The aronia berries are the fruits of a shrub ( Aronia melanocarpa ) originating in North America that during the last century has spread widely in Eastern Europe, where they started to be used for the large-scale production of juices, jams and wines, but also as natural food colorings.
But the popularity of aronia berries and their properties did not only grow in the kitchen. Just as the Native Americans used them for the treatment of colds and the colonists as an astringent, both in Russia and in Eastern Europe they soon established themselves as natural remedies against various health problems.
In particular, aronia berries are often used to treat high blood pressure and atherosclerosis, digestive problems, vitamin deficiencies and hemorrhoids, and are also considered useful during periods of convalescence .
The merit of these benefits lies above all in their high content of antioxidant molecules .
The properties of aronia berries
In the aronia berries are in fact hidden different antioxidant compounds, first of all the polyphenols, present in higher quantities than those typical of other berries known for their antioxidant properties.
In particular, the polyphenol content of aronia berries is similar to that of black currant but is 2 to 4 times that of blackberries, 4 times that of blueberries, 3 to 8 times that of raspberries. Red currants, cranberries and strawberries also give lower doses.
It is however worth remembering that the quantity of polyphenols in aronia berries can change depending on different factors, such as the variety of the plant from which they are harvested, the growing conditions, the harvest period and the type of conservation. In dried aronia berries, for example, it tends to be as low as the drying temperature has increased.
Among the most abundant polyphenols in aronia berries are anthocyanins and procyanidins ; there are also chlorogenic acid, neo-chlorogenic acid and small doses of tannins.
Other important antioxidants present in these fruits are vitamin C, vitamin E and carotenoids .
The properties of aronia berries do not end with antioxidants. Inside they are also found B vitamins (including folic acid ), minerals (especially potassium and zinc, but also some calcium, magnesium and iron), phytosterols (useful substances against high cholesterol) and pectins (soluble fiber useful in the food field due to their gelling properties).
Finally, these small and sweet purple berries also contain sugars, sorbitol and small doses of fat .
Aronia berries: the benefits
In the face of these properties, aronia berries have been associated with various health benefits. In particular, they are considered allies in the prevention of various chronic diseases, from cardiovascular problems to diabetes.
Aronia berries are also attributed an anti-inflammatory, antitumor and gastroprotective action .
However, many studies that have detected these effects have been conducted on animal models or on cells grown in the laboratory. In many cases aronia berries have not been used such as juices, nectars, concentrates or dried extracts . As in many other cases, therefore, the effects of consumption of the whole food could be lower .
Aronia berries: where to find them and how to eat them
Keeping these clarifications in mind, from the available evidence it seems clear that introducing aronia berries in a varied and balanced diet means enriching it with a source of beneficial substances. So where to find them and how to eat them?
If you don't find them in your supermarket, you can look for them in stores dedicated to natural food . Alternatively, you can buy them online directly from the producers, but remember to always rely on safe sales channels.
You can eat the berries of aronia in fruit salad, or use them to prepare a juice . Online you can find different recipes for desserts and jams .
However, always remember that among the principles of a healthy diet is included the limitation of the consumption of simple sugars, of which sweets and jams (even those with few added sugars) are an absolutely not negligible source.