Top 10 health benefits of aronia berries
Aronia berries /also known
as chokeberries are called nature’s healer and protector mainly for the
following top 10 reasons:
Antioxidant source
Aronia berries have the
highest concentration of antioxidants present in any fruit. Why is this so
important? Antioxidants protect the body’s cells from the damaging effects of
oxidation. And because aronia is rich in antioxidants, it has a very high ORAC
value (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity - a measure of an antioxidant's power
to neutralize free radicals) - almost 80 units, the highest amongst fruits.
In the United States, the
Aronia berry was tested by the Department of Agriculture in November of 2007. A
public comparison was published showing that Aronia was tested and compared to
276 other edible items that can be found in the USA and is ranked № 1 antioxidant.
http://www.superberries.com/aroniaberry-101/science
Urinary tract health
The second great benefit of
consuming aronia berries is keeping good urinary tract health. Urinary tract
infections (UTIs) happen to millions of people around the world. The main
causal agent is Escherichia coli. Symptoms include frequent feeling and/or need
to urinate, pain during urination, and cloudy urine. It is well known that
cranberries are good in the fight against UTI, but studies show that aronia
berries are five to ten times more effective, because of the higher dose of
quinic acid in them, which is proven to prevent urinary infections. Additional
lab studies showed that Aronia Melanocarpa is effective in reducing
micro-organism growth for several bacteria including Escherichia coli, thus
proving aronia berries help prevent and cure UTI and maintain good urinary
tract health.
http://urinary-tract-infection.com/page/20/
http://prosperiawellness.com/aronia_urinary.htm
Improve blood circulation
and strengthens blood vessels
Aronia berries are also
known to improve the circulation of blood, make blood vessels stronger and
reduce the risk of heart disease. Free radicals are the true cause of various
diseases in the body and aronia berries can prevent formation of these radicals
thus preventing diseases such as diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases.
Mature aronia fruits contain a large amount of phenols, which disinfect the
bloodstream and the body, promotes healing of wounds, removing toxic substances
from the body, reduce inflammation, improves elasticity of blood vessels and
prevent their clogging. Many studies have been done on Aronia, particularly in
Bulgaria and Eastern Europe. A 2002 animal-modeled study (Kowalczyk et al),
conducted in the Department of harmacology of the Military Medical Academy,
Lodz, Poland, tested anthocyanins from the aronia berry. The study concluded
that aronia berry anthocyanins are useful in fighting “oxidative stress” in
cardiovascular patients.
http://berrydoctor.com/broadcast/2007/USDA-ORAC.htm
http://prosperiawellness.com/aronia_cardiovascular.htm
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FDN/is_2_12/ai_n19393436/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17320090
BALANCE OF BLOOD
PRESSURE LEVELS
Among the top 5 benefits it
brings, Aronia helps greatly in keeping blood pressure at normal levels. The
dark pigmented berries have been known to prevent spasms in blood vessels,
keeping the blood pressure far from the “danger zone”. The juice or tea
from chokeberry is highly recommended to anyone having problems with the
circulatory system and blood pressure. In a 2007 double-blind,
placebo-controlled parallel trial study (Naruszervicz M et al), conducted by
the Department of Pharmacognosy and Molecular Basis of Phythotherapy, Medical
University of Warsaw and the Center for Atherosclerosis Research, Pomerainian
Medical University Szczecin, Poland gave patients, who had experienced myocardial
infracture and were being treated with statin therapy, a rich extract from the
Aronia Berry. Cardiovascular risk markers were significantly reduced in those
taking the Aronia melanocarpa E. They saw a reduction in blood pressure and
Ox-LDL levels and more.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FDN/is_2_12/ai_n19393436/
PREVENTION AND HELP IN
TREATMENT OF DIABETES
There have been a number of
studies analyzing how aronia berries affect people with diabetes. One of them
concluded that consumption of the “super berries” would not increase
blood sugar levels and it can even lower them. Aronia can be very beneficial
for people who want to prevent diabetes and it can also help people manage
diabetes - associated conditions. Another study (Simeonov et al, 2002)
