Category Archives: health

food, health, health & fitness, wellness, organic, food as medicine,

Overnight Oats with Aronia!

What if you took your favorite overnight oats recipe, you know, milk, oatmeal, a little maple syrup and added freeze dried Aronia berries!

Aronia berries are a very high antioxidant fruit with tremendous health benefits. Full article available at Medicine Net.

Health benefits of Aronia berries:

Possible health benefits of Aronia berries include:

  1. Help reduce the risk of cancer:
    • Studies have shown that Aronia berries have the strongest potential of reducing cancer risk.
    • The antioxidants present in the berry, especially anthocyanins, help stop colon cancer cells from proliferating and growing, thereby reducing their growth by up to 60 percent.
    • When the extracts are taken by women with breast cancer, it reduces oxidative stress on the body and reduces the generation of free radicals into the blood.
  2. Prevent or reduce the risk of chronic diseases:
    • They are high in polyphenol antioxidants, which are known to maintain good health and have the potent ability to prevent chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disorders.
  3. Help lower blood pressure:
    • Aronia extracts have been shown to relax the tissue on the walls of blood vessels and help improve blood flow, thereby reducing the possibility of developing cardiovascular diseases.
    • Many cardiovascular diseases reduce the ability of the blood vessels to relax, resulting in the hardening of arterial walls. They help reduce blood pressure and may help combat high blood pressure in the arteries.
  4. Improve heart health:
    • Rich in antioxidants, Aronia berries help lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol and improve heart function.
    • Intake of Aronia berry juice, about 250 mL daily, decreases the bad cholesterol levels (low-density lipoprotein).
  5. Help manage diabetes:
    • Aronia berries, as well as their juice and extract, are widely consumed to manage diabetes.
    • Studies suggest that these berries can improve glucose metabolism and regulate sugar levels by reducing insulin resistance.
  6. Improve Immune function:
    • Aronia berries possess immunomodulatory properties that can support and strengthen the immune system.
    • Extracts from the berries have been shown to help prevent harmful bacterial activity by decreasing its protective biofilm production and viral diseases.
    • The berry extract exhibited strong antibacterial activity against harmful bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus.
    • Ellagic acid and myricetin in Aronia berry extract may protect against the influenza virus.
  7. Reduce the risk of urinary tract infections:
    • Studies show a strong reduction in urinary tract infections in patients who had Aronia berry juice regularly.
    • The berries inhibit the body’s release of inflammatory substances, such as cytokines and interleukins, and reduce the inflammatory responses.

Want to Really Kick Breakfast Nutrition Up a Notch?

Our Immune Builder is a unique blend of certified Aronia Berries, undenatured A2 goat whey, and chocolate. Add a scoop or two to the overnight oats and gain even more benefits:

Immune Builder is a fantastic addition to your nutritional arsenal to boost your immune system and build muscle. Builder is a non-synthetic, non-pharmacological, non-steroidal, naturally produced protein concentrate proven to increase intracellular glutathione. It is a great choice for people with an under-active or poor-performing immune system.

Immune Builder is a natural food supplement which provides the body with amino acids including:

  • METHIONINE
  • ARGININE
  • CYSTEINE – An important amino acid that is necessary for the body to make glutathione (antioxidant).Increasing Glutathione Builds a Strong Immune System:
    • Enhanced Macrophages Activity
    • Increased Lymphocyte Production
    • Increased Cytokine Production
    • Sustained Lymphocyte
    • Clinical Conditions Associated with Low Cysteine and Glutathione:
      • Chronic Fatique Syndrome
      • Crohn’s Disease
      • Ulcerative Colitis
      • Type II Diabetes Mellitus
      • Hepatitis
      • HIV with wasting
      • Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome
      • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
      • Cancer
      • Myocardial Ischemia
      • Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
      • Cystic Fibrosis
      • Alzheimer’s Disease
      • Parkinson’s Disease

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Find our products here!

As always, if you have any questions, let us know in the comments or reach out to Peggy@MyAroniaBerry.com. No AI drafted information here, just great information from my family to yours.

food, health, health & fitness, wellness, organic, food as medicine,, organic

Researched Aronia Lately?

Every now and then I search for new health benefits about the little purple superfood we grow. Aronia berries are getting more attention for their high antioxidant content. We have seen and heard some of these with folks who use our berries. I always encourage folks to do their research too. This is some of what I found recently:

May benefit heart health

A 2021 review of studies showed that 6 to 8 weeks of daily aronia berry supplements significantly reduced blood cholesterol and systolic blood pressure. The effects were even more pronounced in subjects who were over 50.

