ARONIA BERRIES /ALSO KNOWN AS CHOKEBERRIES ARE CALLED NATURE’S HEALER AND PROTECTOR MAINLY FOR
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.