Chokeberries are native to North America. Also sometimes known as aronia, these dark-colored berries can be consumed fresh or dried, perfect for baking and mixing with muesli, oats and trail mix. Chokeberries are also commonly made into jams, syrups, juices and wines.
What make chokeberries impressive health-wise are the loads of antioxidants as well as vitamins and minerals in them. It’s exactly for such reason why including them in your regular diet lets you enjoy the following:
Improved Digestion
Fiber in chokeberries helps facilitate digestion of food, allowing your body to properly absorb various nutrients. What’s more, fiber found abundantly in chokeberries helps encourage the growth of good bacteria in the intestines, thus promoting a healthier gut that brings forth a number of health perks!
A Stronger Immune System
Consuming chokeberries regularly helps strengthen the immune system in a couple of ways. First, it’s for the fact that it promotes a healthy gut, which is where much of your immunity can be found, scientists say. Second, chokeberries are loaded with vitamin C that is a well-known booster of one’s immune system.
Reduced Microbes
Scientists say that chokeberries have superb antimicrobial effects. Due to this, their consumption can be beneficial most especially for those who are suffering from various infections of the digestive system and upper respiratory system. Chokeberries are great for preventing infections as well as shortening their duration.
Regulated Bowel Movement
The regular inclusion of chokeberries in the diet helps ward off constipation. Again, it’s all because of the fiber present in them. By promoting regular evacuation of the bowels, chokeberries help ward off other uncomfortable digestive issues, too, such as abdominal bloating and cramps, and excess gas.
Lowered Cancer Risk
Everyone knows that berries such as chokeberries are packed with antioxidants — those molecules that are very good at neutralizing free radicals, thus preventing cellular mutation that could lead to cancer development. Because of the loads of antioxidants in chokeberries, one’s risk of cancer can be considerably lowered.
Reduced Inflammation
Antioxidants found in chokeberries are also very good at controlling inflammation, in particular the kind that takes place in the body and usually goes unnoticed. Why is it important to manage inflammation? Well, scientists say that chronic inflammation is linked to a variety of health problems, ranging from heart disease to cancer.
Slowed Skin Aging
Beauty-conscious individuals should eat chokeberries on a regular basis. That’s because they will surely love the effects of the antioxidants in the said fruits to their skin. Antioxidants fight off excess free radicals, and this saves healthy skin cells from being damaged, which can accelerate the skin’s aging process.
Sharper Eyesight
Did you know that there are so many types of antioxidants around? Some of those that can be found in chokeberries are called carotenoids. According to scientists, carotenoids are especially beneficial for the eyes — they help save the structures of the eyes from free radical damage, thus warding off macular degeneration and vision loss.
Reduced Diabetes Risk
When consumed regularly in moderate amounts, chokeberries can actually help prevent diabetes, scientists say. That’s because it helps keep the levels of sugar in the blood from spiking. It’s even said that chokeberries can help in managing diabetes, making them perfect for those who already have the disease.
Lowered Blood Pressure
One of the many nutrients found in chokeberries is potassium, which helps lower blood pressure. The way potassium works is this: it promotes the relaxation of the walls of the blood vessels, causing the blood vessels to dilate. The dilatation of the blood vessels is what helps prevent one’s blood pressure from increasing.
These are some of the many health benefits that chokeberries bring. So whenever you have the opportunity to get your hands on fresh or dried chokeberries or various food products made of it, do grab it!