Aronia Berries (Chokeberries): Nutrition, Benefits

Studies have shown that Aronia berries have the strongest potential of reducing cancer risk. The antioxidants present in the berry, especially anthocyanins, help stop colon cancer cells from proliferating and growing, thereby reducing their growth by up to 60 percent.

Health Benefits of Aronia Berries

Oxidative stress occurs when free radicals damage cells in the body, which can lead to lower immunity and other health problems. Aronia berries contain even more antioxidants than blueberries, which mean they pack a healthier punch. https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-aronia-berries

8 Health Benefits of Aronia Berries

  1. Reduce Risk of Cancer
  2. Increase. Heart Health
  3. Fights Diabetes
  4. Antioxidant Rich
  5. Support Organ Health
  6. Combats High Blood Pressure
  7. Boost Immune System
  8. High in Nutrients

https://www.ecowatch.com/aronia-berry-health-benefits-2655083353.html

It’s this deep purple, almost black, that helps Aronia Berries score so high in antioxidant content.

Where do you find Aronia?

We have frozen berries, supply them to central Iowa stores, and offer several nutritious products. Find them by contacting Peggy@MyAroniaBerry.com or shop at MyAroniaBerry.com

food, health, health & fitness, wellness, organic, food as medicine,, organic

The Healthiest Berry You’ve Never Heard Of

Let me explain…very few people have heard of an Aronia Berry. I encourage you to do your research after seeing this. You’ll find they’re the healthiest berry you’ve never heard of! Aronia Berries are twice as high in antioxidants than blueberries, higher in fact than grandma’s Elderberries!

If you scroll through our site, you’ll see lots of reasons folks would want to consume Aronia berries every day. We do. Why? For example recently two people I spend time with came down with COVID. I didn’t ever get it. I haven’t had the flu in years. My allergies make me prone to sinus infections which I used to get twice a year like clockwork, haven’t had one in a couple years. We don’t get the grandkids’ crud:).

My husband, who is 87, goes to the doctor, they want to know how he looks so good and is doing so much. He has three doctors now who have purchased berries and believe in them.

Why should you try Aronia?

We have folks who use our Aronia products to help with high cholesterol, Chron’s, IBS, regulate blood sugar, promote regularity, and more than a few who “just feel better”.

Don’t take our word for it, if you’re serious about feeling better without all the pills, visit MyAroniaBerry.com and give Aronia a try. Why else would someone eat something called a “chokeberry”? They’ve were used by native Americans for their medicinal value. Granted, they aren’t as sweet as a blueberry, but you can handle 14-18 per day to get the antioxidant boost you need daily.

Freeze dried Aronia berries (or the frozen berries) are great tossed in trail mix, fudge (see the recipe), yogurt, overnight oats, cereals, meatballs, chili, soups and in salads.

We have some who call the Immune Syrup “Magic Juice”. Teachers especially love the stuff. They don’t succumb to the little germ factories they are in touch with with on a daily basis.

Aronia powder is awesome in energy drinks, lemonade, coffee, water, orange juice, soups and smoothies. Aronia powder is ground so fine, I like it in a carrier oil on my skin instead of an expensive lotion. It’s full of vitamin C, E, and resveratrol. You will find our Aronia powder more expensive than some. Why? You’re getting the full berry and all the nutritional value, not just the leftovers after juicing. We also take great care with a unique process that doesn’t heat up the berries when grinding. Again, preserving all the nutritional value!

If you’re a smoothie lover, you owe it to yourself to give Aronia berries a try. Use a protein? Try our A2 Immune Builder, it’s got the power of Aronia and the protein of A2 goat whey. It’s done amazing things for so many. Everything from building up weightlifters and grandma’s muscles, to calming stomach issues, and even helping eliminate age spots in some folks. We think it’s about as close to mother’s milk as possible. Helping with so many different facets of health.

MyAroniaBerry.com

Interested in giving Aronia a try? Head on over to MyAroniaBerry.com to find yours. We look forward to sending some your way!

food, health, health & fitness, wellness, organic, food as medicine,, organic

Excited To Share MyAroniaBerry.com

After months of struggling to figure things out, I am finally ready to share our latest project with you. MyAroniaBerry.com is our companion site where you will be able to purchase Aronia items. Sign up for Aronia 101, where you can learn all about Aronia. Find out about the health benefits, and how to use Aronia. We’re also beginning to post on our new You Tube channel Fogle Family Farm. The granddaughters and I will be showing you how to use our Aronia products.

The high antioxidant benefits of Aronia are highly sought after by those who have done research into using food as medicine. Nature knows best! We want to help you feel better.

