Fruit juice energy drink set to hit market

A new fruit product that dramatically increases muscle power and delays fatigue is set to hit the market, according to a report published in magazine Chemistry & Industry.

Scientists at fruit company HortResearch in New Zealand have shown that when isolated muscle tissue was exposed to fruit extracts and then given an electrical impulse, muscle power increased by up to 70 per cent and the onset of fatigue was delayed by up to 20 per cent.

Sports drinks on the market generally include synthetic ingredients and sugars designed to boost energy and combat dehydration, but the new energy juice would be made up of fruit compounds, which would work by boosting muscle power through the body’s interplay with testosterone.

Business leader for food and health at HortReseach Kieran Elborough said: “Overtraining can have a negative impact on the immune system and can affect hormone levels resulting in cortisol levels going up and testosterone levels go down. We have strong evidence that specific fruit compounds can aid muscle recovery and reinforce immune defences. The boost in muscle power is related to rises in the level of testosterone.”