Improved immune function
Obesity prevention
Aronia is attracting attention as a superfood that promotes fat metabolism and is effective in preventing obesity.
One of its components, carotenoids , especially β-cryptoxanthin , works to prevent the accumulation of body fat by suppressing fat cell hypertrophy and lipid synthesis. Research has shown that daily intake of β-cryptoxanthin increases blood levels and is expected to have the effect of activating fat metabolism. In addition, β-carotene has the effect of reducing neutral fats and bad (LDL) cholesterol, suppressing weight gain and reducing the health risks associated with fat.
In addition, the polyphenols abundant in aronia prevent the excess accumulation of fat by suppressing a sudden rise in blood sugar levels. Also, because it is a low glycemic index food, it suppresses sudden hunger by gradually increasing blood sugar levels and provides a stable supply of energy, which can be expected to prevent overeating.
The dietary fiber contained in aronia improves the intestinal environment and promotes the increase of good bacteria, which relieves constipation and suppresses chronic inflammation in the intestines. Improving the intestinal environment leads to improved metabolism, which in turn contributes to the prevention of obesity.
These synergistic effects of aronia help to reduce fat accumulation and improve overall body balance, making it an ideal fruit for those looking to manage their weight in a healthy way.
Prevention of lifestyle-related diseases
Aronia is rich in the antioxidant polyphenols (anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins) and carotenoids (β-cryptoxanthin and β-carotene) , and is said to be useful in preventing lifestyle-related diseases due to its powerful antioxidant properties (*1) .
Anthocyanin works similarly to vitamin P ( ※2 ), which inhibits platelet coagulation (※3 ), and helps protect and strengthen blood vessels and improve circulatory function by keeping the blood flowing smoothly. This action is expected to reduce the risk of lifestyle-related diseases such as arteriosclerosis and high blood pressure.
The powerful antioxidant effects of the polyphenols and carotenoids contained in Aronia remove active oxygen (*4) from the body and reduce oxidative stress in cells, helping to prevent cell damage and DNA mutations that lead to cancer. Oxidative stress causes abnormal cell proliferation and inflammation, and is considered to be one of the main risk factors for cancer development. Polyphenols and carotenoids have been shown to inhibit this process, reducing the risk of cancer and potentially helping to prevent it.
In addition, carotenoids have anti-inflammatory properties and are expected to be effective in preventing the onset of cancers triggered by chronic inflammation. For example, they may be able to reduce the risk of cancers involving chronic inflammation caused by smoking and drinking, such as lung cancer and liver cancer.
Some of the carotenoids in aronia are converted into vitamin A in the body, which helps maintain normal cell growth and differentiation and inhibits the development and spread of cancer cells. Vitamin A also protects the health of mucous membranes and skin, reducing the effects of harmful substances from the outside and helping to prevent cancer.
Due to these effects, the carotenoids contained in Aronia may reduce the risk of cancer associated with oxidative stress and chronic inflammation and contribute to maintaining good health. Incorporating Aronia into your daily diet can support a healthy lifestyle that can help prevent cancer.
Many studies have shown that aronia is effective in preventing and improving lifestyle-related diseases such as hyperlipidemia, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer.
(※1) Antioxidant effect is the action of preventing proteins, lipids, DNA, etc. from being oxidized by oxygen.
(※2) Coagulation is the body's ability to clot blood in order to stop bleeding.
(※3) Vitamin P is a type of substance called a vitamin-like substance that functions similarly to vitamins.
(*4) Reactive oxygen is oxygen that is highly reactive and has strong oxidizing power. If excessive amounts of this oxygen are produced in the body, it can affect proteins, lipids, DNA, etc., and cause aging and other problems.
Anti-aging
Aronia is garnering attention as a fruit with excellent anti-aging properties due to its rich antioxidant content. Its main components, anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins , neutralize active oxygen and prevent oxidative damage to cells. Active oxygen increases due to unavoidable factors in daily life, such as ultraviolet rays, stress, smoking, and exhaust fumes, and damages cells and promotes aging, but the antioxidant components in aronia suppress this effect and prevent wrinkles, sagging skin, and blemishes.
In addition, the vitamin C contained in aronia promotes collagen production and helps maintain skin firmness and elasticity. Also, beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A (*5) in the body, which is said to be effective in maintaining the health of skin, mucous membranes, hair, and nails, as well as preventing blemishes and freckles.
Aronia also improves blood flow, increasing the amount of oxygen and nutrients distributed throughout the body, boosting metabolism and helping to slow down aging. Improving blood flow helps eliminate dull skin and maintain healthy, youthful skin. It also improves the intestinal environment, promoting an increase in good bacteria and detoxifying the body, helping to promote health and youth from the inside out.
Due to these effects, aronia is highly regarded as a fruit with anti-aging and skin-beautifying properties.
