Anti-Inflammatory Tart Cherry Gels

These Tart Cherry Gels are a delicious and nutrient-packed treat that delivers a powerful punch of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits—all in a fun, jiggly bite. With just three simple ingredients, they come together in minutes and make a great addition to your thyroid-friendly wellness routine.

At the heart of these juicy gems is tart cherry juice, a natural powerhouse known for its ability to reduce inflammation, ease joint pain, support muscle recovery, and even improve sleep (thanks to its melatonin content!). The second key ingredient, gelatin, adds a gut-nourishing, collagen-rich boost that benefits everything from digestion to skin, hair, and joint health.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

• Super simple—just 3 ingredients
• Gut-friendly & anti-inflammatory
• Great for joint & muscle support
• Customizable—swap in other antioxidant-rich juices
• A fun way to incorporate culinary medicine into your cooking! 

Scroll down for the full recipe, learn more about the science-backed benefits of these ingredients, and watch the step-by-step recipe demo!

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Health Benefits of Tart Cherry Juice

Tart cherry juice consistently ranks among the top anti-inflammatory foods, and for good reason! If you’ve ever known someone with arthritis or gout, you may have heard them swear by tart cherry juice for preventing painful flare-ups. Athletes use it to enhance recovery and reduce muscle soreness, while researchers have found it may even support brain and immune health.

Surprisingly, tart cherry juice is also a natural source of melatonin, making it a great pre-bedtime option for those looking to support better sleep.

While all cherries offer some health benefits, tart cherries have been studied the most because their medicinal properties are up to five times stronger than their sweeter cousins!!

A quick note about cherries and your thyroid:
Like other stone fruits, tart cherries are sometimes classified as goitrogenic. However, they’re also widely recommended for thyroid patients due to their high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. If you know you’re sensitive to goitrogens, or you prefer to avoid them, unsweetened pomegranate or pomegranate-blueberry juice is a great substitute for this recipe.

Health Benefits of Gelatin

The second healing ingredient in this recipe is gelatin, which is rich in collagen-building amino acids that support:

• Skin, hair, nails, and teeth
• Joints, bones, and muscles
• Liver and adrenal function
• Gut health and digestion

Glycine, the primary amino acid in gelatin, has been shown to benefit brain function and mental health, while glutamine plays a crucial role in repairing the intestinal lining—making it particularly helpful for those dealing with leaky gut.

Want another gut-friendly treat? Try my Raspberry Cream Gels next!

Recipe Tips & Variations

• Firmness: These have a texture similar to extra-firm Jell-O. You can tweak the amount of gelatin to get your preferred consistency: 2 tablespoons = softer, jiggly texture. 4 tablespoons = firmer, gummy-like texture.
• Sweetness: I added a touch of honey to balance the tartness, but feel free to adjust the amount or omit it altogether.
• Juice swaps: While tart cherry juice is ideal for inflammation and pain relief, you can experiment with other antioxidant-rich juices like pomegranate, blueberry, or even green juice blends.
• Dietary note: Gelatin is an animal product, so this recipe is not vegan. If you’re looking for a plant-based alternative, you can try swapping in agar agar, though I haven't tested this and the texture will be slightly different.

Let's Get Cooking!

I can’t wait for you to try these Anti-Inflammatory Tart Cherry Gels! Check out the recipe below, and if you want to see the step-by-step process, be sure to watch the video demo!

Happy cooking, happy thriving, and enjoy!

P.S. If you're anything like me, when I started down the path of thyroid-healthy eating, I had questions-- lots of them. What I didn't have was a step-by-step system to get me where I wanted to go. I wasted a lot of time piecing together bits of information about what to eat, what to avoid, and HOW to make thyroid-healthy dietary changes. That’s why I created the Thyroid-healthy Meal Plan Kickstart. Ready to harness the power of thyroid-healthy eating? Let’s get you kickstarted! Learn more HERE.

More Thyroid-Friendly Sweets to Try:

• Pecan Date Dreams
• Gluten-Free Brazil Nut Brownies
• 'Caramel' Nut Chocolate Bark
• Sweet & Spicy Pumpkin Seed Brittle
• Buckwheat Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bliss Balls
• Raspberry Cream Gels