How is chokeberry beneficial for the human body?

Berries

Black chokeberry, or aronia, is a fruit bush that produces clusters of small, dark-blue, round berries. The fruits have beneficial properties, which is why they are used to treat various ailments. However, the berries also have contraindications. Knowing the beneficial properties of black chokeberry and the appropriate amounts to consume will help protect the body from illness and boost immunity.

Description and chemical composition

The shrub was introduced to the country in the 20th century. It is not fussy about weather conditions, flowering immediately after the leaves emerge, usually in late spring. The flowers are a soft pink. The blue-black berries appear in late August. Each berry reaches 10 mm in diameter, with a thick skin. The average lifespan of a bush is 40 years.

Note!

It's important to harvest the berries after the first frost. This is typically in late September or early October. Since the berries all ripen at once, the harvesting process is significantly simplified.

The nutritional value of 100 g of the product is only 50 kcal. The berry contains iron, vitamin C, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and minerals.

Black chokeberry also contains the following components:

Bioflavonoids. The fruit contains vitamin P, which cleanses blood vessels and makes them elastic.
Micronutrients. Rowan berries contain the highest amount of potassium (158 mg). They also contain iodine, copper, manganese, fluorine, boron, and molybdenum.

The plant's leaves contain flavonoids and sorbic acid. These are used medicinally because they promote bile flow and normalize liver function.

What are the benefits of berries?

Chokeberry has its own beneficial properties that affect women, men, and children differently. Due to its medicinal properties, chokeberry is used in the preparation of diuretic and choleretic preparations. It is also used to prepare medications for normalizing blood pressure and metabolic problems.

For men

Chokeberry is beneficial for men because it purifies the blood and improves its quality. It also helps strengthen vascular walls, reducing the risk of heart disease. The berries contain antioxidants that cleanse the body of harmful compounds and reduce tissue inflammation. They are used as a preventative measure for various pathologies.

Black rowan is also considered an aphrodisiac. It is used to make special infusions for treating impotence. By improving circulation and dilating blood vessels, it improves men's sexual health.

For women

Rowan berries are also beneficial for women's health. Due to their high iodine content, they normalize hormonal balance and improve thyroid function. Consuming chokeberries during menstruation helps normalize iron levels in the body, relieve fatigue and headaches.

Berries are essential for pregnant women. They help combat early and late morning sickness. Berry juice reduces swelling by removing excess fluid from the body. This also helps lower blood pressure, minimizing the risk of high blood pressure.

Note!

It has been proven that regular consumption of chokeberry juice during pregnancy significantly improved morning sickness. In some cases, morning sickness was completely eliminated.

Fruits strengthen the vascular system, which results in a stronger placenta. This allows nutrients and oxygen to reach the baby more quickly.

For children

Rowan berries are beneficial for children as they promote growth and strengthen the entire body. The berries are used to make delicious compotes, kissels, jams, and other sweet desserts. Aronia is used to treat viral colds. Its healing properties also help with bloating and mild poisoning.

Medicinal properties of chokeberry

The beneficial and medicinal properties of chokeberry promote overall well-being. It provides a protective function thanks to its various vitamins, improves heart and vascular function, and increases gastric acidity. Chokeberry is beneficial for the human body in any form: fresh, frozen, or cooked. This allows for a varied diet during illness.

Treatment of hypertension with berries

High blood pressure occurs due to the pressure of blood flow against the vessel walls. With elastic walls, blood flow is unnoticeable and there is no discomfort. The microelements and vitamins found in berries improve the vascular system and thicken the blood, thereby making the walls more elastic. Eating 50 grams of berries daily will reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Treatment of hypotension

Chokeberry can not only manage hypertension but also be beneficial for low blood pressure. Its medicinal properties include normalizing blood pressure. Chokeberry is used for preventative purposes. Regular consumption of the berries can complement medication treatment. However, it's important not to overdo it and know your limits.

Treatment of the gastrointestinal tract

For any digestive issues, prepare a decoction of chokeberry. For diarrhea, make a thicker decoction, while for minor upsets, make a weak fruit drink. Fresh berries remove waste, toxic substances, and salts from the body. For low acidity, 50 grams of chokeberry per day is recommended. Furthermore, chokeberry relieves thirst and stomach heaviness, promoting proper digestion.

Use in diabetes

For diabetics, chokeberry-based decoctions and preserves are a good source of vitamins. Sugar is not added to the decoctions; various sugar substitutes are used, such as sorbitol or xylitol in appropriate doses. The effects of diabetes can be alleviated by consuming 250 grams of fresh chokeberries daily.

Anemia

In cases of severe blood loss, such as after surgery, chokeberry helps the body recover. For a weakened immune system, a vitamin boost is helpful. It can be used as a puree of mashed berries or as a decoction. The treatment course lasts up to 10 days. Drink the freshly brewed decoction half an hour before meals.

Reduced immunity

Medicinal infusions and decoctions of chokeberry are an excellent remedy for fighting the flu and colds on cold winter days. The berries contain a healthy dose of vitamin C, which protects and boosts the immune system. Rowan berries can be consumed in any form; they won't cause any harm; in fact, they will strengthen the immune system.

