Scientists have uncovered a remarkable berry that accelerates fat burning, lowers blood pressure and could make arteries ’10 years younger’ in just seven days, researchers claim. The answer? New Zealand blackcurrants.
Cultivated beneath some of the most intense UV light on the planet, they contain one of the highest concentrations of anthocyanins — the deep purple pigments — found in any commercially cultivated fruit. The extract featured in the research, CurraNZ, is a concentrated New Zealand blackcurrant supplement which has now accumulated nearly 70 peer-reviewed human studies.
Fat-burning capabilities
A significant new systematic review and meta-analysis combined data from 15 studies involving 226 participants and confirmed that the berry extract notably shifts the body’s fuel utilisation towards fat during physical activity, while reducing carbohydrate consumption. In a separate trial, merely seven days of taking two capsules increased fat burning by an average of 28% during an hour’s exercise.
Scientists discovered that women with higher fat mass experienced the most dramatic results, with the leading female participant achieving 216%. The leading male recorded 204%. The same study also documented reductions in blood pressure following exercise of up to 11%.
Lead researcher Dr Matthew Cook said: “We have proof of principle that New Zealand blackcurrant extract is powerful and reliable for increasing fat metabolism and reducing cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as blood pressure.”
Remarkably, physical movement isn’t even necessary. Research conducted at the University of Chichester discovered that a fortnight of daily blackcurrant extract supplementation boosted whole-body fat oxidation during supine rest. That represents 20 per cent more fat burning while simply lying down.
The berry appears effective in both men and women, though Dr Cook observes: “We’ve shown that women who carry more fat have the highest magnitude of change to blackcurrant.”
Japanese researchers found that seven days of supplementation decreased arterial stiffness in the carotid and femoral arteries amongst elderly participants. It also markedly lowered central blood pressure in older individuals.
Professor Mark Willems, who spearheaded much of the UK research, stated: “The extract reduced the age of the arteries equivalent to ten years – somehow it’s making arteries and blood vessels younger – an exciting finding.”
Dr Cook continued: “Reductions in up to 10mmHg in blood pressure over lifespan reduces cardiovascular mortality risks equivalent to 20 per cent.
“These are sensible decreases to blood pressure and New Zealand blackcurrant extract could be considered a nutritional strategy to manage resting blood pressure in physically active older adults.”
What about blood sugar control and weight management?
Liverpool John Moores University established that eight days of supplementation enhanced whole-body insulin sensitivity by 22 per cent, decreased C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation, and reduced post-meal blood sugar responses by 8–9 per cent amongst overweight and obese participants.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
