Many of us now realize that some foods offer more anti-aging benefits and are healthier than others. This is especially true of berries. Many berries are very high in antioxidants that prevent cellular damage by free radicals. One such berry that is not very well known is the Aronia berry. You may know it by it’s common name of Chokeberry. Chokeberries aren’t nearly as popular as blueberries and strawberries because they don’t taste very good. They have a highly astringent taste and just aren’t that much fun to eat.
You can get all of the powerful health benefits of Chokeberry without eating them. You can find them online in capsules. Chokeberries have been used to prevent cancer, heart disease, diabetes and many other serious health conditions. They are very popular with herbalist for their anti-aging effects. Why is Chlokeberry such a potent health enhancer? Antioxidants are the answer.
Research has demonstrated that Chokeberries have the highest ORAC antioxidant rating of all natural foods. These powerful antioxidants can dramatically lower the risk of any chronic disease. ORAC stands for "Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity". This is a way to gauge the ability of foods to protect the body against disease. Chokeberry extract has been shown to relieve oxidative stress and reduce LDL cholesterol. This can reduce the formation of dangerous arterial plaque.
Research done by the Atherosclerosis Journal discovered that the Chokeberry’s high anthocyanin flavonoid content significantly lowered LDL particles that are known to cause heart attacks. An extract of this berry was also able to lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
The flavonoids in Chokeberries are also known to be a great inflammation reducer. Eating foods high in antioxidants also are important in cancer prevention. The Journal "Genes and Nutrition" performed a study on colon cancer cells that were exposed to a juice made from Chokeberry. Results showed that the cancer cells were then forty percent less likely to become mature. They also found that this Chokeberry juice could prevent DNA damage.
Chokeberry also has the ability to lower oxidative stress to the lining of the arteries and moderate blood glucose levels. Scientists have also found that a small amount of Chokeberry extract suppressed the activity of sugars in the blood that lead to chronic diseases.