Study: Dark berry blend linked to improved sleep, stress, physical health
Young Living, a Lehi, UT-based multi level marketing company, recently released its results on a study that centered around its antioxidant berry drink, NingXia Red. The research, conducted by The Franklin Health Research Center, was published in Advances in Integrative Medicine.
The beverage, rich in antioxidants, reduces oxidative stress, promotes wellness and immune support. The dark berry blend was linked to a boost in overall health, particularly in areas such as sleep, mental wellbeing, physical function, and immunity.
The study
Researchers conducted the randomized clinical trial in the United States at the end of 2020 amid a pandemic to evaluate the effects of NingXia Red on multiple health outcomes. The proprietary NingXia Red Blend includes Ningxia wolfberry puree (Lycium barbarum), blueberry juice concentrate (Vaccinium corymbosum), plum juice concentrate (Prunus domestica), cherry juice concentrate (Prunus avium), aronia juice concentrate (Aronia melanocarpa), pomegranate juice concentrate (Punica granatum), along with a proprietary essential blend that contains grape (Vitis vinifera) seed extract, orange essential oil (Citrus sinensis), yuzu essential oil (Citrus junos), lemon essential oil (Citrus limon) and tangerine essential oil (Citrus reticulata).
The trial included 160 healthy adults between the ages of 18-65 were randomized to either a treatment or a control group, with data being collected at the baseline, on day 30, and on day 60 of the study. Each health outcome was measured using multiple clinically and statistically validated instruments that allow for self-reporting of signs and symptoms reflective of overall health status.
Findings
The study suggests that drinking 2oz of the blend a day can increase sleep quality, productivity, and mental wellbeing, particularly for women aged 20-49.
Data collected from the treatment group from day 60 revealed improved sleep patterns, increased time asleep by an average of 21 minutes and a decrease in time of falling asleep by an average of 6 minutes when compared to the control group. As a result of improved sleep quality, NingXia Red drinkers also experienced an average of a 37.9% increase in productivity. In addition, the study was also clinically shown to reduce daily stress by 23% and improve mental wellbeing. The effects were more significant in women compared to men, and more prevalent in adults aged 20-49 as compared to adults aged 50-65.
Compared to the control group, those who consumed NingXia Red were shown to increase physical energy levels by 34.5% and reduce physical limitations by 36%. Physical limitations due to inflammation, physical function, mental wellbeing and energy levels were measured by the body’s inability to achieve daily physical tasks such as carrying groceries, using stairs and taking walks. NingXia Red drinkers also averaged a 27% reduction in somatic symptom scores, which reflects improvement in gastrointestinal health, sleep quality, headaches, and respiratory function. Those who did not consume NingXia Red were about five times more likely to develop moderate to severe respiratory symptoms than the NingXia Red group.
Conclusion
“Daily consumption of 60 ml of NingXia Red resulted in an increase in sleep duration when used consistently for 60 days. Length of illness was shorter in the supplement group compared to the control group. The supplement improved both immune response and overall health through a safe and healthy method of use,” the authors concluded.
The authors acknowledged that certain populations could require a longer intervention time for effects to be documented. In the future, they suggest studies should examine the effects of an antioxidant beverage for periods of 4–6 months or longer to determine whether the benefits continue to increase.
Source: Advances in Integrative Medicine
Volume 9, Issue 3, September 2022 doi.org/10.1016/j.aimed.2022.06.007
“Effects of antioxidant supplement on immune health and physical wellbeing: A randomized, controlled trial”
Authors: J. Hawkins at al.
