The Aronia Berry: The World's Best Kept Health Secret
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 bitter taste of the juices from these berries is the reason it was named 'chokeberry.' Despite this, it has been used in many different countries throughout Europe for the making of wines, jams, flavoring beverages, and yogurts. Here in the US, we have only been using it (until recently) for dyeing clothes!
The chokeberry is extremely high in flavanoids, including the following phytonutrients: Cyanide3-galactoside, anthocyanin, epicatechin, caffeic acid, quercetin, delphinidin, petunidin, pelargonidin, peonidin, and malvidin. These chemicals are all flavanoids, which are also antioxidants. They are considered very effective in the prevention of diseases caused by oxidative stress such as colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, peptic ulcers, eye inflammation, and liver failure.
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.
Not only does the aronia berry have a very high level of antioxidants, it is also very rich in several other vitamins, including vitamin c, vitamin e, vitamin b2, vitamin b6 and folic acid. If you research this berry you find there are several lists of positive factors relating to this berry, including but not limited to the quantity of antioxidants, prevention of heart and cardiovascular problems, and its anti-inflammatory properties. It is also been shown to help with urinary tract health, fights bacteria and virus, aids in digestion, helps with good cholesterol, helps control blood pressure and provides essential oils for your body.
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. - 17269
The bitter taste of the juices from these berries is the reason it was named 'chokeberry.' Despite this, it has been used in many different countries throughout Europe for the making of wines, jams, flavoring beverages, and yogurts. Here in the US, we have only been using it (until recently) for dyeing clothes!
The chokeberry is extremely high in flavanoids, including the following phytonutrients: Cyanide3-galactoside, anthocyanin, epicatechin, caffeic acid, quercetin, delphinidin, petunidin, pelargonidin, peonidin, and malvidin. These chemicals are all flavanoids, which are also antioxidants. They are considered very effective in the prevention of diseases caused by oxidative stress such as colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, peptic ulcers, eye inflammation, and liver failure.
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.
Not only does the aronia berry have a very high level of antioxidants, it is also very rich in several other vitamins, including vitamin c, vitamin e, vitamin b2, vitamin b6 and folic acid. If you research this berry you find there are several lists of positive factors relating to this berry, including but not limited to the quantity of antioxidants, prevention of heart and cardiovascular problems, and its anti-inflammatory properties. It is also been shown to help with urinary tract health, fights bacteria and virus, aids in digestion, helps with good cholesterol, helps control blood pressure and provides essential oils for your body.
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. - 17269
posted by X - Men at
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