One of the products at MyAroniaBerry.com is the Aronia/Chocolate Immune Builder. The A2 Goat Whey and Aronia Berry combination is a powerhouse. I have had friends take this on a motorcycle trip with her because it makes such a difference for her! The Immune Builder is a non-synthetic, non-pharmacological, non-steroidal, naturally produced protein concentrate proven to increase intracellular glutathione. It is a great choice for people with an under-active or poor-performing immune system. Benefits are very real with folks who have:

  • Chronic Fatique Syndrome
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Crohn’s Disease
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Type II Diabetes Mellitus
  • Hepatitis
  • HIV with wasting
  • Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
  • Cancer
  • Myocardial Ischemia
  • Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

In addition, folks looking to add muscle have had extremely positive results with the Immune Builder.

food, health, health & fitness, wellness, organic, food as medicine,, organic

AntioxidanT Aronia Uses

“What do you do with those berries of yours?” This is one of the most frequently asked questions we get. So when we had an opportunity to participate in the Warren County Farm Bureau’s first ever farm-to-table event in Hartford, we participated.

The meal preparation was for 300 and I’m not sure, but I bet those numbers were surpassed! We had offered Aronia juice to be mixed in with lemonade. Aronia lemonade is one of the most common (and easiest) ways we use Aronia berries. How do you make it? We have squeezed the raw berries with a garlic press and added them to the lemonade, we have run some through the Vitamix and added them to lemonade, we have added powdered Aronia, and we have used the juice we make with our steam juicer and can. All are very good and viable methods. When we use the juice, we add about. 2-3 ounces to a 2-quart pitcher of homemade lemonade.

If you’d like to see how it’s done…visit us on You Tube at Fogle Family Farm.

Woody’s Homemade Lemonade:

Juice of 2 large lemons or 3 smaller ones.

1-1/2 cups of sugar

2 quarts of cold water

Add your Aronia to taste (2-3 oz per pitcher)

It’s a very refreshing, unique way to have lemonade!

We’d talked about doing a couple of other items and decided on a dessert to offer. Because of numbers and warm temperatures, this didn’t get used last night. I was prepared to make it for 300 so you know it’s super simple. It’s a rich, refreshing way to introduce Aronia!

Strawberry Aronia Layered Dessert

Strawberry-Aronia Layered Dessert

For Cookie Crust: 

36 golden sandwich cookies 

1/2 cup butter,  melted 

Process cookies in a food processor to make fine crumbs.  In a bowl, melt butter & stir in cookie crumbs until evenly moistened.  Press into bottom of 9×13” pan.  Set in freezer to firm while making the next layer. 

Aronia Cheesecake Layer: 

1 1/2 cups chopped Aronia Berries

1/2 cup butter

1 cup powdered sugar

8 oz softened cream cheese

1 1/4 cups whipped cream 

Put Aronia berries in food processor (can be frozen) and pulse a few times quickly, doesn’t have to be fine.  Cream together butter, powdered sugar and cream cheese.  Add whipped cream to the cheesecake mixture and combine.  Fold in the chopped berries.  Spread mixture over the chilled crust.  Refrigerate.

Strawberry Gelatin Layer: 

3 oz package strawberry gelatin

1/2 cup boiling water

1 cup strawberry Greek yogurt

4 cups whipped cream

In a large bowl, combine gelatin and boiling water; stir to dissolve.  Cool to room temperature.  Whisk in yogurt until combined with gelatin.  Add whipped cream and mix until evenly combined.  Pour mixture over cream cheese layer, smoothing the top.  Refrigerate 2-3 hours until set. 

Top Layer:

Top with whipped cream and a berry.  

If you’d like to try these and aren’t close to the local Fareways or Gateway Markets we serve, contact us at MyAroniaBerry.com and we can get berries to you.

health, health & fitness, wellness, organic, food as medicine,, organic

IT WORKS!

We love it when we hear “It Works!” Let me tell you about a friend of mine who was given a little bit of this Elderberry/Aronia Immune Syrup as a gift. Her husband thought he was coming down with a cold. She remembered this and gave it to him. Next day, he was better!

Her son-in-law was coming down with something right before they were leaving on vacation. He took a dose of the Elderberry/Aronia Immune Syrup and didn’t miss a beat on vacation.

These are but two examples of folks who have given Mother Nature a chance to help their bodies heal.

I slip folks a little bottle for them to try if they’re getting sick. Before you know it, they’re telling others they didn’t get sick. Folks who want to stay well are using the Elderberry/Aronia Immune Syrup to maintain health, because it flat out works!

Our granddaughter was recently riding a bike and took a fall. She skinned her tummy and came to me for some of that “stuff”. Her Dad put some antibiotic ointment on her tummy. The next day she wanted some of that “Grandma’s Stuff” on her tummy abrasion. “It works better.” It can’t get more honest than a 5 year old testimonial.

