Journal of Food Processing & Technology

Functional food intake to enhance exercise and recovery

6^th Global Summit and Expo on Food & Beverages

August 03-05, 2015 Orlando-FL, USA

Mark Willems

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Food Process Technol

Abstract:

Regular intake of multi-ingredient functional foods is known to provide health benefits. Within functional foods, it may be the anthocyanin content that contributes to the health benefits due to its known anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activity. Such activity may also be beneficial for the recovery of exercise. Several studies have now shown the effects of functional food intake on the recovery of exercise. However, the research justifying the intake of functional foods to enhance the recovery from exercise is in its infancy but promising. In addition, the effects of functional food intake on exercise remain largely unexplored. We recently showed effects of New Zealand blackcurrant on the shift of the lactate curve, substrate oxidation and performance in repeated high-intensity running sprints and endurance cycling. Future research on intake of specific high-anthocyanin supplements may provide justification for nutritional strategies used by athletes to enhance performance and aid recovery but also promises broader implications within sport and exercise sciences. High-anthocyanin containing functional foods and products may become a new direction in sports nutrition research.