Nature’s best-kept secret in terms of a superfruit has been in plain sight in North America for years. As health buffs sing the praises of the benefits of blueberries in health stores that line the shelves with imported berries, a small black fruit hangs in the shadows, offering more nutritional benefits than any of these combined. This late-season berry has more antioxidant properties in one small dose than any fruit in the entire continent.
Aronia berries provide unprecedented levels of antioxidant power
Aronia berries, also called chokeberries, hold the record among berries in having the highest antioxidant properties as measured by the ORAC scale. Interestingly, aronia berries offer well over 16,000 ORAC units of antioxidant benefits in every 100 grams of the fruit, making them offer more than three times the antioxidant properties of blueberries’ measly 4,600 ORAC units.
The deep purple color of Aronia berries is a sign of their high polyphenolic content, such as anthocyanins, flavonoids, tannins, and proanthocyanidins. In synergy, these nutrients help promote overall cell well-being, inhibit inflammation, and offer long-term wellness benefits in a natural way, foregoing the need for any supplements or added nutrients. Aronia berries’ high antioxidant power renders Aronia berries the greatest natural fighter against free radicals in the environment that trigger aging effects in
Native North American superfruit outshines imported alternatives
Aronia berries are native to North America, growing well in seasonal climate variations that range from Canada to the southern U.S. Aronia berries differ from blueberries in that they require intensive care. The aronia berries grow well on bushes that do not require any pesticide use, do well in poor soil, and need little watering. This makes aronia berries a sustainable source of a superfood.
Nutritional quality is not only a factor of antioxidant properties
The hidden factor that makes aronia berries superior is that they can outshine the energizing effects of having a dose of caffeine in the morning. As much as coffee gives one a boost of alertness that comes crashing afterwards, aronia berries keep one energized throughout the day with the optimal balance between sugar composition and a high fiber count.
Essential nutritional benefits include:
- 344% more total antioxidant power than blueberries
- An increase of 429% in proanthocyanidin content
- 406% more anthocyanins for cell protection
- Less sugar means no energy crashes
Aronia berries offer a greater amount of total antioxidant strength than blueberries by 344%, pryanthocyanidins by 429%, and anthocyanins by 406%. They help boost cardiovascular functions, blood flow, as well as boost brain functions due to increased nutrients in the brain.
Sustained energy release constitutes a benefit over Caffeine
It is important to remember that aronia berries do not cause a crash, unlike the high of caffeine, since the sugar in the berries is minimal, thereby inhibiting a surge in blood sugar levels, in addition to the contribution of the antioxidant properties that trigger energy at a cellular level in the mitochondria.
Harvesting at a late stage in the season will ensure that
Aronia berries are in season during late summer into fall, as this is the point where the nutrients found in aronia berries are accumulated as a final source of nutrients before the onset of fall dormancy. It is during this point that aronia berries hold higher nutritional content as opposed to the earlier harvest of aronia berries.
It is important to note that aronia berries’ valuable properties had been discovered by Eastern European countries a long time ago, where people in Poland, Romania, and Hungarian countries use this type of berry in everyday activities to promote a healthier lifestyle. It is a fact that the tartness of the berries makes them full of antioxidant properties, which means that the bioactive components of aronia berries are effective in fighting inflammation in the body.
Disclaimer: Our articles on food and nutrition are purely informative and do not constitute medical or dietary advice. We respect the guidelines of the Food and Drug Administration and follow a responsible editorial policy. Consult a healthcare professional or dietitian and remember that no superfood is a substitute for a varied and well-balanced diet.
