Blackcurrant News
NZ Blackcurrant Research
Research from New Zealand continues to support and grow our knowledge of blackcurrants health benefits, and this week starred as part of the TVNZ7 Spotlight on Science and Technology. The programme “Ever Wondered” looked at foods of the future, in which blackcurrants featured strongly. This can be seen in Chapter 1 at this link.
Latest research is indicating a positive effect for asthma sufferers. TV coverage in NZ of this work can be seen at this link
The scientists have isolated a compound in blackcurrants called epigallocatechin, which controls lung inflammation associated with asthma. It brings the inflammation to an appropriate level so that the cells are behaving normally again. This can give hope to the one in five Kiwis who suffer from asthma.
A further preliminary study by the New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research suggests that natural chemicals found in blackcurrants may also help balance the impacts exercise can have on the body.
Researchers have found signs that an extract derived from New Zealand-grown blackcurrants - has three potential effects: minimising muscle damage by modulating oxidative stress, modulating inflammation, and potentially enhancing the body’s natural defenses against disease. These findings are published in the ‘American Journal of Physiology – Regulatory, Integrative Comparative Physiology’.
The Plant and Food release on these findings can be found at this link
Extreme Blackcurrants
Jane Lancaster, a Canterbury blackcurrant farmer come practicing science consultant, has just concluded a study on the proven health benefits of Blackcurrants. The studies showed that taking an ordinary serving of Blackcurrants dramatically improved blood circulation by as much as a factor of 40% and led to reduced muscle stiffness, cramp and fatigue symptoms. This is because the anthocyanins improve blood circulation in stressed muscle tissue. Continuous muscle contraction shrinks blood vessels in the muscle group concerned and stifles the body's ability to remove metabolites such as lactic acid. And muscle stiffness, pain and cramping can result. This lactic acid buildup is what defeats most endurance athletes." Full release available here
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"Blackcurrants come top of the superfruit health league, according to the first science-based review of 20 fruits commonly credited with helping fight disease. "
BCNZ has a library of information about health benefits of blackcurrants, which is added to regularly. The information that we hold, or know of will be accessable from this page.