I had used the Elder Farms Herbal Releaf Salve with CBD on another skinned up spot a week or so before the bike accident. So this is the “Grandma Stuff” that took the pain away and helped her tummy heal.

There are so many ways we use the Elder Farms Releaf Salve: insect bites, scrapes, sore muscles, minor cuts, and rash relief.

Visit us, contact us, or go to MyAroniaBerry.com to order yours. It Works!

food, health, health & fitness, wellness, organic, food as medicine,, organic

Anthocyanins AND ARONIA

What Are Anthocyanins?

These are compounds naturally found in red, blue, and purple foods. They possess high levels of antioxidant activity and cause the dark colors in foods, flowers and plant material.

Why are Anthocyanins So Important?

Scientists have discovered about 300 different types of anthocyanins and research is proving the active role the compounds play in protecting cells, healing the body, preventing disease and hindering premature aging.

Aronia Berries & Anthocyanins

If you’ve seen our berries for yourself, you know they are about as dark as can be. They are a dark, dark purple, almost black berry. Their color is indicative of their high antioxidant levels. You always hear how good blueberries are for you…wait until you see how Aronia berries compare to Blueberries! Check out the chart below:

Yes you read that right, Blueberries have about half the antioxidants as in Aronia. So why haven’t you heard about this? I’ve heard that question so often. The reason is the Aronia industry has had some tough bumps and has been slow to produce products with wide availability. Some of the hurdles are slowly but surely being overcome. We have collaborated with two different companies to bring high-quality Aronia products to the masses.

We are developing MyAroniaBerry.com as a source for high-quality, certified organic Aronia products.

One of the products we are so excited about is a 50/50 blend of our organic Aronia and Elder Farms’ certified organic Elderberry. The finished product is an amazingly good blend of these two anthocyanin rich fruits. The result is a powerhouse immune supporting product.

food, health, health & fitness, wellness, organic, food as medicine,, organic, Uncategorized

Antioxidant Aronia

Recently we ran across yet another article touting the antioxidant benefit of Aronia berries.

Check this out on WebMD

After roller coaster ride of organic Aronia Berry farming, we finally feel like we’re on the roller coaster going up slowly. We are working with great partners who are creating wonderful Aronia products.

You can see for yourself the antioxidant rating of Aronia. They rank much higher than the blueberry or even cranberries that are so good for us. As we all struggle to stay healthy and build our immune systems, we need the antioxidant punch of Aronia.

One of the gentlemen we are working with has been encouraging over the last few years. When I was complaining about being sick and tired of cutting out the same trees over and over and fighting the weeds, he encouraged us to hang in there. He told us about a woman who tested the products he developed and way outlived the doctor’s grim prognosis. He has told us of folks who are living much better lives because of the Aronia berries and the products which are being developed. His exact words were “If you know you are helping others, you can pull a few more weeds.”

So as we keep pulling weeds, and cutting out stray trees, we are looking forward to bringing you these products. Keep watching or visit MyAroniaBerry.com to learn more.

food, health, organic

2021 Aronia Berry Harvest In the Books

2021 Aronia Berry Harvest complete! We had great help for the day to make it a success. Was it all it could be? No, heavy frost and snow in our low lying fields dramatically limited yields. We had no berries in much of the lowest areas. Drought conditions limited the size of the berries, but they’re picked and out.

All total we picked about 8700 lbs of berries! We’d anticipated about 6,000 lbs. We keep thinking what if frost/snow hadn’t impacted our lower field!

John from US Aronia harvesting
Ready to wrap and load in the refrigerated truck
Filled Lugs
food, health, health & fitness, wellness, organic, food as medicine,, organic

Almost Ready for Aronia Berries

Our recent rain and cooler weather has been fabulous for our Aronia. When we planted Aronia Melanocarpa on our farm they were just tiny plants. We planted the Viking Aronia plugs 4 feet apart in a row, with 10 feet between rows.

After a few years of weed eating between plants, they began to fill out.

Now as you look down those same rows, we can’t through with a mower and walking in there is a real challenge. The Aronia Berries are weighting down branches and filling the aisles. It’s amazing to see the changes each year.

We anticipate opening up our farm for a U Pick operation in late August and early September. Although the berries look like they are ready, we wait until their sugar content is higher and produces a better tasting berry.

We’re often asked what they taste like. It’s a dry astringent taste much like a dry wine or a tart green apple. We love them right off the bush but for others it’s an acquired taste. Be sure to check out the Aronia Berry Recipes on this site to learn what to do with your Aronia.