Honeysuckle improves runners’ endurance and speed, say scientists from England

Honeysuckle boosts runners’ endurance and speed, scientists from England find

With its help, athletes were able to overcome the distance of 5 km for 20 seconds faster than usual.

In order for physical abilities to improve over time, it is important to develop endurance. On this depends on the effectiveness of training, the intensity of loads and the speed of recovery after exercise. The skill comes in handy not only in sports, but also in ordinary life. For example, to walk a long distance (from work to the subway) and not to run out of breath before time.

Candidate of Medical Sciences, founder and trainer of the ERA running club

Honeysuckle berries are rich in anthocyanins, which increase physical performance in aerobic (relatively low intensity) exercise. Those that occur with oxygen consumption.

Alexander: Anthocyanins are the very substances that give the dark blue coloring to the fruits, petals and leaves of plants. They are widely used as a food additive (E163) to color products. The natural compounds have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory effects. In addition, foods rich in anthocyanins increase physical performance during aerobic exercise – when oxygen is used as the main source of energy.

The benefits of these berries were experienced by 30 participants aged 18-45 years old who were regular runners. The volunteers were randomly divided into two groups. The first group received a serving of non-fat yogurt with dried blue honeysuckle extract once a day (this is approximately 150 mg of anthocyanin). The second group ate exactly the same yogurt, but without the berries. The experiment was double-blind: neither the participants nor the researchers knew who was in which group.

Then everyone underwent a series of tests showing the ability to assimilate oxygen during exercise. Two tests determined the threshold of anaerobic metabolism and maximum oxygen uptake. And one assessed the general endurance – the participants of the experiment had to run 5 km. It turned out that those who took blue honeysuckle extract were slower to tire and were able to run the distance 20 seconds faster than usual. For runners, that’s a big difference!

However, no “magic” supplements will work if you try to replace the normal training process with them. Only regular and properly dosed physical activity can develop the speed, strength and endurance to run longer and faster.