Tag Archives: Fogle’s Organic Aronia Berries

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Love Blueberries? Think you’re adding them to your diet for their health benefits?

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I love blueberries. I love them for their color in desserts, breakfast and fruit salads. I love just grabbing a few when I need a snack. But eating them because they’re so healthy? No, I learned years ago not to buy into that line. Why? When we began researching Aronia Berries, I found an interesting chart.

I learned the little plants we decided to grow here on our acreage had huge health benefits. Do they taste as good as a blueberry? No. They aren’t as sweet and are more atringent. Do I care? Sometimes. That’s why I enjoy my blueberries as a sweet treat and don’t fool myself into believing they are so good for me.

Will the blueberries give my stressed body the nutrition needed to boost my immune system in this season of colds and flu? Not nearly as much as the Aronia berries.

Folks ask all the time “But how do you use Aronia?” Honestly, lots of ways. On my cereal, in yogurt, or in a smoothie I add A2 goat whey with Aronia. I have frozen and freeze dried berries available to me (and you could too at MyAroniaBerry.com). I use the freeze dried berries in snack mixes, fudge, overnight oats, yogurt, meatballs, and salads. I use frozen berries in cookies, soups, breads, scones, desserts. You can see some of the recipes in that section here.

We have freeze dried whole berry Aronia powder I put in lemonade, iced tea, 7-up, Red Bull, smoothies and in my water. It doesn’t take much of that to get your nutritional dose for the day. If you’re going to compare our freeze dried powder to others, be sure you compare apples to apples. Most freeze dried powder is made from pulp and seeds after the berries have been juiced. You aren’t getting all the nutritional benefits if you’re just getting the leftovers, that’s why ours is more expensive. You get the whole berry. If you really want to get down to it, our Aronia powder isn’t made in a grinder that heats up the berries. Heating can diminish some of the nutritional value. Ours is ground by a very smart retired professor who built a machine to powder berries without creating any heat. The powder is very fine and I love it in a good body scrub!

So if you have questions about these Aronia Berries, reach out to me at Peggy@MyAroniaBerry.com. You won’t get a chatbot, you’ll get me:). You can always visit MyAroniaBerry.com too.

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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.

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AI Answers My Questions

I have been hearing so much about AI lately, I thought I’d play around. So naturally, I used AI to research ingredients in our Immune Builder. It was so quick and surprised me. It’s taken us years to learn some of this but it’s all written out for me in a matter of seconds. It’s interesting!

People use A2 goat whey for a variety of health and nutritional reasons, especially as a protein supplement or alternative to cow’s milk-derived whey. Here’s why it’s popular:

1. Digestive Benefits

  • A2 Casein vs. A1 Casein: Goat milk primarily contains A2 beta-casein protein, which is thought to be easier to digest than the A1 beta-casein found in most cow’s milk. Some people experience less bloating, gas, or discomfort when consuming A2 dairy products.
  • Less Lactose or Better Tolerance: Goat milk (and its whey) naturally has slightly less lactose and may be better tolerated by people with mild lactose sensitivity.

2. Nutritional Profile

  • High-Quality Protein: Goat whey contains all 9 essential amino acids, making it a complete protein, important for muscle repair and growth.
  • Rich in Bioactive Compounds: Contains immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, and growth factors, which may support the immune system and gut health.
  • Naturally Lower Allergenicity: Goat dairy has different protein structures that are less allergenic for some individuals than cow dairy.

3. Health-Conscious and Niche Diets

  • Popular among people following:
    • Paleo or Primal diets
    • A2 milk-only protocols
    • Functional medicine or gut-healing diets
    • Autoimmune or anti-inflammatory diets

4. Sustainability and Ethics

  • Goat farming is often seen as more sustainable than large-scale cow dairy farming.
  • Some prefer goat milk products due to ethical farming practices associated with smaller-scale goat farms.

5. Taste and Versatility

  • Some people simply prefer the milder, less processed flavor of goat whey compared to cow whey isolate or concentrate.
ChatGPT said:

Here’s a detailed comparison of A2 goat whey vs. regular cow whey, tailored to specific health and fitness goals:

🏋️‍♂️ Muscle Gain & Performance

FeatureA2 Goat WheyRegular Cow Whey
Protein QualityComplete protein; slightly less leucineComplete protein; typically higher leucine
Absorption RateFast-absorbing, similar to cow wheyFast-absorbing; gold standard for muscle building
Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)Moderate (lower than cow whey)Higher BCAAs (especially leucine)
Best ForSensitive athletes or whole-food puristsBodybuilders and performance-focused users

🔎 Verdict: Cow whey has a slight edge in muscle building due to higher leucine and BCAAs, but A2 goat whey is a good option if digestion is a concern.