conducted at the Medical University in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, found that aronia
juice without sugar added (artificially sweetened) was “a valuable adjunct” to
treating patients with diabetes. An animal modeled study in 2007
(Valcheva-Kuzmanova S et al), conducted by the Department of Preclinical
Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Medical University, Varna, Bulgaria was
conducted on diabetic rats. The outcome showed that the use of Aronia
melanocarpa fruit juice might be useful in the prevention and control of
diabetes and in the complications of diabetes.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&uid=12580526&cmd=showdetailview&indexed=google
“GASTRO PROTECTIVE” EFFECT
Aronia berries have also
been proven to help treating stomach problems including gastric ulcers,
diarrhea. That theory has been analyzed by an animal study in 2004, which
showed that the aronia berry’s antioxidant effects had a gastro protective
effect when treating the acute gastric hemorrhagic lesion in rats. This study
suggested to scientists that it can be a natural effective treatment for
stomach problems in humans (including ulcers). Proving once again to be an
extremely valuable fruit, dried Aronia is a great medicine for kidney and
stomach problems.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&uid=12580526&cmd=showdetailview&indexed=google
ANTI-CARCINOGENIC EFFECT
In the context of “gastro
protection”, aronia berries also serve as anti-carcinogenic agent. The the
effect of the black colored berries on cancer as it’s known to be rather
effective especially for those suffering from colon cancer. A study conducted
in 2003 showed that the berry provided a natural defense to fight against colon
cancer. The article, “Darker fruits could fight cancer“, discusses the findings
of researchers at Ohio State University who found that darker fruits and
berries could fight cancer. The aronia berry or chokeberry is mentioned
in the article, “[A]nthocyanin pigments obtained from black carrots and
radishes slowed the growth of cancer cells by between 50 to 80%. But compounds
from chokeberries for instance killed up to a fifth of existing cells, without
impacting upon healthy ones.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6954696.stm
“Anthocyanin-Rich
Extracts Inhibit Multiple Biomarkers of Colon Cancer in Rats” looks at the
benefits of the aronia berry as well as other berries in the help of eliminating
colon cancer.
http://www.leaonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/s15327914nc54001_1
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
PROPERTIES, SUPPRESS VIRUSES
If your diet includes
aronia berry regularly, you can be sure that colds and flu will not trouble you
soon! It fights bacteria and viruses and boosts the immune system.
Another Bulgarian study (Study of the natural Aronia Melanocarpa juice for
anti-viral activity, Borissova et al, 1994) showed that chokeberry juice, due
to its anthocyane flavonoids, had an anti-inflammatory value, when inflammation
was induced by histamine & serotonin.
http://www.antibiotikamonitor.at/34_03/34_03_1_04.htm
http://www.biomedsearch.com/nih/Aronia-melanocarpa-fruit-extract-exhibits/21863241.html
EYES PROTECTION
Aronia berries, among all
other healthy benefits, provide good protection for our eyes. The super berries
contain a large amount of carotene, which protects cells from damage and the
eyes from cataract formation. They are also rich in flavonoid anti-oxidants
such as luteins and zeaxanthins. Zeaxanthin has photo-filtering effects on UV
rays and thus protects eyes from age related macular disease in the elderly
(ARMD) and eye inflammation (uveitis). Researchers in Japan have been measuring
the effects of aronia crude extract (ACE) on eye inflammation. The study was
published in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science several years ago.
http://www.iovs.org/content/46/1/275.full
WEIGHT CONTROL
Last, but not least Aronia
berries help in regulating weight. In addition to that, Aronia can help
prevent the body from storing fat around the abdomen, a problem which many
people are constantly facing. An added benefit from having aronia berries
included in your diet is that it can also improve your cholesterol and lipid
levels, by helping the body to produce good cholesterol. This great health
benefit is analyzed by scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture based
in Beltsville, Maryland who have conducted a study proving good effects of the
super berry on control of weight and cholesterol levels.
http://www.emaxhealth.com/1275/chokeberries-may-help-weight-loss-inflammation