Drinking cherry juice can help marathon runners recover after their long runs, according to scientists.

In a recent study, runners who drank tart cherry juice before and after races recovered better than those who didn’t because of the antioxidants in the cherry juice which helps the body resist damage and repair itself.

“Participating in long-distance endurance events, such as a marathon, causes a degree of muscle damage and inflammation for the runners,” Glyn Howatson, an exercise physiologist at the School of Psychology and Sports Sciences, Northumbria University said. “It takes several days to recover and during that period the runner’s ability to conduct physical activity can be vastly inhibited.”

According to the researchers, the cherries have an anti-inflammatory that are effective in helping those who exercise recover from strenuous physical activity. Marathon runners aren’t the only ones who will benefit from the research. Drinking cherry juice, according to researchers, can help those who have inflammatory diseases.

“People are increasingly looking at natural remedies, or neutraceuticals, to treat their conditions, and scientific studies, such as the research into tart cherries, examine the potentially untapped treatments held in natural resources, that can provide adjunct therapy for the management of disease, which can help reduce negative symptoms and improve quality of life,” Howatson said.