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Aronia berries and antioxidant claims

Thursday, March 07, 2013

Source:

TheBright.com™ News

Aronia berries on a shrub in Germany. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Aronia berries are being called the next antioxidant superfood, but are they truly effective or is this another case of hype? The USDA lists them as an antioxidant, and they are cheaper than some of the items already available in supermarkets such as acai. However, their tart flavor is making their popularity difficult.

Aronia berries are also known as chokeberries due to their tartness. They have been grown naturally in the U.S. for decades and farmers have recently started to cultivate them. The USDA ranks them among the top antioxidant fruits, and they have polyphenols. They resemble blueberries with dark, blue skin and similar growth patterns.

Antioxidants have been the focus of many research studies on oxidative stress. Free radicals attack the body and create inflammation among other health issues. Antioxidants are believed to help relieve this by stopping oxidative stress. However, scientists have not been able to establish clear guidelines on how many polyphenols are needed in the diet.

Will aronia berries become the next superfood filling supermarket shelves? Acai has effectively taken over with drinks, powders, pills and other products promising antioxidant powers. Aronia berries are cheaper, but their tartness has made them the less popular option up to this point. However, new reports indicate that more farmers are beginning to cultivate them in the hopes of cashing in on the antioxidant trend. Since aronia has more antioxidant power than cranberries or blueberries, they are hoping that these berries will get the chance to be in the spotlight.

Despite the USDA reports that confirm the antioxidant power of aronia berries, scientists and nutritionists are encouraging people to eat the whole berries instead of relying on drinks or pills to get the antioxidants, but the sour and tart taste makes this difficult. The whole fruit provides other benefits such as more vitamins and is a better option. They are also recommending their use in recipes such as jams, muffins or other items. The berries can be used in place of blueberries or cranberries in many recipes. They are also a popular ingredient in juices because they can replace grapes.

Some nutritionists are encouraging people to grow their own aronia berries because the shrubs do not require a lot of care. They are hardy and do not need a lot of land. They are native to the Eastern portions of the U.S., so some areas already have ample supplies of the berries.

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