amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain, which is believed to put people at risk for developing the Alzheimer’s.

Natural Painkiller

An article in the July 2009 issue of Time magazine points to a study conducted at the University of Arizona. Researchers found rodents injected with a material known to cause joint pain suffered less when the injections were paired with curcumin. The article also cites anecdotal evidence singing the praises of turmeric for fighting a variety of pain that would otherwise be treated with over-the-counter pain medication.

Skin Health

Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory benefits can be beneficial when applied topically, too. It is considered an effective treatment for psoriasis and other skin disorders, and it is a natural antiseptic and can be used to treat burns and cuts.

Cancer Fighter

The jury is still out on just how effective turmeric is for fighting cancer. Some health experts point to its anti-inflammatory benefits and draw conclusions based on the link between inflammation and the development of cancer. Free radicals and cell damage are believed to be linked to cancer, too, so if turmeric is able to work as an antioxidant it has a secondary anti-cancer effect.

According to well-known holistic health practitioner, Dr. Andrew Weil, turmeric reduces the carcinogenic compound that form when meat is fried, grilled, or boiled by up to 40%. Dr. Weil also believes turmeric is effective for fighting melanoma and in halting the spread of breast cancer.

There are also preliminary studies showing turmeric could be beneficial for preventing breast, prostate, skin, and colon cancer. Since turmeric is safe and offers a variety of general heath benefits, you have nothing to lose by adding it to your diet in moderate amounts. If you plan to use concentrated doses of curcumin in your cancer treatment plan, be sure you inform your doctors to prevent any interference with other components of your treatment. NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

SIX HIDDEN HEALTH BENEFITS OF CHERRIES.

With a wide range of health benefits, cherries -- and more specifically, tart cherries -- are an oft-overlooked superfoods. But whether it's insomnia, joint pain or belly fat you're dealing with, cherries may be just what the doctor ordered. Here's why.

Cherries battle belly fat. Researchers found that tart cherries have significant weight management benefits for animals, including reduced belly fat. In the study, rats that received whole tart cherry powder mixed into a high-fat diet didn't gain as much weight or build up as much body fat as rats that didn't receive cherries. Their blood also showed much lower levels of certain inflammation markers linked to heart disease and diabetes. And, in addition, they had significantly lower blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides than their cherry-deprived counterparts.

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Cherries cut your chance of getting gout. If you have ever felt the agonizing pain of a gout attack (swollen toes and all) it quickly becomes something you don't want to experience again. For gout sufferers, tart cherries may be another solution to add to their anti-gout arsenal. A 2012 study published in Arthritis & Rheumatism found that patients with gout who consumed cherries over a two-day period (yes, just two days!) showed a 35% lower risk of gout attacks compared to their fruit wary counterparts. In addition, the risk of gout flares was 75 per cent lower when cherry intake was combined with the uric-acid reducing drug, allopurinol. And if you are wondering if you will have to start your own cherry farm, the participants consumed just ½ cup (or 10-12 cherries) up to three times per day.

Cherries combat post-workout soreness. Find yourself having trouble walking down the stairs (or even sitting down) after a hard workout? If you're looking for a healthy way to fight post-exercise soreness, cherries fit the bill. Studies suggest a cup and a half of tart cherries or one cup of tart cherry juice can significantly reduce muscle inflammation and soreness (remember that a good workout actually causes muscle damage, resulting in inflammation).

In one study a group of marathon runners drank tart cherry juice or a placebo drink twice daily for seven days prior to their race. The cherry juice group reported significantly less post-race muscle pain. Remember to have it immediately post workout (i.e. with your whey protein) when your muscles are primed to absorb excess insulin in the bloodstream.

Cherries provide natural osteoarthritis relief. If you can't shake the pain and discomfort of swollen joints and you are frustrated with the side effects of the standard prescription of ice and NSAIDs you can choose to stock up on tart cherries either in juice, pill or fruit form.

In a study of twenty women ages 40 to 70 with inflammatory osteoarthritis, researchers found that drinking tart cherry juice twice daily for three weeks led to significant reductions in important inflammation markers - especially for patients who had the highest inflammation levels at the start of the study, It certainly beats the side effects of many pain medications.

Cherries reduce stroke risk. Researchers from the University of Michigan Health System found that tart cherries provide cardiovascular benefits equal to some medications, and can improve the result even when taken with prescriptions. They believe that anthocyanins -- the pigments that give the tart cherries its red color -- may activate something called PPAR in bodily tissues, which in turn regulate fat and glucose levels and therby reduce risk factors for high cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes. Not a bad gig for such a small fruit!

Cherries help you get some sleep. Perhaps the most common complaint that I hear from new patients has to do with sleep. Whether it stems from unbalanced hormones, excess stress, a busy mind or unhealthy habits, a large portion of us are left tossing and turning each night in desperation--but cherry juice could help. In one study participants drank 30ml of cherry juice 30 minutes after waking and 30 minutes before their evening meal, thereby boosting their exogenous melatonin intake by 85mcg/day.

The results? There were significant increases in time in bed, total sleep time, and sleep efficiency total with cherry juice supplementation. So reach for some cherry juice instead of the sleeping pills! I recommend drinking half to one cup an hour before bed. NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.