As ultrarunners, we are obsessive by nature. We obsess over training, gear, nutrition, hydration, planning, all of it! An ongoing trend in the community is nutrition, not just during a run or race but in everyday life. We’ve seen everything from the bean burrito fueled Scott Jurek– 7 consecutive times Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run winner and author of best-selling book “Eat and Run” to the ultrarunners such as Jeff Browning and Zach Bitter swearing but a low carb high fat (LCHF) diet. We’ve even seen more extreme versions of the LCHF diet with Mike McKnight’s zero calorie 100 miler he completed a few years back. In my humble opinion, as an informed human but not a dietician, and speaking from experience, there is no right way to eat! That goes for everyone, including ultrarunners. What’s cool though is that some of the benefits that people have seen from certain diets can be achieved with supplements, such as CurraNZ without having to change up your diet. In this blog we will specifically discuss fat oxidation.
Fat oxidation refers to the process by which the body breaks down stored fat molecules to release energy. This process occurs during periods of energy expenditure, such as exercise or when the body needs more energy than is available from the immediate food intake. Fat is broken down into fatty acids and glycerol, which can be used as a source of energy by the body’s cells. It’s an essential part of metabolism and contributes to weight loss when there’s a calorie deficit, as the body relies on stored fat for energy (Kravitz et al. 2018).
In a recent 2022 article, researchers found that consuming New Zealand Black Currants (NZBC) before a 30-minute morning walk enhanced fat oxidation by 10%- 66% (Williems et al. 2022). What was also interesting to note in this study was that it suggests that females may be more responsive to the positive effects of NZBC on Exercise-Induced fat oxidation than males.
In summary, these studies show that CurraNZ can help enhance fat oxidation during exercise. The best way to test the effects is a 7-day trial of 600mg/day to see these effects. It is important to note that these are preliminary studies and more research is needed. However, it is promising to hear that a natural supplement like CurraNZ could enhance fat oxidation without needing to change your diet. Wouldn’t it be great to keep eating all those croissants and still increase fat oxidation?!
References:
Hiles, A.M., Flood, T.R., Lee, B.J., Ashdown, K.M., Kuennen, M.R., & Willems, M.E.T. (2020). Dietary supplementation with New Zealand blackcurrant extract enhances fat oxidation during submaximal exercise in the heat. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2020.02.017.
Koop, J. Should You Become a Fat Adapted Ultrarunner?
Purdom T, Kravitz L, Dokladny K, Mermier C. Understanding the factors that affect maximal fat oxidation. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2018;15:3. Published online 2018 Jan 12. doi:10.1186/s12970-018-0207-1. PMID: 29344008; PMCID: PMC5766985.
Willems, M.E.T.; Banic, Milena; Cadden, Roseanna; Barnett, Lara. Enhanced Walking-Induced Fat Oxidation by New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract Is Body Composition-Dependent in Recreationally Active Adult Females. Nutrients 2022, 14(7), 1475. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14071475.
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