Amacx Cherry Juice+ with 125 mg anthocyanins: Cherry juice plus for post-competition regeneration

The Dutch company Amacx Sports Nutrition has a new product in its recovery range: Cherry Juice+. The drink is based on the previous Cherry Juice, but has been reworked in collaboration with professional athletes and the in-house science team. Jonas Vingegaard from the Visma | Lease a Bike team says he drinks the recovery drink immediately after the end of a race. According to Amacx, Wout van Aert also relies on the drink to maintain performance in multi-day races.

In an interview with Prof Dr Ingo Froböse, SWR spoke about cherry juice, which is not just cherry juice. The juice from the supermarket is usually just water. Only one cherry has rolled past it.

In the drink: anthocyanins and carbohydrates

The formula provides 125 mg of anthocyanins per 500 ml bottle. These plant substances belong to the group of polyphenols and are used in sports nutrition due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. According to the manufacturer, studies show that anthocyanins can reduce muscle soreness and support the recovery of muscle function. The new dosage is 25 per cent higher than the previous product. Amacx uses sour cherries and supplements them with other anthocyanin-rich fruit sources to achieve a broader active ingredient profile.

In addition to anthocyanins, Cherry Juice+ contains 30 grams of carbohydrates in a 2:1 ratio of glucose and fructose. This combination is designed to quickly replenish glycogen stores after intense exercise. The drink also contains natural melatonin, which, when consumed in the evening, is said to support the quality of sleep - a factor that plays an important role in regeneration.

Attention! Use only in competition phases

Amacx expressly does not recommend Cherry Juice+ for normal training blocks. The reason: high doses of antioxidants can suppress the body's natural inflammatory response. However, this inflammatory response is necessary for the body to adapt to training stimuli and become stronger. Using the drink in basic training could therefore weaken the training effect.

Instead, the product is intended for specific situations in which rapid recovery is more important than long-term adaptation. These include multi-day races such as stage races, where full performance is required the next day. Cherry Juice+ should also help to shorten the recovery time in dense competition phases with several races within a few days. Another possible application is the tapering phase - the last week before an important target event in which freshness should be maximised.

Quality control and test standards

Each batch of "Cherry Juice+" is tested for its anthocyanin content. This is Amacx's way of ensuring that each bottle contains the specified amount of 125 mg. The anthocyanin content of many commercially available sour cherry products varies greatly or is not known. Important for competitive athletes for whom the product is intended: Cherry Juice+ bears the "Informed Sport" logo, which confirms that the product has been tested for banned substances. Amacx complies with the NZVT test standards applicable to food supplements in the Netherlands.

The Amacx Cherry Juice+ in detail:

• Product: Cherry Juice+ recovery drink
• Anthocyanin content: 125 mg per serving
• Carbohydrates: 30 g in a ratio of 2:1 (glucose:fructose)
• Filling quantity: 500 ml
• Additives: Natural melatonin
• Intended use: Regeneration in competition phases
• Field of application: Multi-day events, dense competition phases, tapering phase
• Important: Not intended for use in regular training