Introduction Black Aronia melanocarpa, or black Chokeberry is a hardy shrub native to eastern North America that has attracted a lot of scientific interest due to its deep purple, almost black pigmentation and its extraordinarily high levels of antioxidants...
Black Aronia berries are becoming popular because of their many health benefits.
The dark blue berry of the Aronia bush contains one of the highest levels of antioxidants (anthocyanins and flavonoids) ever found other temperate fruit.
This is generating an increasing level of interest among small fruit producers in the U.
S.
The Aronia berry is destined to become one of the more popular super fruits.
Antioxidants defend the body against free radicals.
Free radicals can cause injury to the body's cells and are connected with increased risk of a number of types of cancer as well as and degenerative diseases, including cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, and macular deterioration.
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and help support good health and a youthful physical look and condition.
Characteristics of chokeberries The Chokeberries are famous for their sweet white flowers in the spring, their bluish black berries in autumn and outstanding fall foliage colors, having orange, yellow, deep scarlet hues and bright red.
Chokeberry is frequently grown in many gardens because of its pleasant appearance.
These plants are part of the rose family, native to and common throughout North America.
As the name "chokeberry" implies they have an astringent tasting quality.
They are rarely eaten as fresh fruit right off the vine.
It is important that they not be picked until they are fully ripe in late August or September because otherwise they are highly astringent.
The juice from chokeberries is very bitter-tasting, not sweet enough to be eaten on its own.
The taste is commonly described as "tart" but might more accurately be described as "puckery enough to make a lemon taste sweet.
In addition to buying commercial preparations of Aronia juice you can easily make your own using a steam juicer.
The juice is easily mixed with sweetener such as stevia or even just apple juice and can be delicious as a mixed juice.
When fully ripe Aronia berries have high sugar content.
Once processed into Aronia wine, jams, jellies, juice, salsa, tea, syrup, and baked goods the Aronia takes on a whole new delicious taste of its own.
Their astringency is reduced by freezing.
Aronia have a high tannin level, they will really pucker you up, but after freezing or cooking they are much easier on taste buds.
Aronia plants are easy to grow locally and can help save small farms and build up local economies.
One of the needs is to educate the masses about the benefits of chokeberries.
What is especially exciting about the health benefits of the dark purple Aronia berry is how easy it can be grown in North America.
They are a native species.
The plants are easy to grow and maintain, requiring little input.
The plants are disease and insect resistant and very well adapted to the northern United States growing conditions in zones 3 to 6.
They are a money-making crop.
You can make the most money off this per acre than anything else you can plant if you have a market for them.
Health and chokeberries Aronia's rich antioxidant content is reported to be beneficial as a dietary preventative of oxidative stress, to support cardiovascular health, to help with healthy inflammation levels, gastric functions, healthy eye inflammation levels, and liver function.
Even people with no intention to grow Aronias commercially should have a couple of bushes, if only for the powerful health benefits of the antioxidants in the berries.
Aronia has a great deal to offer to the home gardener.
They are even above the antioxidants of blueberries, higher than pomegranates, higher than cranberries, higher than acai, grapes, elderberries, and other fruits.
Acai is a berry that has been in the headlines, but research reveals that it takes a backseat to Aronia berries.
Aronia juice has been reported to help people with heart conditions.
Most people have not heard about all the health benefits that Aronia berry offers.
It is very popular in Europe but its health secrets are just starting to become widely known in the United States.
16 Possible Benefits of the Aronia Berry and Juice: 1.
It is a great source of antioxidants 2.
It Promotes good cholesterol levels 3.
It Fights against heart disease and other cardiovascular problems 4.
It Helps control blood pressure.
5.
It Helps Maintain healthy blood sugar levels 6.
It Promotes a healthy urinary tract 7.
It Boosts the immune system to help fight colds & the flu 8.
It has anti-inflammatory properties 9.
It fights bacteria and viruses, such as colds and the flu 10.
It strengthens memory and Nourishes the brain & nervous system 11.
It has high antioxidant properties which help fight aging 12.
It Aids digestion 13.
It Provides the body with essential oils 14.
Tannins In Aronia can be effective in protecting the kidneys.
15.
It is also very rich in several vitamins, including vitamin c, vitamin e, vitamin b2, vitamin b6 and folic acid.
16.
When incubated with red grape juice and with a high content of condensed tannins, helps inactivate the poliovirus, herpes simplex virus, and various enteric viruses With all the health benefits that the choke berry has for the body, it's simple to see why this little fruit is causing rather an upbeat stir in the people who become aware of its healing powers.
Summary Aronia has so much to offer when it comes to health and to the home gardener.
The black Aronia berry (also known as the black chokeberry)...
Black chokeberries are now known for their high levels of antioxidants and amazing health benefits.
They are extremely high in antioxidants, even higher than blueberries, higher than pomegranates and higher than cranberries.
Its juice has been reported to help people with heart conditions.