Aronia

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Aronia is a genus of plants in the Rosaceae family. Aronia is also known as chokeberry. It originates from North America. It is a perennial shrub with a height of 1.5 to 3 meters. The root system of the bush is very shallow. During the first one or two years of planting, it grows very slowly, but then the growth begins to proceed very quickly. Aronia lives relatively little - about 20 years. The fruits of chokeberry are round and small, black or dark purple in color, gathered in clusters. Their taste is very pleasant, they are slightly sour.

Aronia was brought to Europe in the 18th century. It reached Bulgaria only in the 70s of the last century. In Bulgaria it is grown in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas, but unfortunately in mostly small areas. The plant is resistant to pests and low temperatures, is demanding only to moisture and sunlight. This unpretentious, but very beautiful and useful plant finds great conditions for growing in our country. The nature of our country not only preserves but also strengthens the qualities of the substances in chokeberry and it fully justifies its name, which translated from Greek means "benefit, help".

Composition of chokeberry

Aronia is characterized by a diverse chemical composition, which ranks it in the list of some of the most valuable medicinal plants. The fruit contains a large amount of sugars, most of which are glucose and fructose. The proteins in chokeberry are represented by a large amount of amino acids. Of the trace elements in chokeberry, magnesium, iron, potassium and calcium are best represented.

IN chokeberry has a record amount of iodine, manganese and molybdenum. Aronia contains a large amount of vitamins, which is why in Russian scientific circles it is placed in the first place among multivitamin fruits.

As far back as 1959, scientists from the Russian Pharmacological Committee recommended regular consumption of chokeberry and even include it in the composition of space food. The most valuable in the content of chokeberry are the essential polyphenolic compounds, which are united in the common name vitamin P.

There is no other such plant with such a large amount of polyphenolic substances. It also contains flavonoids, anthocyanins and catechins. Compared to grapes and grapefruit, chokeberry contains 5 times more polyphenolic substances. The composition of chokeberry includes vitamins C, K, B1, B2, B5, B9, organic acids, tannins, carbohydrates.

Selection and storage of chokeberry

Buy only fruits that show no signs of injury. Aronia is often dried or in the form of juice. If you buy fresh fruit from chokeberry, know that they are very durable. You can store them at room temperature for a few weeks, they do not spoil, but simply dry and are ready for use again.

Aronia in cooking

The small sweet fruits are mainly used for making juices, jams, jams, marmalades, compotes and other preserves. Keep in mind that chokeberry has a very high content of tannins, so when canning it is recommended to mix it with other fruits. Chokeberry fruit is used in the production of many wines, as well as as colorants for some products.

To make juice from chokeberry you need ripe and very well cleaned fruits. After cleaning them and removing their stalks, grind the fruit in a meat grinder. A slurry is obtained, which must stand for two days to separate the juice.

Squeeze the porridge in cheesecloth or home press. 1.2 kg of sugar is added to each liter of juice obtained and it is stirred periodically for several days. Pour into bottles and store in a cool place. Consume the resulting juice, necessarily diluted with water.

Benefits of chokeberry

The beneficial effects of the active ingredients in chokeberry have amazed scientists in different parts of the world for years. The healing effect of chokeberry is aimed at many diseases.

In the presence of hypertension and atherosclerosis, the consumption of fresh fruit is recommended chokeberry or juice from them, and at the same time they should be taken rose hips or blackcurrants, rich in vitamin C, which in turn improves the absorption of large amounts of vitamin P in chokeberry.

Aronia is very useful in diseases associated with increased fragility or permeability of vascular walls - scarlet fever, measles, eczema, allergic vasculitis, neurodermatitis, dermatitis and bleeding of various origins.

The combination of vitamins C and P in chokeberry helps to release the body from ions of heavy metals and radioactive substances. This means chokeberry is especially needed by people who work constantly on a computer, talk often on a mobile phone or live in an environment with sources of other radiation.

Aronia has strong antiseptic properties and is a very powerful tool to fight the flu. It has a beneficial effect on various allergic infections. Increases the vital forces of the body, helps to overcome nervous disorders, stimulates the regeneration of muscle and bone tissue. Aronia has a powerful antioxidant effect, which is 3 to 5 times stronger than that of vitamins A, E and C.

Aronia removes free radicals that damage cell membranes and change the composition of cells in the body. For this reason, chokeberry is a very successful preventive measure against cancer, especially against that of the colon.

Aronia is indispensable in diets because it effectively cleanses the body of accumulated unnecessary substances.

Harm from chokeberry

Although recommended for hypertension, chokeberry should be consumed in very small amounts by hypertensives. An overdose of chokeberry can lead to increased blood clotting and carries risks of blood clots. People with a tendency to thrombophlebitis should not overdo it with these fruits. Chokeberry may be contraindicated in people with gastritis and increased stomach acidity.