Blackcurrants found to positively influence mood, emotion and motivation during exercise

SCIENTISTS at Plant & Food Research have found that New Zealand blackcurrants could increase motivation to adhere to exercise.

The berry influenced individuals' ‘affective response’ to exercise – their emotions and mood – which largely influence their motivation to continue exercising and to adhere to an exercise regime.

This study looked at the effects of consuming polyphenolic-rich New Zealand blackcurrant one hour prior to exercising and found that participants had a significantly lower perception of exercise exertion at time-points over the first 60 minutes than the control group.

The study, published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, tested 40 sedentary adults, who walked for up to two hours at a moderate pace designed not to induce physical fatigue.

Given the association between exercise and the prevention of chronic health issues and maintenance of cognitive function, these findings are significant.

The current recommendation for adults is for thirty minutes of moderate intensity exercise per day, however, 50% of adults fail to achieve these guidelines.

Dietary supplements such as CurraNZ that specifically support the desire to exercise could benefit people wanting to adhere to an exercise program and maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.

To read the study, click here. 

To read how New Zealand blackcurrant extract offers benefits for exercise recovery, click here

Journal Reference
Lomiwes, D, Ha, B, Ngametua, N, Burr, N, Cooney, J, Trower, T, Sawyer, G, Hedderley, D, Hurst, R, Hurst, S 2019. Timed consumption of a New Zealand blackcurrant juice support positive affective responses during a self-motivated moderate walking exercise in healthy sedentary adults. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 16:33 Doi.org/10.1186/s12970-019-0300-0