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:
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.
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
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
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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 harvestingReady to wrap and load in the refrigerated truckFilled Lugs
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.
COVID has been on everyone’s mind this past year. Nothing is normal. Hopes are pinned on vaccination and herd immunity, yet no one is discussing boosting your immune system.
Families are stressed. Jobs lost, working from home, schooling students at home, family members ill.
Healthcare is stressed to the max. Long-term care facilities are extremely scary places to be. Folks are dying alone. Families are overwhelmed.
Mental health is a true concern. Long-term isolation and financial stress are known causes for substance and physical abuse. Children not in school are particularly vulnerable.
Eating out has never been so different. As a former restauranteur, I worry about all those small businesses which are at a greater risk for failure in a normal year, but this year could be devastating to many. Not only restaurants, but theaters, non-profits, and many service industries are suffering as well.
Vaccines are coming. We know the time will come when this will all be a horrible memory. What can we do now? Guidelines preach hand washing, social distancing. Many are cleaning more now than ever before. Stay home. Take care of yourself.
Help your Immune System
When things are going well, do we ever really consider how our immune system is functioning? Some of us do because of health issues. But the vast majority of folks don’t really worry about it on a normal basis. Is there a way to help ourselves further? I believe there is.
Reduce toxins, keep moving, calm your mind, eat healthy, and supplement your diet. I know our Aronia Berries are boosting our immune system. Many folks are researching immune boosters now more than ever.
Our Partners In Immune Health
We have teamed up with A-2 Immune, Boone County Organics and Elder Farms. All are companies we fully trust who have developed amazing products using Aronia Berries to help folks boost their immunity.
I’m going to share an article the American Aronia Berry Association recently shared an article by Zachary MacDonald, Ph.D. student, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, nationally-ranked #3 Kinesiology doctoral program in the United States (by NAK)
We all know that the immune system is our body’s defense system against invaders (or infectious agents) such viruses and bacteria. However, something you might not know is how that the immune system is absolutely critical to normal bodily functions like digestion, regulating blood pressure, and managing chronic inflammation. Having a healthy immune system is not just about defending your body from nasty invaders, but also about overall health of every organ system.
Fortunately, consuming foods in our diet that support and possibly enhance immune function is impactful; making great choices about what we put in our bodies can help us function better and be more healthy. Such foods include berries packed full of compounds that improve cell function, ability to handle stress, and recovery from stress. Even the pigmentation that gives color to berries, some of which are called anthocyanins, are seen to have health benefits. Anthocyanins have a high amount of biological activity in inflammatory-related diseases such as cancer [1], diabetes [2], and cardiovascular disease [3]. Examples of anthocyanin-rich sources include blueberries, elderberry (also known as sambucus), and cherries.
For example, anthocyanins from wild blueberry powder were found to lower a pro-inflammatory protein complex called NF-κB in cell cultures [4], rats [5], and humans [6]. In elderberry, an anthocyanin called cyanidin 3-glucoside has been shown to significantly suppress the transmission of viruses in cell cultures, illustrating promising potential as a nutraceutical treatment for influenza [7].
There is one berry that stands out among the rest: the chokeberry, also known as aronia. There are several species of the chokeberry, but the black chokeberry in particular has been of great interest in the scientific community. This is due to its notably dark purple pigmentation, indicating its dense anthocyanin content, which is estimated to be the highest plant content of anthocyanin measured to date [8]!
Aronia has demonstrated its powerful anti-inflammatory effects in various ways. One way this has been shown is with the chronic digestive disorder colitis. Aronia appears to directly stimulate a type of immune protein called IL-10, which is vital to keeping excess intestinal inflammation at bay [9]. This berry has also shown to produce a mild but significant reduction in blood pressure, a symptom of what’s called “low-grade inflammation”. The reduction of this low-grade inflammation was explained by Aronia’s ability to decrease the inflammatory biomarkers IL-4, IL-5, and tumor necrosis factor-α in a 16-week human trial [10].
