A new berry called Haskap berry (Lonicera caerulea) was recently discovered, and a great property has already been found for it, as it seems to have the ability to improve the physical performance of endurance runners by up to 2%. they consume them, which could give them an advantage over the rest.
Members of Northumbria University (United Kingdom) have been in charge of carrying out the study that has given these findings associated with these berries, known for their origin as Siberian blueberry, a blue honeysuckle that comes from boreal forests and from low-lying humid areas of countries in the northern hemisphere, such as Japan, Canada or Russia.
These berries are physically similar to blueberries, although slightly more oval. As for their properties, they are fruits rich in vitamin C and have high levels of antioxidants, as is the case with almost all purple fruits and vegetables. Haskap berries are high in anthocyanins and dietary polyphenols, which are natural compounds that have been shown to provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vascular benefits to those who consume it.
Eating Haskap berries makes it take longer to fatigue
In the research, which has been published in the journal Nutrients, 30 male endurance runners were tested, some ate the Haskap berries and some did not. The results indicated that the athletes who took this fruit took longer to fatigue or reach the point of exhaustion after endurance tests.
“We saw about a 2% improvement in runtime performance, which is not trivial. That is, you run about 0.25 km / h faster in the same distance “
It was observed that in the speed tests that were carried out over a distance of 5 kilometers, the runners who had previously ingested Haskap berries improved their time by approximately 20 seconds. This is a significant improvement and could provide a substantial advantage.
“These mighty little berries appear to help runners perform better during strenuous tasks and increase running speed over a common five-kilometre distance. We saw about a 2% improvement in runtime performance, which is not trivial. That is, you run about 0.25 km/h faster over the same distance”, explained Glyn Howatson, one of the authors of the study.
Although the mechanisms behind this association are still unknown, the researchers believe it could be because Haskap berries may help fight exercise-induced inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as improve vascular function and optimize metabolism. oxygen.
“The exciting thing is that this is a food that can be easily consumed, is very tasty and has the potential to improve athletic performance in running, but also perhaps in other endurance sports like cycling. What we really like about these applied studies is that we are unlocking the power of fruits, like Haskap berries, to understand how they can directly benefit athletes,” he concludes.
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