🧬 Digestive Health & Food Sensitivities

FeatureA2 Goat WheyRegular Cow Whey
Beta-casein TypeA2-only (easier to digest)A1 or A1/A2 mix (can cause discomfort)
Lactose ContentLower than cow wheyVaries (can be higher in concentrates)
Allergenic PotentialLowerHigher (especially for casein-sensitive people)
Gut Health ImpactLess inflammatory for sensitive gutsCan aggravate IBS or leaky gut symptoms

🔎 Verdict: A2 goat whey wins for digestive ease, particularly for those with lactose sensitivity, IBS, or dairy allergies.

🔥 Inflammation & Autoimmune Support

FeatureA2 Goat WheyRegular Cow Whey
Inflammatory ResponseOften reported as lowerCan trigger low-grade inflammation in sensitive individuals
Immune SupportHigh in lactoferrin and immunoglobulinsAlso present, but varies by processing
Suitability for Autoimmune DietsFrequently recommended in AIP or gut-healing dietsOften avoided due to A1 and allergenic potential

🔎 Verdict: For anti-inflammatory goals, A2 goat whey is superior—especially if you’re managing autoimmune conditions, eczema, joint pain, or fatigue.

🧪 Summary by Goal

🌿 Why A2 Goat Whey + Aronia Berry Powder = A Smart Combo

🧬 1. Digestive & Immune Synergy

  • A2 goat whey is rich in:
    • Easily digestible protein
    • Lactoferrin, immunoglobulins (immune-boosting compounds)
  • Aronia berry (also called chokeberry) is packed with:
    • Antioxidants (especially anthocyanins)
    • Anti-inflammatory polyphenols
    • Fiber (supports gut flora)

🔗 Together:

  • Help modulate gut microbiota
  • Strengthen the intestinal barrier
  • Reduce systemic inflammation — ideal for people with IBS, autoimmune conditions, or chronic fatigue.

💪 2. Recovery & Muscle Support + Antioxidant Protection

  • Whey supports muscle repair and protein synthesis
  • Aronia combats oxidative stress, which rises after workouts
  • This combo can enhance post-workout recovery, especially for sensitive individuals

❤️ 3. Heart & Metabolic Health

  • Aronia berries are clinically studied for:
    • Lowering blood pressure
    • Improving cholesterol
    • Reducing blood sugar spikes
  • A2 goat whey provides high-quality protein without spiking insulin like some carb-heavy post-workout meals

⚖️ How to Use the Combo

How to MixTips
Shake or smoothieMix 1 scoop A2 goat whey + 1–2 tsp Aronia powder in water or nut milk
Post-workoutAdd banana or oats for recovery carbs
Morning shakeBlend with greens, chia, or flaxseed
Immunity tonicAdd ginger or turmeric for extra inflammation control

⚠️ What to Watch Out For

Potential IssueAdvice
Aronia is very tartBalance with banana, dates, or a touch of honey
Taste/texture mixGoat whey has a unique flavor; try in smoothies rather than plain shakes
DosingStart with 1 tsp Aronia powder to assess tolerance; it’s potent
Allergy or sensitivityThough rare, test goat whey in small amounts if you’ve never had it

✅ Ideal For:

  • Gut-healing protocols
  • Anti-inflammatory diets (AIP, SIBO, etc.)
  • Clean post-workout shakes
  • Aging and longevity support
  • Plant-forward diets needing a high-quality animal protein source

No wonder folks feel better using our A2 Immune Builder with Aronia Berries. Is it something you might want to try? Let me know or visit 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

Strawberry aronia goodness

The cooler weather is settling upon us in central Iowa, snow is even predicted. So what to do on a cool Sunday afternoon, cook! I wish you could smell our house today. The simmering strawberries and aronia berries release a fresh, sweet, comforting fragrance that makes your mouth water. I’m creating Strawberry/Aronia Fruit Spread. I will have it available at the Holiday Showcase in Carlisle next Saturday. I always have some on hand to share with friends and it makes a great gift. Pure goodness in a half pint for $5.

Leave a comment if you’d like to purchase yours.

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BUSY, BUSY, BUSY

I have been remiss in adding to the blog this spring. We’ve been so busy catching up with things we didn’t get done last year due to health reasons, I’m running way behind!

The berries have lots of beautiful little berries. Even the bushes that we trimmed back too 8″ a year ago in March are loaded with berries and are about five foot tall. It’s amazing to us how resilient the Aronia berries are.

