Unique chokeberry: useful properties and contraindications

The healing properties of chokeberry, or chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa), are so great that this berry can be called a real medicine created by nature itself. There are surprisingly few contraindications for a product with such a high biological activity.

100 grams of fresh berries contains:

• 156 kcal;
• 14.2 g sugars;
• 35% of the daily requirement of vitamin C;
• 17% vitamin K;
• 10% vitamin B6;
• 10% manganese;
• 9% potassium;
• 7% vitamin A;
• 5% magnesium, etc.

Basically, the healing properties of chokeberry are due to the presence of a significant amount of antioxidants in it. According to the ORAC indicator, which reflects the antioxidant activity of foods, these berries are significantly superior to many others, including such famous ones as blueberries and cranberries.

Most of all in the berries of anthocyanins (1480 mg per 100 grams of product) and proanthocyanidins (a colorless variety of anthocyanin) - 664 mg per 100 g.

The composition also includes epicatechin, quercetin, caffeic acid, carotenes, malvidin, lutein, zeaxanthin, etc.

• The second important component is vegetable fiber, of which these berries contain a lot. 100 grams of the product contains 17 grams of fiber, which corresponds to 68% of the daily value.
• Of great importance are tannins, which have good bactericidal properties.

Beneficial features

Unlike many other food products, in relation to which we can only say that they have a benefit, this berry is healing. The biological influence of the components of chokeberry is so great that its properties are not just useful, they are healing. And there are many. The table shows only the main ones.

Raises or lowers blood pressure?

Not a single scientific research has been devoted to the answer to the question of whether chokeberry increases or decreases pressure.

The answer is down. And quite significant. With regular juice consumption, it is possible to reduce the upper pressure by 15-20 units and the lower one by 10-15.

However, the biological mechanism underlying this effect of the berry has not yet been established. It has been suggested that the hypotensive effect may be due to inhibition of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) or an increase in NO synthesis. It is likely that both work.

Of certain importance is the presence of a sufficiently large amount of potassium necessary to maintain a normal level of blood pressure.

Weak or strong?

The medicinal properties of aronia chokeberry are such that they give it the opportunity to improve the state of the intestinal microflora and contribute to the formation of bulk feces. Surprisingly, but such qualities are useful for the treatment of chronic diarrhea, and to eliminate constipation.

However, with acute diarrhea, the berry, especially fresh, should not be consumed, as it can worsen the condition.

How does it affect weight loss?

Exceptionally positive.

1. Slows down the process of lipogenesis (the formation of new fat deposits), by reducing the activity of the genes responsible for this process.
2. Improves the functioning of the intestinal microflora. This is important for sustainable weight loss, since when you gain extra pounds, pathological changes in the composition of the intestinal flora always occur.
3. Strengthens blood sugar control, preventing the development of insulin resistance - a condition that not only underlies the development of diabetes, but also leads to painful weight gain.
4. Helps fight chronic inflammation that occurs in the body of people who need to lose weight. And that provokes further weight gain.

It is remarkable that the beneficial properties of chokeberry are so great that not much is needed to get the effect. And this makes it possible to minimize the amount of sugars that enter the body along with the berry.

Cleansing the body

The benefits of chokeberry in the field of protecting the human body from xenobiotics (foreign compounds that are harmful to health) have been studied for more than a dozen years. During this time, it was possible to prove that the berry is useful for protecting the body from compounds such as:

• heavy metals;
• alcohol;
• tetrachloride carbohydrate;
• nitroso compounds;
• pesticides;
• polyaromatic hydrocarbons;
• toxic sulfur compounds;
• methamphetamine;
• components of tobacco smoke;
• many medicines, including those used for chemotherapy, etc.

How to use correctly?

Whole berries contain significantly more antioxidants than juice. More in them and vegetable fiber. Therefore, it is better to eat berries, not juice. Dried, frozen or fresh.

In what quantity?

At the moment, there is no one scientifically based answer to this question.

There are two points of view.

The first one requires some caution. Since the antioxidants in chokeberry are not just a lot, but a lot. And an overdose of these biologically active compounds can be harmful to health.

• chewing - 5-7 berries three times a day;
• dried - 1 tablespoon per day;
• juice - 200 ml per day;
• extract - 300 mg per day.

However, other researchers disagree with this interpretation. And they believe that it is possible to overdose chokeberry only if you use it in truly horse doses, for example, drink at least 2 liters of juice daily.

With a reasonable inclusion in the diet, there is no need to count the berries.

But in any case, certain rules exist.

1. The berry should not be consumed together with sugar, that is, cook jams from it or bake pies. Since sugar only harms the body. And if you add it to a useful product, then the benefits of this product will decrease significantly. Therefore, the correct methods for preserving chokeberry for the winter are freezing, drying, but not rubbing with sugar.
2. There are many tannins in the berry, which can change the activity of drugs. Therefore, it is not recommended to eat it at the same time as taking medication.
3. When taking drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 (should be indicated in the instructions for the medication), the use of chokeberry should be completely abandoned, as it interferes with the work of this enzyme.
4. Since the polyphenolic compounds of the berry form stable complexes with some important microelements (zinc, copper, iron), with regular and sufficiently voluminous use of chokeberry, a shortage of these microelements may occur. Therefore, they need to be introduced into the body in an additional amount, for example, in the form of mineral complexes.

Contraindications

• There is a lot of oxalic acid in the berry, so urolithiasis and gout are contraindications for its regular use. As well as predisposition to these diseases.
• Do not lean on the berry with hypotension.
• Should be avoided in case of allergies.
• It is not recommended to use in large quantities during pregnancy and breastfeeding, because its effect on fetal development and the quality of breast milk has not yet been investigated.

Side effects

If chokeberry is allowed, then the main side effects after its massive use are unpleasant symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract (bloating, flatulence, abdominal pain, etc.), due to the high fiber content and not carrying a real threat to health.

Useful properties and contraindications of chokeberry: conclusions

Aronia contains an unusually high amount of antioxidants. There are so many of these biologically active compounds in the berry that it does not just give the body some benefit, like most other fruits, it really heals.

The medicinal properties of chokeberry are diverse. The berry helps to get rid of excess weight and prevent the occurrence of diabetes, protects against diseases of the heart, blood vessels and brain, helps prevent cancer, etc.

Of great importance is the cleansing ability of chokeberry, as well as its rejuvenating properties.

Contraindications for inclusion in the diet are allergies, urolithiasis and gout, hypotension, as well as taking certain medications.

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