Facts about Aronia Berries
The aronia berry, also known as the chokeberry or chokecherry (Prunus
virginiana) has the same habitat preferences as the saskatoon. It
has flowers that is white in color that usually blossom beginning
from late May. Aronia berries ripen in August, with their color
ranging from dark purple, red, orange to yellow.
Aronia Berry Uses
Chokeberries are astringent, but excellent for making sauces, jams
and jellies. Various other parts of the Aronia plant had been used
by the natives for healing purposes. The roots of the chokeberry
were chewed and applied on wounds to stop bleeding. Another
important part, the bark was boiled along with some other
ingredients to cure fever and diarrhea. Together with the cranberry,
bilberry, and other fruit juices, it provides us with several health
benefits.
Health Benefits of Chokeberries
Chokeberries are low in fats and calories but are abundant with
vitamins, minerals, dietary fibers and antioxidants.
- Black aronia berries contain considerably large quantities of
phenolic flavonoid phyto-chemicals known as anthocyanins. Overall
anthocyanin content in the berries is around 1,480 mg in each 100 g,
and proanthocyanidin concentration is around 664 mg in each 100 g.
Research has proven that regular intake of aronia berries provides
you with potential health benefits to fight against cancer, aging, diabetes,
neurological diseases, bacterial infections and inflammation.
- Clinical studies of anthocyanins found in chokeberries have
discovered the following compounds: cyanidin-3-galactoside,
peonidin,
quercetin, delphinidin, epicatechin, petunidin,
caffeic acid,
malvidin and pelargonidin. These antioxidants provides health
benefits by scavenging harmful free radicals in the body.
- Cancer study on anthocyanins, in which black chokecherry
formulations were first applied to stop cancer in the mouse
esophagus by 30 to 60 percent and of the colon by as much as 80
percent. Good at both early and progression stages of tumor
growth, aronia berries would definitely be a useful research tool
and maintain a promising healing source, as they comprise highest
level of anthocyanins ever found in native berries of North America.
- Additionally, aronia berries are abundant with flavonoid antioxidants
like carotenes, zeaxanthins and luteins. Zeaxanthin features
photo-filtering effects against Ultra violet rays, thereby prevents
eyes from age related macular disease.
- Aronia berry contains many antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin A,
vitamin C, vitamin E, folate and beta carotene as well as minerals
including potassium, manganese and iron. 100 g of aronia berries
supply 35% of RDA levels of ascorbic acid.
- The oxygen radical absorbency capacity (ORAC) shows that aronia
berry is the highest antioxidant fruit -- Every 100 g recorded
16,062 micro moles of TE or Trolox Equivalents.
Aronia Berry Juice Nutrition Facts and
Calories
| Nutrition Facts
for 1 glass of 6.8 fl oz Aronia Berry Juice |
| Calories |
83 (348 kJ) |
| Total Fat |
0 g |
| Cholesterol |
0 mg |
| Sodium |
25 mg |
| Total
Carbohydrates |
21.7 g |
| Dietary Fiber |
0.4 g |
| Sugars |
10 g |
| Protein
|
0 g |
| Calcium
|
33.3 mg |
| Potassium
|
250 mg |
How to Choose and Buy Aronia Berries?
- When buying from the shops, select berries that have even surface
and color. Take out any wet, mottled chokeberries because they are
likely to spread the mold to others.
How to Store Aronia Berries?
- Berries can be kept in the fridge for approximately 1 week. Rinse
the fruit in cold water before use to have their texture intact.
Aronia Berry Recipe
Aronia Berry Milkshake
Ingredients:
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup frozen aronia berries
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 2 cups frozen yogurt (strawberry flavor)
- whipped cream (optional)
Preparation:
- Blend all the ingredients in an electronic blender until smooth.
Divide into serving glasses. Garnish with the whipped cream if
using.
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