7 facts about the benefits of mountain ash for human health

Black–fruited mountain ash (or common aronia) is a shrub common in temperate latitudes. Syrups, jams, juices, and wine are prepared on the basis of its fruits.

Due to the high content of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, black mountain ash has a number of medicinal properties for humans. It can improve the health of the immune, digestive, endocrine and cardiovascular systems.

Berries are even recommended during pregnancy in order to prevent the development of chronic hypoxia and infectious and inflammatory complications from both the mother and fetus.

7 useful properties

Below are 7 facts about the benefits of chokeberry, which have been confirmed in scientific research.

1. A source of nutrients

Aronia berries contain few calories (about 55 kcal per 100 grams) and contain a number of important biologically active substances:

Mountain ash is also rich in antioxidants (mainly anthocyanins), which protect the body's cells from the effects of free radicals and significantly reduce the risk of developing malignant tumors, as well as diseases of the cardiovascular, digestive and endocrine systems.

2. Antioxidant effect

As mentioned above, chokeberry contains a lot of antioxidant substances.

According to scientists, actioxidants fight free radicals, which are formed during oxidative stress and negatively affect all cells of the body.

Free radicals are responsible for the appearance of malignant tumors and the early development of chronic diseases from the cardiovascular (coronary heart disease, hypertension), endocrine (diabetes mellitus II), digestive (Crohn's disease, gastritis) systems.

The main groups of antioxidant substances contained in berries, are Phenolic acids, flavanols and anthocyanins.

Several foreign publications can be cited as an example of effectiveness.

According to the data experts from Poland, the use of mountain ash leads to a significant decrease in the activity of free radical mechanisms.

And Norwegian scientists discovered that the plant causes the death of cancer cells, suppresses the activity of inflammation in tissues and prevents a number of viruses from entering the body.

3. Anticancer effect

Installed that the fruits of black mountain ash have the ability to suppress the reproduction of malignant cells and even cause their death.

Experiments on rats conducted under the guidance of scientists from the USA, revealed that aronia antioxidants cause a slowdown in the development of colon cancer, as well as reduce the severity of symptoms of dyspeptic disorders due to the presence of a tumor.

According to According to one study, 50 mg of rowan extract reduces the intensity of cancer cell growth by 60% in just 24 hours.

Also berries effective in order to prevent breast cancer.

4. Lowering cholesterol

Atherosclerosis is one of the most common diseases of the cardiovascular system, in which atherosclerotic plaques form on the walls of the arteries and the intensity of blood flow decreases.

Atherosclerosis is the basis of such diseases as: coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, chronic cerebral ischemia.

The cause of atherosclerotic vascular damage is an increase in total cholesterol, as well as its atherogenic fractions (TAG, LDL, VLDL) in the blood.

According to the data numerous foreign studies have shown that chokeberry has the ability to reduce the concentration of TAG and LDL, as well as increase the level of "useful" cholesterol in the blood – HDL, therefore, it can be used to prevent the early development of atherosclerosis.

5. Lowering blood pressure

According to information scientists from Poland, the inclusion of chokeberry extract in the diet leads to a significant decrease in blood pressure.

The positive effect is presumably associated with the effect of anthocyanins on the walls of blood vessels.

According to the data American experts, the plant also inhibits chronic inflammation, which increases the likelihood of an early violation of the regulation of arterial wall tone and an increase in blood pressure.

Thus, aronia can be used for therapy (together with medications) and prevention (in the presence of metabolic syndrome or a burdened family history) of hypertension, one of the most formidable and extremely common diseases on the planet.

6. Strengthening the immune system

Mountain ash contains large amounts of vitamin C and antioxidants, as well as a significant portion of vitamins B2 and B5.

These substances are like claim experts from Norway have a beneficial effect on the work of the immune system , activating the proliferation and growth of immune cells.

Berries are also capable of destroying a number of pathogenic microorganisms. Proven effectiveness against influenza virus, as well as wax bacillus and E. coli.

The results of one of the major studies conducted in 2014, identified that the consumption of 156 ml of chokeberry juice per day reduces the risk of developing infectious and inflammatory diseases of the urinary system by 55%.

7. Prevention of type II diabetes mellitus

Detected that aronia extract increases the sensitivity of peripheral tissues (muscle and fat) of the human body to insulin. As a result, more efficient utilization of glucose by cells from the blood is ensured.

