Not just for athletes, blackcurrants deliver big benefits for the over-50s

AS powerful antioxidants, blood-flow promoters and anti-inflammatory agents, blackcurrants offer fantastic health benefits as we age. Here, we run through some of their broad-spectrum actions.

According to the American Heart Association, 70.2% of men and 79.0% of women between the ages of 69 and 79 will experience some sort of heart disease. About 66% of all cardiovascular-related deaths occur in people 75 and older.

Dietary patterns are key culprits in the development of cardiovascular disease.

Studies have suggested that the anthocyanin component of berries offer protection against key risk factors associated with heart disease. (Alert: CurraNZ study due out soon on this very subject!)

Brain health

Berries may offer a powerful defence for brain health, with neuro-degenerative decline among the biggest threats to the ageing population.

Research has shown that the antioxidant properties of blackcurrants, combined with their effect on blood flow, are powerful guardians for maintaining memory and cognition, and protecting brain health.

Aches, pains and inflammation

Staying mobile gets harder as you get older, and arthritis, aches and pains make exercise and activity all the more challenging.

Even a long day in the garden can leave your muscles screaming the next day.

As most of our customers know, blackcurrant is excellent for reducing muscle soreness, and is also a natural anti-inflammatory. 

Those challenged with elevated levels of inflammation in the body, which may result in conditions such as arthritis, may benefit from using blackcurrants daily to reduce the severity of symptoms.

Circulation

The body’s blood vessel network suffers from wear and tear as people get older, with arteries and veins becoming inflamed, clogged with fatty deposits and suffering from general congestion.

Blackcurrant compounds relax the body’s blood vessels, thereby increasing circulation and delivery of blood, oxygen and nutrients to all the extremities of the body. Anthocyanins also reduce inflammatory markers and help maintain the integrity of blood vessels.

One of our newest studies has also shown that CurraNZ reduces blood pressure during exercise and boosts cardiac output, making exercise an easier experience.

Immunity

We get lots of great feedback from customers, and one of the common themes is that they suffer fewer colds and flu using our blackcurrant extract.

New research has shown that just one dose of our extract boosts the body's first-line immune defences when the body is under stress.

In another study, NZ blackcurrant anthocyanins were found to be highly effective in eliminating four strains of influenza flu virus. It demonstrated potent anti-viral properties.

Blackcurrant anthocyanins also help the immune system respond to threats and improve the T ‘killer’ cells, thereby providing a multi-pronged defence to stay well