Why Eat An Aronia Berry?
The chokeberry tree is also known as aronia, of which family it belongs to. Aronia comes in three different types, the red (Aronia arbutifolia), the purple, (Aronia Prunifolia) and the unbelievably healthy black. (Aronia melanocarpa). Aronia is part of the Rosaceae family. The most common place to find these shrubs and trees is in North America, where they grow wild in the eastern and northern forests. Because of its pretty appearance, many gardeners and landscapers include it in their gardens.
The chokeberry is not the same plant as a choke cherry, which grows more commonly. They are both true berries, but Aronia have many more health benefits than choke cherries do. The juice from all of these berries is very astringent and bitter, thus the prefix 'choke'. The juice from all of these berries is used for making wines, jams, juices, and even as a coloring agent in many clothing and textiles.
Containing such phytonutrients as peonidin, malvidin, pelargonidin, petunidin, delphinidin, quercetin, caffeic acid, epacatechin, cynadie3-glactoside, and anthocyanin, this berry is not only high in flavanoids, but also very high in antioxidants. Studies have shown that the antioxidants properties of this berry have been extremely helpful in the prevention of liver failure, eye inflammation, peptic ulcers, cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer and other oxidative stress related conditions.
It may be hard to believe, but even the United States department of Agriculture (USDA) has signed off on the wonders of aronia berries. In a 2007 report they published, comparing 277 common foods found in North America, they chose Black Chokeberries as the food source that has the very highest ORAC score of all! This basically means that there is no other food known to man with as high a level of antioxidants, at least not that grows in North America.
Interestingly, the early Native Americans knew all about the health and medicinal properties of the aronia berry and used it for generations in their medicinal arsenal. The early settlers never seemed to discover its many uses, however. The use of Aronia berries seemed to die out with the natives, at least on this continent. Other fruits and berries were soon pushed on us through advertising, claiming to be the prefect dietary aid and metabolism booster. Naturally, with the onslaught of all of these other fruits, the chokeberry didn't have a chance to regain the spotlight. Now it is finally gaining momentum in the popularity polls as being one of the 'superfruits,' thanks to modern methods of scientific testing.
Aronia berries are not only full of all kinds of antioxidants, but they contain several other vitamins that are important to a healthy body. They contain vitamin c, vitamin e, vitamin b2, vitamin b6, and folic acid. No matter where you do your research, you will see multiple lists of benefit factors on this fruit. The quantity of antioxidants, the health benefits for cardiovascular and heart problems, and its anti-inflammatory properties are not the only benefits. It also helps keep your urinary tract healthy, fights bacteria and virus, like colds and flu. It also aids in digestion, helps with blood pressure and provides oils that your body needs.
The chokeberry has been used for flavoring wines in Poland, Russia and all of Eastern Europe for centuries now, which is interesting because the plant is native to the Eastern Seaboard of the United States! It has only been used in the flavoring of desserts, beverages and wines in the US as far back as the early settlers, but is now starting to be sold in fresh form in the fruit and vegetable aisle of a few organic grocers. Since the 'berry' diet craze that started several years ago, it fits right in with all the other berries being used for boosting metabolism and losing weight. - 17268
The chokeberry is not the same plant as a choke cherry, which grows more commonly. They are both true berries, but Aronia have many more health benefits than choke cherries do. The juice from all of these berries is very astringent and bitter, thus the prefix 'choke'. The juice from all of these berries is used for making wines, jams, juices, and even as a coloring agent in many clothing and textiles.
Containing such phytonutrients as peonidin, malvidin, pelargonidin, petunidin, delphinidin, quercetin, caffeic acid, epacatechin, cynadie3-glactoside, and anthocyanin, this berry is not only high in flavanoids, but also very high in antioxidants. Studies have shown that the antioxidants properties of this berry have been extremely helpful in the prevention of liver failure, eye inflammation, peptic ulcers, cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer and other oxidative stress related conditions.
It may be hard to believe, but even the United States department of Agriculture (USDA) has signed off on the wonders of aronia berries. In a 2007 report they published, comparing 277 common foods found in North America, they chose Black Chokeberries as the food source that has the very highest ORAC score of all! This basically means that there is no other food known to man with as high a level of antioxidants, at least not that grows in North America.
Interestingly, the early Native Americans knew all about the health and medicinal properties of the aronia berry and used it for generations in their medicinal arsenal. The early settlers never seemed to discover its many uses, however. The use of Aronia berries seemed to die out with the natives, at least on this continent. Other fruits and berries were soon pushed on us through advertising, claiming to be the prefect dietary aid and metabolism booster. Naturally, with the onslaught of all of these other fruits, the chokeberry didn't have a chance to regain the spotlight. Now it is finally gaining momentum in the popularity polls as being one of the 'superfruits,' thanks to modern methods of scientific testing.
Aronia berries are not only full of all kinds of antioxidants, but they contain several other vitamins that are important to a healthy body. They contain vitamin c, vitamin e, vitamin b2, vitamin b6, and folic acid. No matter where you do your research, you will see multiple lists of benefit factors on this fruit. The quantity of antioxidants, the health benefits for cardiovascular and heart problems, and its anti-inflammatory properties are not the only benefits. It also helps keep your urinary tract healthy, fights bacteria and virus, like colds and flu. It also aids in digestion, helps with blood pressure and provides oils that your body needs.
The chokeberry has been used for flavoring wines in Poland, Russia and all of Eastern Europe for centuries now, which is interesting because the plant is native to the Eastern Seaboard of the United States! It has only been used in the flavoring of desserts, beverages and wines in the US as far back as the early settlers, but is now starting to be sold in fresh form in the fruit and vegetable aisle of a few organic grocers. Since the 'berry' diet craze that started several years ago, it fits right in with all the other berries being used for boosting metabolism and losing weight. - 17268
posted by X - Men at
3:16 AM
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