Start the New Year Right – Why Blackcurrants Will Fast-Track Your Health and Fitness Goals in 2024

As we step into the new year with fresh resolutions and a renewed focus on health, one simple change can make a big difference in your fitness journey: Adding CurraNZ blackcurrant extract to your diet.

Packed with powerful nutrients and backed by science, blackcurrants are the ultimate superfood to support your 2025 health and exercise goals.

Here’s why incorporating some purple power – particularly in the form of CurraNZ, the most evidence-based blackcurrant product on the international market – can fast-track your progress in 2025.

1. Glycaemic Health – Balance Your Blood Sugar for Weight Loss

Maintaining stable blood sugar levels is key to controlling appetite, boosting energy, and improving metabolic health. Studies show that blackcurrants improve insulin sensitivity, helping to regulate blood sugar levels and supporting weight loss efforts, while reducing Type 2 Diabetes risk factors.

British research¹ shows that taking blackcurrant extract, CurraNZ, daily for as little as a week can significantly optimize metabolic function, making the supplement a valuable ally for anyone working on weight management or looking to be more metabolically healthy in 2024.

2. Cardiovascular Boost – Keep Your Heart Strong

A healthy heart is essential for overall wellness, and blackcurrants are packed with compounds that promote cardiovascular health^2,3,4. The high levels of anthocyanins in blackcurrants have been shown to help lower blood pressure⁴, reduce hardening of the arteries^5, improve blood vessel function⁵ and increase blood flow^2,3,6. According to a study published in European Journal of Applied Physiology (2017), intake of blackcurrant extract can lead to better circulation³, which is crucial for heart health. This means that adding blackcurrants to your daily routine can give your heart the support it needs to keep you active and fit throughout the year.

3. Antioxidants – Combat Damage from Alcohol and Poor Diet

In today’s world, we’re all exposed to environmental stressors, poor diet choices, and, let’s face it, the occasional indulgence, particularly after the Christmas silly season.

Blackcurrants are packed with antioxidants, which help neutralize harmful free radicals caused by oxidative stress from alcohol consumption and poor dietary habits.

A study in Frontiers in Nutrition (2015)⁷ demonstrated how New Zealand blackcurrant extract can significantly reduce oxidative damage, helping to mitigate the effects of a less-than-perfect lifestyle. This means you can protect your cells, reduce inflammation, and promote overall wellness with the help of this tiny but mighty fruit.

4. Immunity – A Natural Defense Boost
   

As we face the cold months of winter and the inevitable rise in illnesses, strengthening your immune system is essential. Blackcurrants have long been prized for their immune-boosting properties, thanks to their rich content of vitamin C and other immune-supporting compounds. Several studies^8,9,10,11 show that blackcurrants have anti-viral properties, enhance immune function and help fight off infections. Start the year right by giving your immune system the extra support it needs to keep you healthy and active all year long.

5. Exercise Motivation and Recovery – Power Through Your Workouts

Finding the motivation to work out and recovering from intense sessions is key to achieving your fitness goals. Blackcurrants can help in both areas.

Studies have shown that the anthocyanins in blackcurrants lower perception of exertion¹⁵, improve endurance and motivation to exercise^12,13,15 by increasing blood flow⁶ and reducing muscle fatigue⁶,¹². A 2021 study¹⁴ in Nutrients found that recreational exercisers who consumed blackcurrant extract experienced significantly reduced muscle soreness and three-times faster recovery after strenuous workouts.

This means that not only will you feel more motivated to hit the gym, but you’ll bounce back quicker from your workouts, making blackcurrants the perfect fitness companion in 2024.

6. Bone Health – Protect Your Bones from the Inside Out

Healthy bones are essential for maintaining an active lifestyle but prone to becoming fragile as we get older – particularly during menopause - putting us at risk of breaks and fractures.

New research is showing that blackcurrants can support your bone health in a surprisingly unique way. A study¹⁶ published in Nutritional Biochemistry (2024) suggests that New Zealand blackcurrant extract promote beneficial gut bacteria that help maintain bone density, reduce inflammation and control molecules that promote bone breakdown. By enhancing specific species of gut flora, blackcurrants may help prevent osteoporosis and strengthen bones over time. It’s an often-overlooked benefit, but ensuring your gut is in tip-top shape could be the key to keeping your bones strong as you age, particularly women, who are particularly at risk during menopause.

