Aronia berries are small, round fruits native to North America. It’s no wonder that chokeberries are known as “chokeberries” due to their sharp taste. But don’t be fooled; chokeberries have many health benefits.
Those who live in North America can find aronia berries in the wild. In North America, these small berries look like small cranberries, and are often red or black in color. Native American tribes traditionally ate them, as well as made tea from them and treated colds with them.
Currently, they are consumed all over the world. Juiced, dried, or fresh, they are available.
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Health Benefits
Numerous laboratory studies have examined the health benefits of Aronia berries in mice and rats. Human studies will be needed to confirm these results, but preliminary results suggest cancer, diabetes, and organ damage might be cured.
A Cancer-Fighting Agent
Aronia berries may be beneficial to people who have certain forms of cancer, since they inhibit cancer cell growth. When exposed to aronia berry extract, rats were able to stop the growth of colon cancer. It is too soon to say whether extracts on human subjects will have similar effects, although early studies have just begun.
A review of recent studies has found that aronia berries extract reduced cellular damage in cancer patients.
Enhance Insulin Sensitivity
In rats, aronia berries might reduce insulin resistance, according to early studies. More research is needed to determine whether these results also apply to humans.
Organ Health
Aronia juice has been shown to improve liver function in recent studies. Symptoms of liver injury were reduced, and liver health improved in mice that drank aronia fruit juice. The results of this research indicate that aronia juice may also be effective in humans, but further research is required to confirm this.
Despite the early stages of research, the performance of Aronia berries has been encouraging. Aside from being delicious, aronia berries are also believed to fight diseases and improve organ function.
How You Can Include Them in Your Diet
In some cases, you may not find Aronia berries in your local grocery store, but they may be found online and in health food stores.
Along with juice, they’re also used for jellies, purées, syrups, tea, and wines (1Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source).
There are several ways to consume aronia berries:
- Although they can be eaten fresh as a snack or dried, some people dislike their mouth-drying effects.
- Juices and smoothies. A refreshing drink can be made by combining aronia berries with other fruit juices, including pineapple or apple.
- Muffins, pies, and cakes can easily be made with them.
- Jams and desserts. By mixing aronia berries with sugar, you can create tasty jams and treats.
- Tea, coffee, and wine. These berries are used to flavor coffee, tea, and wine.
Additionally, the berries are available as powder or capsules; dosage and serving sizes vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
An average serving of aronia berry powder will consist of juice, yogurt, or smoothies.
Making capsules can be done using freeze-dried berry extracts or freeze-dried berries. Thus, instructions differ greatly for serving.
(22 Trusted Source, 23 Trusted Source) have demonstrated the heart health benefits of these berries.
The lack of regulation of supplements, however, makes it difficult to identify safe, effective, and therapeutic dosages.
In fact, aronia berries have shown no side effects even when taken in high concentrations (15Trusted Source, 22Trusted Source).