Aronia has also been shown to exhibit antibacterial and antiviral properties with its impressive anti-inflammatory abilities. An interesting speculation regarding aronia’s antibacterial properties is that it has shown to inhibit the growth of many different types of bacteria, while at the same time illustrating a lower potential for bacteria to develop resistance to it in comparison to some antibiotics [11]. It has also exhibited its antiviral properties against two types of the influenza virus: seasonal and oseltamivir-resistant (meaning that it is resistant to the common antiviral medication commonly known as Tamiflu). Impressively, it was able to inhibit nearly 70% of both types of virus [12].
There is still much more to be done and especially in human subject studies. There are many studies using bacteria, mice, and cell cultures, but not nearly as many in clinical human trials. However, there are enough out there that do exist that allows us to see the general direction Aronia research is headed in, and it looks like a good one for sure. Consider including aronia and other immune-enhancing foods in your diet to improve your physical and physiological resiliency!
Science confirms what we’ve known for a while, daily supplementation with Aronia Berries reduces blood pressure and cholesterol. These little dark purple gems we have growing are great for your heart!
We have a friend who was interested in lowering her cholesterol. She added Aronia berries to her daily diet, usually consuming whole frozen berries in yogurt or oatmeal for breakfast. After her next doctor visit she let us know her cholesterol dropped 30 points. Adding Aronia berries was the only change made in her diet and lifestyle.
In this unique time of COVID-19, we’re finding more folks must be researching food as medicine. We’re seeing more interest recently from folks looking for Aronia Berries in the stores we serve in the Des Moines area and calling to discuss Aronia. It’s exciting, folks are finally taking the time to research healthy diet choices. Sad because of the terrible threat we all face. We know Aronia Melanocarpa has multiple health benefits. Some have categorized Aronia Berries as a superfruit. We believe completely in the health benefits and consume berries daily.
Woody is nearly 84, you wouldn’t know it and he fools many. One of his doctors recently asked him how he was in such good shape for his age. To be fair, it was a pain doctor, as he struggles terribly with osteoarthritis after several injuries and accidents. She wanted some berries though. She’d seen his blood work and his ability to cope with the severe arthritis. She is just one medical professional we’ve seen consuming berries. Recently a midwife encouraged one of her patients to seek out Aronia. We know an OB/GYN in the area who believes in the power of Aronia for her family.
History of Aronia Melanocarpa Berry
Native to the midwest, the fruits of Aronia melanocarpa have been traditionally used by Potawatomi Native Americans to cure colds. In the first half of the 20th century, cultivars of black chokeberry were introduced to the Soviet Union and other European countries, providing fruits used by food industry.
At present, it is used mainly for juice, jam, smoothies, powdered supplements and wine production. Aronia is great in baked goods, soups, granolas and smoothies. The deep black-purple coloring of Aronia indicates its high antioxidant content. Higher than most other common berries.
Among other substances, the berries of Aronia melanocarpa contain anthocyanins and procyanidins, possessing strong antioxidative potential. Numerous health-promoting activities-namely, antioxidative, antimutagenic, anticancer, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, radioprotective, and immunomodulatory-have been demonstrated for black chokeberry extracts by both in vitro and in in vivo studies. Read more about the Pub Med study here.
Aronia is a fairly common ornamental plant; it has nice shiny leaves and fragrant flowers, and requires little upkeep. We see them here at malls, office complexes and grocery stores. In the US, though, it’s not been commonly eaten because like the cranberry, it’s highly acidic and astringent when raw. In a US diet full of sugar and processed foods, the Aronia flavor is not often enjoyed straight off the bush or out of the freezer. We enjoy the berries this way, but it is an acquired taste or one appreciated by those who avoid most sugar.
Can You Grow Aronia For Your Family?
Definitely, we believe it is a beautiful plant to add to your landscape if you live in an area which gets enough winter. A true double-duty plant, beautiful and yet producing high-quality fruit for your family. It doesn’t have to be relegated to the backyard.
Fogles Organic Aronia Berries – A Homegrown Super Food!
