Aronia Berries Are Good Antioxidants

Following a period of dwindling popularity, the Aronia berry, also known as Chokeberry, is making a comeback to the world of nutrition, Right here in Singapore, Aronia berry is starting to gain prominence again and is beginning to find its way onto supermarket shelves in the form of pie fillings, yoghurts and sorbet. Aronia berry is known to have many health benefits. Of these, the berry’s high antioxidant properties deserve much attention, especially in the pure form of cold pressed Aronia Berry juice.

Antioxidants are molecules that actively inhibit the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation happens when free radicals attack other molecules in order to replace their own missing electrons. Free radicals are metabolites produced naturally by the human body as a form of defence against cigarette smoke, sunlight and radiation. Each time a free radical obtains an electron, it becomes a complete molecule but creates a new free radical. The process continues and leaves a trail of destruction happening at the microscopic level in the human body. Free radicals have been known to be linked to diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease.

Antioxidants stop the process of oxidation by contributing their own electrons to the free radicals without becoming free radicals themselves. In doing so, they stop the chain reaction from happening further. Antioxidants can take many forms. In particular, flavonoids and the subclass anthocyanins have captured much attention from researchers. Anthocyanins are the compounds responsible for the prominent blue and red colours in fruits and vegetables. Anthocyanins are found in abundance in Aronia berries. It was reported in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, published in January 2005, that 100g of fresh Aronia berries contains 1,480mg of anthocyanins.

In addition, according to the USDA Database for the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) of Selected Foods, Release 2 (May 2010), Aronia berries top the list of foods with antioxidant properties. Raw Aronia berries top the list at 16,062 units. This favours comparably with raw elderberries (14,697), raw cranberries (9090) and raw European blackcurrants (7,957). Raw white or green grapes came in last among the berries (1,018).

With an abundance of antioxidants in Aronia berries, it is no wonder Aronia berries are gaining in popularity again. Come to our roadshows to sample or order online today!