Aronia: A Solution in the Fight Against Cancer

While blackberries from Austria, and acai fruits from the Amazon, maqui from Patagonia, and sea buckthorn from North Asia have already been recognized as very useful fruits for nutrition, a lesser-known fruit from North America is gaining ground, poised to enter the spotlight is aronia.
Found in its wild variety in forests and swamps, aronia is also known as chokeberry in English, due to its astringent flavor. The berries are naturally present in three colors – red, purple, and black-purple. Aronia melanocarpa, the black-purple species, has a much deeper purple color than blueberries, which are also found in North America. Now the fruits are being cultivated and crops are expanding as it becomes more widely known.

Aronia in scientific studies and research
The deep purple color of these fruits has attracted the attention of scientists. Violet fruits, by virtue of their color, are rich in the category of antioxidants known as anthocyanins. These pigments demonstrate powerful cell-protective properties and are also anti-inflammatory, helping to reduce systemic inflammation – a key factor in the development of chronic diseases.

Benefits
Further analyzing all the compounds found in this berry, scientists have identified a number of more specific agents, including caffeic acid, cyanidin-3-galactoside, delphinidin, epicatechin, malvidin, and many others. You probably don’t need to remember these names, but for health researchers, the presence of these compounds in these fruits is important news.

Combined, these specific agents in aronia are anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-diabetic. They play a role in combating arterial plaque formation and maintaining lower serum cholesterol levels. They also protect the liver from a range of ailments and toxins. In our society, where diabetes is increasingly prevalent, aronia compounds help lower blood glucose and improve the body’s natural insulin production.

Some of the compounds in aronia are natural cancer fighters and protect against the development of bladder, breast, colon, lung, ovarian, and skin tumors. Additionally, these compounds combat Crohn’s disease, inhibit HIV, reduce uncomfortable PMS symptoms, and boost immunity in the fight against herpes. Preliminary studies have also shown that aronia may prove useful in slowing the growth of glioblastoma – a fatal form of brain cancer.
Starting in the 1940s, aronia has been commercially cultivated in Russia, and since the 1950s, it has become a commercial crop in Europe. In 2009, the Midwest Aronia Association began offering information and resources to farmers looking to get involved in the commercial agriculture of this plant. According to the association, members are now found in California, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada.

In the world of fruits, antioxidant activity is a major factor in the endless fight to achieve a top position. Aronia has higher antioxidant activity than blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, cherries, pomegranates, goji, and mangosteen. Aronia is a fruit hero with antioxidant effects. This wonderful power of the fruit gives growers the confidence that they will be able to sell their harvests every year.
Aronia-based products are already on the market, and some have received the coveted USDA Organic certification – the highest standard of agricultural purity currently in effect. Unlike strawberries and many other fruits, aronia is naturally resistant to pests and does not require the use of fertilizers. This is good news for those who do not want unhealthy chemicals in their fruits.

In the fight for increasingly healthy foods, aronia is certainly a winner, consumed both raw and as juice or included in other preparations. Given that science demonstrates significant health benefits, farmers planting large areas are offering a range of products from this fruit so that everyone, regardless of preference, can benefit from its properties.
With proven effects in reducing oxidative stress and stopping the development of cancer cells, it has become a highly sought-after fruit. Due to its astringent flavor, this fruit was not an option in many people’s diets until numerous studies were published demonstrating its beneficial effects on the body in general.