马修·库克博士，一名来自 体育与运动科学学院, explains how the blackcurrant can influence our health 而且 exercise performance.
黑醋栗对健康和运动表现的影响, 这是紫色统治的开始吗?
A diet high in fruits 而且 vegetables is known to positively influence our health 而且 this is partly attributable to the array of polyphenols they contain. 正是这些分子赋予了它们一系列鲜艳的颜色, but also give them a natural protection against ultraviolet radiation (i.e. 阳光).
There are several thous而且 polyphenols naturally occurring, with one category called anthocyanins. 如果你想象草莓, 黑莓, 樱桃, 覆盆子或黑醋栗, they are all brightly coloured which comes from their high anthocyanin content. 研究 has shown anthocyanins to have anti-inflammatory 而且 antioxidant effects, 这自然导致了其中一些被称为"超级食物". Some of the research done by 马修·库克博士 has examined how the blackcurrant can affect our health, 还有OD官网APP下载的运动表现.
当精英阶层支持的成功差距如此之小的时候, elite athletes regularly look for ways to support their training 而且 improve their performance. Sports nutrition 而且 supplements are regularly used to this effect; however, the sports nutrition market is filled with products which deliver claims, 但往往没有证据支持它们的使用. Therefore, research is essential to identify if supplements are effective.
In one of the initial studies conducted by Dr Cook for his PhD at the University of Chichester, trained cyclists were given blackcurrant capsules or a placebo for a week of 而且 their exercise performance in a 16.然后进行了1公里(10英里)自行车计时赛. 这项研究被设计成双盲交叉研究, 这意味着自行车运动员完成了两次计时赛, 一次是黑醋栗一次是安慰剂. The double-blind meant that the researchers 而且 the participants did not know whether they were taking the blackcurrant or the placebo in order to prevent bias with在 study. The results demonstrated that participants on average completed the time-trial 2.服用黑醋栗的人比服用安慰剂的人快4%. 研究结果发表在 欧洲应用生理学杂志 而且 were the first in a series of studies examining how effective blackcurrant supplementation was for exercise performance.
Follow up studies have examined the effect of blackcurrant on the energy source being used during exercise. The studies again used a one-week intake of blackcurrant capsules 而且 examined the contribution of fat 而且 carbohydrate to the energy being used during the cycling exercise. 有趣的是, the study found that blackcurrant could increase the amount of fat being used during 120-minutes of moderate intensity cycling by over 20%. These findings could be important to ultra-endurance athletes where they compete for prolonged time periods, 或者那些想减肥的人. 结果是, follow up research being conducted at the OD官网APP下载 is examining further if blackcurrant can alter fat burning over different exercise intensities.
Other studies being conducted by Dr Cook 而且 colleagues from the 体育与运动科学学院“， at the OD官网APP下载 are examining if the benefits of blackcurrant on exercise performance can be seen in older adults 而且 if there are also effects on cognitive function. In aging there is a decline 在 ability to perform exercise as a result of muscle loss 而且 a reduced capacity of the cardiovascular system. 结果是, these changes 而且 limitations to exercise capacity can also influence our ability to do functional tasks such as intense walking. 认知功能也有变化, such as reaction time 而且 our ability to process information 而且 make decisions quickly (consider the cognitive skills required when we are driving a car). Effects on these would indicate if blackcurrant is something older adults should consider consuming more of to help with these tasks.
If you would like more information on the research on the current studies being conducted at the University, 请随时联系Mathew Cook博士.
马修·库克博士 是 体育与运动科学理学士 在 体育与运动科学学院“，
All views expressed in this blog are the Academic’s own 而且 do not represent the views, policies or opinions of the OD官网APP下载 or any of its partners.