Aronia berries health benefits: the little chokeberry that earns its superfood stripes

TL;DR: Aronia berries, also called chokeberries, are a superfood filled with antioxidants. The aronia berries health benefits cover heart and circulation, memory and brain protection, eye health, digestion, cold and flu defense, blood sugar control, and urinary tract support. Eat them raw, powdered, or in jams, smoothies, wines, juices, syrups, and teas.

Have you ever heard about aronia? It’s a little fruit that resembles the acai berry, and once you start reading the research, the aronia berries health benefits pile up fast. Chokeberries are a superfood filled with beneficial antioxidants. According to studies, they have many health benefits, such as improving heart health and reducing cancer risk.

Native to North America, chokeberry is a healthy berry filled with many nutrients, including powerful antioxidants. Aronia is known for its astringent flavor and can be found in woodlands and swamps. It’s usually found in three varieties: red, purple, and black. They can be cultivated as foods or ornamental plants.

How do you actually eat aronia berries?

Aronia berries can be added to bread, cakes, and other baked goods, or as toppings for ice cream. Chokeberries are also used in the production of wines, juices, syrups, and teas. You can use the berries raw or powder to make jams, purees, and homemade syrups, or add them to smoothies or juices with other fruits like bananas, strawberries, and vegetables.

How do aronia berries improve cardiovascular health?

Aronia helps increase blood flow and strengthens the blood vessels. Studies revealed that chokeberry helps prevent heart attacks in many aspects. It helps reduce inflammation that can happen in the arteries walls. Aronia also helps lower LDL cholesterol levels which, if in big amounts, can build up in the arteries walls and cause blockages and heart issues.

Do aronia berries help the brain?

Thanks to its antioxidants, chokeberry improves memory. A small study suggests chokeberry can help to treat neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and other dementias.

Healthy eyes

Chokeberries are excellent for protecting the eyes. They contain big amounts of carotene, which avoids damage to the eye cells. And thanks to the antioxidants, these berries protect your eyes against age-related diseases, macular degeneration, and cataracts.

Can aronia help with digestion?

Aronia is a great source of fiber, which contributes to the health of our digestive system. Eating chokeberry helps regulate bowel movements and prevents digestive disorders like constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. Chokeberry is also useful for treating stomach issues like diarrhea and gastric ulcers.

Improves colds

Did you know that adding chokeberry to your regular diet is a great way of protecting yourself against the common cold and flu? Besides having high levels of vitamin C, this berry also has antiviral properties. Studies confirmed that aronia berries show bacteriostatic activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and antiviral effects against type A cold virus.

Can aronia berries help with diabetes?

Aronia was also proven beneficial for diabetic people. The active components of this berry help lower blood sugar levels and also act in insulin production. According to a 2002 study, aronia can keep blood sugar levels under control in diabetic people.

Diabetic patients were asked to drink 7 ounces of aronia juice, without any added sugar, every day for three months. The results showed a reduction in glucose levels of the patients while fasting.

Promotes urinary tract health

Another great benefit that chokeberry offers is having a healthy urinary tract. Urinary tract infection is a common condition that affects millions of people in the world. It is characterized by pain during urination, frequent urination, and bloody urine. Eating aronia stops bacteria from fixating in the urinary tract lining. The bacteria are then carried by the urine, avoiding infections.

A gentle closing thought

You can find chokeberries in natural health stores or online. If you find aronia, try it. It’s a small, astringent berry that quietly covers a lot of ground, heart, brain, eyes, gut, bladder, blood sugar. If this is the kind of tiny-fruit detour you like, the newsletter lands every Friday with a few more worth reading.

Frequently asked questions

What is aronia and what does it taste like?

Aronia berries, also called chokeberries, are a superfood filled with beneficial antioxidants. Aronia is known for its astringent flavor and can be found in woodlands and swamps, in three varieties: red, purple, and black.

How does aronia help the heart?

Aronia helps increase blood flow and strengthens the blood vessels. It reduces inflammation in the arteries walls and lowers LDL cholesterol, which can otherwise build up and cause blockages and heart issues.

How much aronia juice was used in the diabetes study?

Diabetic patients were asked to drink 7 ounces of aronia juice, without any added sugar, every day for three months. The results showed a reduction in glucose levels of the patients while fasting.

Can aronia berries help prevent urinary tract infections?

Eating aronia stops bacteria from fixating in the urinary tract lining. The bacteria are then carried by the urine, avoiding infections.

How do you eat aronia if you find it?

You can use the berries raw or powder to make jams, purees, and homemade syrups. Add them to smoothies or juices with other fruits, like bananas, strawberries, and vegetables. They also show up in wines, teas, and baked goods.