Thus, the plant affects the main pathogenetic mechanism of the formation of type II diabetes mellitus – insulin resistance.

At the same time, blackberries do not cause sharp "spikes" in blood sugar after consumption and even help slow down the absorption of other foods, which has a beneficial effect on glucose metabolism in the body.

Harm and contraindications

Despite the abundance of beneficial properties, the fruits of the chokeberry can harm the body in a number of situations.

Contraindications include:

1. Allergic reactions. Allergy to rowan is a common phenomenon. Allergopathologies can manifest in different ways: from dermatitis to anaphylaxis.
2. Dyspeptic disorders. Usually develop with excessive consumption of fruits and manifest themselves in the form of heartburn, stomach pain, increased gas formation, diarrhea.
3. Urolithiasis. The plant contains substances (oxalic acid) that increase the risk of formation of concretions in the lumen of the urinary tract.
4. Acute diseases of the digestive system or chronic in the acute stage. The restriction applies to peptic ulcer, gastritis, enteritis, colitis.

It is important to note that the fruits of aronia are useful for a woman's body during pregnancy, as they are rich in a number of important vitamins and antioxidants. The plant creates favorable conditions for the laying and subsequent development of fetal tissues, prevents the appearance of chronic hypoxia and infectious and inflammatory diseases.

How to take it?

Black mountain ash can be found in the wild or purchased at grocery stores.

On its basis, you can prepare juices and smoothies, jams and jams, all kinds of desserts. Aronia can be used as a filling for pies and cakes.

Below are some of the most common uses of rowan:

1. Fresh berries. Fresh fruits always contain the maximum (initial) amount of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The daily norm is up to 100 grams.
2. Dried fruits. In the process of removing moisture, it increases several times fiber content and sugars, the concentration of biologically active substances decreases (by 30-50%). It is not recommended to consume more than 20-30 grams of dried mountain ash per day. Neglect of this rule can cause problems in the digestive system or lead to obesity, adversely affect the general condition in the presence of diabetes mellitus.
3. Juice. Juice is a fairly simple way to include mountain ash in the diet. For the purpose of cooking, you can use a juicer, blender or a pusher. Consume 50 ml 1-2 times a day (it is forbidden on an "empty stomach").
4. Tincture. Ingredients: 1 kg of rowan berries, sugar – 100-300 grams (to taste), 1,000 ml of vodka or 40% alcohol. Mix all the ingredients and place them in a glass container, close the lid tightly. Leave for 2 months in any dark, cool place. It is recommended to shake the vessel every 3-5 days in order to mix evenly. Regimen: 2-4 tablespoons 3 times a day for 3 weeks.
5. Compote. You will need: 500 grams of berries, 500 grams of sugar, 1/3 lemon, about 2.5-3 liters of water. Recipe: pour the berries into a glass (pre-sterilized) jar, add the lemon cut into thin slices. At the same time, you need to prepare the syrup: mix sugar with water, put on fire, bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes. Pour the syrup into a glass vessel and roll up the lid. The volume of consumption is not limited.
6. Decoction. For cooking, pour 20 grams of dried fruits with 1,000 ml of boiling water and cook for about 15 minutes. Then – strain and take 100 ml 3-4 times a day. The duration is 30-40 days.
7. Tea. Pour 1 tbsp. l. fruits or leaves of aronia 500 ml of boiling water and let it stand for about 20-30 minutes. Take 250 ml 2 times a day for any period of time.
8. Jam. You will need: 1,100 grams of berries, 1,600 grams of granulated sugar, 720 ml of water. The berry should be washed and the stalks removed, then filled with water and left in a similar state for 24 hours. A day later, the water is drained into a separate container, mixed with sugar and boiled until a homogeneous syrup with a slightly creamy tint is obtained. Then soaked berries are added to the composition and the future jam is simmered for another 20 minutes. Consume 1-3 tsp. 3-4 times a day.

Conclusion

1. Chokeberry is endowed with a number of medicinal properties, as it contains many biologically active substances (vitamins, minerals, antioxidants).
2. With regular use, aronia prevents cancer, as well as a number of diseases from the cardiovascular, digestive and endocrine systems, has a beneficial effect on the immune system.
3. The berry is recommended to be consumed during pregnancy.