BERRY GOOD FOR YOU

Blues boost weight loss

This superfruit can be berry helpful for weight loss. A new study published in the journal Nutrients found that eating 25 grams of freezedried blueberries — the equivalent of one cup of natural blueberries — every day can improve athletic performance and burn more body fat while exercising.

Scientists at California Polytechnic State University and Gonzaga University’s Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management wanted to test if a concentrated amount of blueberries could speed up the process of fat oxidation — when the body breaks down fatty acids for energy when exercising.

“This study was the first to investigate whether WB consumption would elicit greater FA-ox rates during an exercise protocol aimed to maximize fat oxidation using moderate-intensity exercise in healthy, trained males,” the study said.

Blueberries have high levels of an antioxidant called anthocyanin, which recent studies suggest may increase fat oxidation.

Cycling regimen

The participants were 11 healthy male cyclists who participated in 40 minutes of moderate bike-riding, with scientists taking finger-prick blood samples every 10 minutes.

They consumed 25 grams of freeze-dried wild blueberry powder every day, containing 375 grams of anthocyanins, over the course of two weeks. The same 40-minute cycling was then conducted, and their blood was taken during this process as well.

Scientists found that fat oxidation rates increased by 19.7% after cycling for 20 minutes, 43.2% after 30 minutes and 31.1% at 40 minutes — and that the athletes burned more fat after consuming blueberries.

They also found that lactate levels in the blood — a sign of fatigue — were “significantly reduced” after eating blueberries, suggesting that exercise longevity improved, too.