(※5) Vitamin A is a type of fat-soluble vitamin and generally refers to retinol, which is found in animal foods such as liver.
Prevention of eye diseases
Aronia is attracting attention as a fruit that contains many ingredients that are excellent for maintaining eye health and preventing eye diseases. The abundant anthocyanins in Aronia support the resynthesis of rhodopsin in the photoreceptor cells of the retina, and are expected to be effective in restoring vision and reducing eye fatigue. Rhodopsin is an essential substance for transmitting light signals to the brain, and ingesting anthocyanins promotes its regeneration, thereby improving visual function.
Aronia also has a strong antioxidant effect, protecting the eyes from oxidative damage caused by ultraviolet rays and blue light emitted from digital devices, which is believed to help prevent age-related eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.
Furthermore, aronia also has an anti-inflammatory effect, which is expected to reduce the risk of eye diseases associated with chronic inflammation. Since eye diseases often worsen as chronic inflammation progresses, the polyphenols contained in aronia suppress inflammation, which greatly contributes to maintaining eye health. In addition, aronia also has the effect of promoting blood flow, thoroughly supplying nutrients and oxygen to the capillaries of the eye and preventing oxidation of eye tissue. This blood flow improvement effect is expected to reduce dullness, dry eyes, and eye fatigue, and is also expected to reduce the strain on the eyes of people who use computers and smartphones on a daily basis.
Improves immune function
Aronia is a fruit rich in polyphenols , which help improve immunity. Polyphenols have a strong antioxidant effect and suppress the active oxygen generated in the body, preventing cell damage and preventing a decline in immune function. In particular, the anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins contained in aronia activate the function of immune cells and help protect the body from viruses and bacteria. Polyphenols also have an anti-inflammatory effect, preventing a decline in immune function caused by chronic inflammation.
Aronia is also rich in vitamins C and E, which support the activity of immune cells. Vitamin C is an important nutrient that enhances the function of immune cells and strengthens resistance to infections. Meanwhile, vitamin E helps prevent the oxidation of cell membranes and maintains immune function. These vitamins work synergistically with polyphenols, which have antioxidant properties, to protect the body from external stress and harmful substances.
References
・Anthocyanin-enriched Extracts from Aronia (Aronia melanocarpa E.) and Haskap (Lonicera caerulea L.) Suppressed KBrO3-induced Renal Damage in Rats, Azusa Takahashi1, Jun Watanabe2, Hirohide Sakaguchi3, Yukako Okazaki4, Takashi Suzuki1 and Hideyuki Chiji5*Nippon Shokuhin Kagaku Kogaku Kaishi, 62(5), 235-241, 2015Copyright© 2015, Japanese Society for Food Science and Technology doi: 10.3136/nskkk.62.235・Bijak M, Saluk J, Ponczek MB, Nowak P. 2012 “Antithrombin Effect of Polyphenol-Rich Extracts from Black Chokeberry and Grape Seeds.” Phytother Res. 2012 Apr 4. doi: 10.1002/ptr.4682. [Epub ahead of print]・Zapolska-Downar D, Bryk D, Ma?ecki M, Hajdukiewicz K, Sitkiewicz D. 2012 “Aronia melanocarpa fruit extract exhibits anti-inflammatory activity in human aortic endothelial cells.” Eur J Nutr. 2012 Aug;51(5): 563-72.・Sikora J, Broncel M, Markowicz M, Cha?ubi?ski M, Wojdan K, Mikiciuk-Olasik E. 2012 “Short-term supplementation with Aronia melanocarpa extract improves platelet aggregation, clotting, and fibrinolysis in patients with metabolic syndrome.” Eur J Nutr. 2012 Aug;51(5):549-56.・Kedzierska M, Olas B, Wachowicz B, Stochmal A, Oleszek W, Jeziorski A, Piekarski J, Glowacki R. 2009 “An extract from berries of Aronia melanocarpa modulates the generation of superoxide anion radicals in blood platelets from breast cancer patients.” Planta Med. 2009 Oct;75(13):1405-9.・Ciocoiu M, Miron A, B?descu M. 2008 “New polyphenolic extracts for oxidative stress treatment in experimental diabetes.” Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi. 2008 Jul-Sep;112(3):757-63.・Ohgami K, Ilieva I, Shiratori K, Koyama Y, Jin XH, Yoshida K, Kase S, Kitaichi N, Suzuki Y, Tanaka T, Ohno S. 2005 “Anti-inflammatory effects of aronia extract on rat endotoxin-induced uveitis.” Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2005 Jan;46(1):275-81.・Borissova P, Valcheva S, Belcheva A. 1994 “Antiinflammatory effect of flavonoids in the natural juice from Aronia melanocarpa, rutin and rutin-magnesium complex on an experimental model of inflammation induced by histamine and serotonin.” Acta Physiol Pharmacol Bulg. 1994; 20(1):25-30.
