Aronia is considered a healthy superfood berry with many benefits. But there are also downsides. What's behind it, you will learn here.
Aronia: Origin
Aronia berries are also called black chokeberries. They belong to the rose family and originate from North America.
The berries have a purple-black color and are about the size of a pea. For more than 100 years now, the berry has also been widespread in Europe. The plants grow in flat regions as well as in mountains. The warmer the location, the more fruit sweetness is in the berries.
Aronia berries are often touted as a so-called superfood because they contain many vitamins and phytochemicals. You can learn everything about their effect in this article.
Chokeberry taste
Aronia berries contain a fine-tart and tart flavor. And this is completely independent of whether you consume them fresh or processed. Even diluted with water, the color remains violet-red. This is due to natural plant pigments.
Chokeberry: Ingredients
Iodine
Iron
Folic acid
provitamin A
Vitamin B2
Vitamin C
vitamin K
Flavonoids
Phenolic acids
Aronia: How healthy are they?
Aronia berries contain many secondary plant compounds. Due to the antioxidants present, they can fight free radicals in the body. These free radicals have a negative effect on cell metabolism and accelerate the aging process.
Due to a large number of vitamins, berries can strengthen the immune system and prevent diseases. A positive effect or prevention on diseases such as cancer, which is often reported in the media, can not be scientifically proven.
Watch out: In food supplements with chokeberry are often artificially added vitamins. Often the exact composition of the ingredients is not traceable.
Use of chokeberry
Aronia berries contain relatively high levels of fructose, but still have a tart, tart taste. Therefore, most consumers prefer chokeberry juice or chokeberry jam.
Aronia berries are also often offered as a tasty dried fruit that goes perfectly with muesli. They are also used as a coloring agent for confectionery. There are also various dietary supplements that contain chokeberry as an ingredient, at least in part.
Be sure to dilute the chokeberry juice with water, so that the taste is not so tart and also stomach problems can be avoided. However, you can also take the fresh berries and refine muesli, yogurt or ice cream with it.
Aronia: Is the consumption harmful?
Aronia berries contain small amounts of amygdalin, which can release prussic acid in the body. Amygdalin is a toxic plant substance. It contains glycoside which, in combination with water, is broken down into, among other things, mandelic acid nitrile glucoside. This in turn decomposes in combination with other enzymes into prussic acid.
Hydrogen cyanide can lead to symptoms such as shortness of breath, convulsions or enlarged pupils. In very bad cases, it can even cause death by blocking the respiratory chain.
Does this mean you can't eat aronia berries? No, do not worry. You should only consume the fresh fruit in small quantities, processed products are not harmful according to studies, even with regular consumption.
Basically, you should also prefer organic products to avoid potentially existing pesticide residues or contamination with heavy metals, which occur again and again, especially with products from distant countries.
Are you a fan of superfoods? Then check out our article on the acai berry. We also show you how to create a healthy nutrition plan.