With all these scientifically-backed health benefits, it’s clear that blackcurrants are a must-have addition to your diet in 2024. Whether you’re aiming to lose weight, improve your fitness performance, protect your heart, or boost immunity, blackcurrants – in the form of CurraNZ or simply as part of your regular meals – are here to support your goals. So, make blackcurrants a part of your healthy new-year routine and let this powerful fruit help you stay on track for a fitter, stronger, and healthier year ahead!

 References

1. Short‑term, but not acute, intake of New Zealand blackcurrant extract [CurraNZ] improves insulin sensitivity and free‑living postprandial glucose excursions in individuals with overweight or obesity. European Journal of Nutrition (2020)doi: 10.1007/s00394-020-02329-7. 

2. The Effect of Anthocyanin-Rich Foods or Extracts on Vascular Function in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials, Nutrients 2017, 9, 908; doi:10.3390/nu9080908

3. Cardiovascular function during supine rest in endurance‑trained males with New Zealand blackcurrant: a dose–response study, Eur J Appl Physiology DOI 10.1007/s00421-016-3512-x

4. Effect of New Zealand Blackcurrant on Blood Pressure, Cognitive Function and Functional Performance in Older Adults. Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics (2019) DOI: 10.1080/21551197.2019.1707740
5. Effects of blackcurrant extract on arterial functions in older adults: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypertension. (2020) https://doi.org/10.1080/10641963.2020.1764015
6. Effect of Intake Duration of Anthocyanin-rich New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract on Cardiovascular Responses and Femoral Artery Diameter during Sustained Submaximal Isometric Contraction, Journal of Dietary Supplements, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1080/19390211.2021.1948943
7. Daily consumption of NZBCE for five weeks supports recovery through management of Oxidative Stress and inflammation: A Randomized Placebo Controlled Pilot Study. Frontiers in Nutrition doi: 10.3389/fnut.2020.00016
8. New Zealand Blackcurrants Prior to Exercise may Assist Recovery from Oxidative Stress and Maintains Circulating Neutrophil Function: A Pilot Study, Frontiers In Nutrition doi: 10.3389/fnut.2019.00073
9. Anti-viral and anti-bacterial activities of an extract of blackcurrants, Microbiology and Immunology 56: 805–809 doi:10.1111/j.1348-0421.2012.00510.x
10. The Signalling Pathways and Therapeutic Targets of Antiviral Agents: Focusing on the Antiviral Approaches and Clinical Perspectives of Anthocyanins in the Management of Viral Diseases, Frontiers in Pharmacology,  2019 Nov 8. doi: 3389/fphar.2019.01207
11. Anti-Influenza Nutraceuticals: Antiviral and Anti-Inflammatory Effects, Advances in Complementary Alternative Medicine 4(3). ACAM.000590.2019. DOI: 10.31031/ACAM.2019.04.000590.
12. Effect of New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract on Performance during the Running Based Anaerobic Sprint Test in Trained Youth and Recreationally Active Male Football Players. Charlie Godwin 1, Matthew D. Cook 2 and Mark E. T. Willems. Sports 2017, 5(3), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports5030069
13. New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract Improves High-Intensity Intermittent Running. Perkins IC1, Vine SA, Blacker SD, Willems ME. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract Improves High-Intensity Intermittent Running. Perkins IC1, Vine SA, Blacker SD, Willems ME. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2015 Mar 26.http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2015-0020
14. Consumption of New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract improves recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage in non-resistance trained men and women: A double-blind randomized trial, Nutrients, 2021 doi: 10.3390/nu13082875.
15. Timed consumption of a New Zealand blackcurrant juice support positive affective response during a self-motivated moderate walking exercise in healthy sedentary adults. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (2019) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-019-0300-0
16. Blackcurrants shape gut microbiota profile and reduce risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis via the gut-bone axis: Evidence from a pilot randomized controlled trial, 2024, Nutritional Biochemistry https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2024.109701