Chokeberries or aronia is a genus of the deciduous shrubs, chokeberries. They belong to the Rosaceae family and are native to North America.They are sour and eaten both in raw and processed form.
They are loaded with essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and dietary fibers, etc.Because of their rich nutritious profile, they provide many health and beauty benefits.
# Promotes Weight LossEating chokeberries help in weight loss as they have a low calorific value of 47 calories per 100 grams.
Dietary fibers in chokeberries provide stomach satiety and control overeating, a major cause of obesity.Their low-fat content also contributes to weight loss.
# Improve Digestive HealthChokeberries improve our digestive health as the dietary fiber in them are natural laxatives that improve bowel movement, relieve constipation, and other digestive problems like abdominal pain, gas, bloating, indigestion, and flatulence, etc.
Vitamin C and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients, etc in chokeberries protect the digestive system from free radical damage and reduces the risk of colon cancer, abdominal cancer, pancreatic cancer, and intestinal cancer, etc.Other nutrients like zinc, iron, magnesium, and folate, etc also contribute to healthy digestion.
# Reduces Risk of Cancer(s)Chokeberries contain several antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A, and antioxidantal compounds like quercetin, lutein, and, carotene, etc.These compounds fight to protect our cells from free radical damage and reduces the risk of several cancers like colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer, etc.
Free radicals are unstabilized ions that stabilize by stealing electrons from neighboring molecules, and doing so causes oxidative damage to them. Antioxidants also provide other benefits such as better immunity, improved cardiovascular health, lower cholesterol level, and regulating blood sugar, etc.
# Improves Cognitive FunctionsChokeberries improve our neurological health as vitamin C and other antioxidant compounds like quercetin, etc them protect our brain cells or the neurons from free radical damage.This minimizes the risk of various neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, amnesia, and, dementia, etc.
Other nutrients like zinc, iron, potassium, B vitamins, and magnesium, etc also contribute to neurological health as they provide cognitive benefits like a sharper memory, improved focus, improved concentration, and reduced mental confusion.
# Strengthens Immune SystemEating chokeberries strengthens our immune system, the defense mechanism of the body that aids in the prevention and treatment of various microbial infections, diseases, and injuries.Vitamin C, and other antioxidant compounds like quercetin, etc, in chokeberries, protect the immune cells or the white blood cells from free radical damage.
This strengthens our immunity, and when our immune system is strong, we are less likely to get a cough, cold, fever, and flu, etc.Vitamin C enhances the production of white blood cells and further strengthens immunity.