While many other dark purple berries have been in the spotlight due to their high levels of antioxidants, the Aronia berry is the real superstar of polyphenol power! It has an ORAC score more than three times that of a blueberry and has four times more anthocyanin content.
Antioxidants can reduce the risk of heart disease and damage to blood vessels by scavenging free radicals, reducing low-grade inflammation and reducing blood coagulation and clot formation. Aronia Berries have had several studies conducted on their capacity to boost heart health.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can increase the risk of strokes, heart disease and heart attacks. A 2013 study looked at the influence of the phenolic compounds found in Aronia on arterial stress. They found that extracts were not only useful in the prevention of heart disease, it could also function as a nutritional supplement in the management of arterial hypertension.
Another study published in 2012 found that taking 300mg of Aronia extract daily significantly reduced high blood pressure, LDL cholesterol and significantly decreased triglycerides.
Manuela Ciocoiu, Laurentiu Badescu, Anca Miron, Magda Badescu. 2013. The involvement of a polyphenol-rich extract of black chokeberry in oxidative stress on experimental arterial hypertension [online]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23533529/