Contraindications

Chokeberry has both medicinal properties and contraindications. The berries are not recommended for consumption in the following cases:

ulcers;
persistent constipation (you can eat fruits, but in a reduced daily dosage);
high stomach acidity;
after a stroke or heart attack;
for hypotension (permitted only with the permission of a doctor and in a moderate dose);
angina pectoris;
varicose veins and thrombophlebitis.

Note!

It is not recommended to feed chokeberries to children under three years of age. They can cause an allergic reaction, and the small seeds can cause choking.

If you have kidney or urinary tract disease, use chokeberry with caution, as there is a risk of developing stones.

There are fewer contraindications than beneficial properties, but it's important to familiarize yourself with them before using rowan berries. Doctors recommend using rowan berries as a combination treatment for this condition.

Preparing fruits for the winter

When harvesting, some tricks are used. For example, the entire cluster of inflorescences is cut off with scissors or pruning shears. If the fruits are needed individually, they are easier to remove from the cut inflorescence. This harvesting procedure is faster and more profitable. After removing the umbels, the tree recovers more quickly. To preserve the maximum amount of nutrients, the berries are processed immediately after harvesting.

Chokeberries are prepared in dried, canned, and frozen forms. All berries are laid out in a single layer on a baking sheet. They can be dried in several ways: in the open air, in the oven, and in an electric dehydrator. When air-drying, avoid direct sunlight, as the berries will turn sour and lose nutrients and vitamins. Dried rowan berries do not release juice when pressed.

When drying chokeberries in the oven, they are placed in a chamber for half an hour at 40°C. After this, the temperature is increased to 60°C and dried until fully cooked. In an electric dehydrator, the berries are kept for up to three hours at 60°C. It's important to monitor the berry's color. The proper color of dried chokeberries is a rich cherry-red. If the color turns brown, the temperature control was not met and the berry's medicinal properties have diminished. Rowanberries can be frozen, canned, or made into syrup or compote. Aronia wine and liqueur are also made from them.

Aronia recipes

To preserve chokeberry compote, take fresh berries and sterilize them in boiling water for 3 minutes. Fill 1/3 of a 3-liter jar with berries, and pour boiling syrup over the rest. Add sugar or a sugar substitute if desired, and then preserve.

To prepare the tincture, pour boiling water over the dried berries at a rate of 1 tablespoon of rowan berries per 250 ml of water. Let it steep for 30-40 minutes. Then strain the tincture and consume it three times a day. Store in a cool place for no more than three days.

Use in folk medicine

When used correctly, chokeberry is beneficial. There are several main medicinal remedies made from the berries:

Leaf tea.
Chokeberry juice.
General tonic infusion.

Aronia leaf tea has anti-inflammatory and choleretic properties. It also strengthens the immune system, normalizes liver function, and reduces swelling. To prepare, add 1-3 tablespoons to a glass of boiled water and let steep for up to an hour. Drink 50 ml before meals.

Note!

The infusion is also used externally. For example, for acne, purulent wounds, or cuts that don't heal well. The infusion is also used to treat eczema, psoriasis, and ringworm.

Rowan juice is beneficial for high blood pressure, anemia, and atherosclerosis. It helps cleanse the liver, remove radionuclides from the body, and treat thyroid problems. The natural juice is highly concentrated, so it is diluted with water or apple juice in a 1:1 ratio.

Medicinal drinks from chokeberry

Chokeberries are beneficial not only when preserved. They are also used to make delicious medicinal drinks and teas. These help support the overall health of the body, saturating it with beneficial substances.

Vitamin tea

Due to the numerous vitamins and minerals found in chokeberries, a healthy, vitamin-rich tea is made from chokeberries. This drink is especially helpful in winter for supporting the immune system. To prepare the tea, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water over 2 tablespoons of berries and simmer for 7-10 minutes. Then let it steep for 4 hours, strain, and drink. Sugar or honey can be added to enhance the flavor. The recommended daily intake is 1.5 cups of tea. It's best to divide the serving into several servings.

Fermented tea

This drink has a strengthening effect on the body. It is prepared using dried chokeberry leaves. First, the leaves are collected from garden trees in dry weather. They are lightly dried and minced. They are poured into a glass container, covered with four layers of cheesecloth, and topped with a transparent lid. The leaves are steeped for four hours at a temperature of 24-26°C. After steeping, the leaves are spread in a thin layer on a baking sheet and dried until tender. They should crumble in your hands.

General tonic tea

The drink contains dried chokeberries, raspberries, blackcurrant and cherry leaves, linden blossom, and rose hips. All ingredients are mixed in equal proportions, then poured with two cups of boiling water and steeped. If rose hips are included, steep for at least 13 hours; if not, steep for four hours. Drink the drink warm; the recommended daily intake is three cups.

Indications and contraindications for juice

The juice's beneficial properties include lowering blood pressure, strengthening and boosting the immune system, lowering cholesterol, and improving vascular elasticity, thereby strengthening them. The juice is also very useful for treating burns. It is also used to treat wounds. Those with high acidity, gastritis, or ulcers should avoid drinking the juice. It is also not recommended for those with low blood pressure (or in small doses after consulting a specialist) and those with high blood clotting.