In my spare time I’ve been making Aronia Cayenne Sauce and Strawberry Aronia Fruit Spread. Two of our favorite ways to share the Aronia goodness with others. I plan to take the Fruit Spread and Aronia Cayenne Sauce to the What Cheer Flea Market this weekend. Yet another attempt to educate folks on the wonderful benefits and flavors of Aronia!

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AntiOxidant Punch!

It’s definitely cold and cough season in Central Iowa!  Around our house the grandchildren have all had ear infections, croup or just a crummy cold/cough.   Their parents have had sinus and ear infections and Woody even caught the crud and ended up with sinus infection.  BUT…guess who just has a little evening tickle and cough?  Why?

I’ve been drinking or using more Aronia each day for the past month when all the snotting, sneezing and hacking started around our house.   In cereal or oatmeal, in soups, on salads, you name it, I have it with Aronia.  One of my most recent creations is to juice some berries and use about 2 oz of juice in a glass of orange juice.  It’s also a great icee if you zap the oranges and berries and ice in the Vitamix!   I call it my Antioxidant Punch:)

The powerful punch of our little purple berries packs a knock-out for virus germs so prevalent right now.  See for yourself!

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Almost Harvest Time

The summer is winding down, the Iowa State Fair begins this week, and before you know it school will be starting.   Must mean Aronia berry harvest is right around the corner.   The fields have gone from barren, to beautiful white blooms, to being filled with almost black berries now.  We’re taste testing and using the refractometer to know when the flavor is at its peak of perfection and nutrition.

Here at our farm, and at farms across Iowa, many Aronia growers will be hosting folks to pick their own berries this year.  Why should you?   If you look back through some of these posts, you will see many, many reasons to stock your freezer with these healthy little gems.   The studies are proving their benefits in so many health issues.

We eat them in so many ways.  The other night for example we had them in salad, salad dressing, and in a sauce to be used on the pork chops.  Why?  Of course they’re free here and we have them all year round, but let me tell you what happened when my husband went to the pain specialist recently.   Yes he has osteoarthritis terribly from several orthopedic surgeries (he should almost be bionic by now), but the pain doctor said for his age (82) he’s in really good shape compared to many and looked good.  Her question was why.  He said we’d been eating the Aronia berries for about the last 8 years.  She was going to get some.  It was proof enough for her.   He recently had blood work done again.  His results are always really good.  We know why.

This little lady is one of the other reasons why…

So watch here for times and dates to pick your own.   Spend a little time in nature, plan to bring the family, stock the freezer, we’ll teach you how to use them.  We’ll all be glad you did!

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So Just What Do You Do With Those Berries?

I hear this question all the time.   Right now is the perfect time to answer that question.  Woody just had a hip replaced and I’m fighting a terrible cold after being with him in the hospital and having a weakened immune system, it was bound to catch me.   But, we know that our little purple powerhouse berries are anti-viral, so we load up with their vitamins and nutrients to push thru and recover.  We even boosted our intake prior to surgery!

Here’s now we use have been using them.  I like smoothies for breakfast and mine are always purple!  Woody prefers Aronia jelly or berries in oatmeal or pancakes.

For lunch, I just toss Aronia berries in chef salads.  Today I’m having them in my vegetable beef soup and salad.

We eat them in all sorts of baked goods as you can see on the recipe section.  The kids love them in the cookies, Woody loves the BananAronia bread or the Pear Aronia bread.

For dinner, I use them in meatloaf, meatballs, and in chili.  Often times I mix them with apples or pears to make a sauce for pork chops or chicken.  Sometimes you can even spice the sauces up with cayenne or creole seasonings for an interesting twist.

We also press them and drink the juice!  It’s good with a bit of 7-Up, Sparkling Water, Lemonade, Ginger Ale, or Woody’s been known to mix it in with a little Captain and Coke!  But to be fair, he puts some berries in with his coffee grounds occasionally too.  There are so many, many uses you just have to be creative!

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Whew! Settling in the Deep Freeze

What a better way to spend a frigid afternoon than catching up on a few things…  It’s good Aronia Berries need a cold season.  We’re sure getting it now!

After a long fall and exciting preparation for the holidays, things are finally settling down a bit and I can once again re-focus.  We’ve been busy making White Chocolate Aronia Fudge, Strawberry Aronia Fruit Spread all fall.  We hope those who received some as Christmas gifts thoroughly enjoyed theirs!  We’re always looking for new ways to use Aronia and trying to expand our market, and acquaint folks with the powerful purple berries! IMG_0003

We even spent a little time away from the farm in southwest Florida for the holidays with family and shared information about Aronia with folks at farmers’ markets there!  It was fun, they were sharing information about a fruit juice full of anti-oxidants and how good anti-oxidants were for you.  We told them we knew a little something about that!  Because Aronia is a “super food” with their high ORAC score.