High blood pressure: This type of berry could reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease
HIGH blood pressure is a key risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. A new research study has identified a certain type of berry that could slash the chances of developing the illness.
What is cardiovascular disease?
High blood pressure can endanger your life. It can lead to cardiovascular disease, increasing the risk of a heart attack and stroke. One type of berry has been shown to help get your health on track.
July 2020 has seen new research published in the scientific journal Complete Nutrition.
Leading Public Health nutritionist, Dr Emma Derbyshire, looked into the health properties of a certain berry.
"Berries are well documented for their health properties," she began. "And Aronia berries have been gaining increased scientific interest in recent years."
Aronia berries
Also known as chokeberries, a 2015 review in the journal Food Technology and Biotechnology noted that previous research had found aronia to have the highest polyphenol content of 143 plants.
Polyphenols are micronutrients found in plant-based compounds that are linked to numerous health benefits.
Taking on board this information, Dr Derbyshire recognised that "the potential protective effects of polyphenol containing foods are well documented".
Given the extremely high concentration of polyphenols in aronia berries, it was no surprise to Dr Derbyshire that they could reduce a person's risk of "cardiovascular disease".
READ MORE: Type 2 diabetes symptoms: Does your breath smell like this? Expert reveals warning sign
Aronia berries have a number of proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins, flavonols, flavanols, phenolic acids, chlorogenic acids and quercetin derivatives.
Additionally, they contain vitamin C, folate, vitamin B1, B2, B6, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin K, bioactive and nutritional compounds ideal for health.
Dr Derbyshire continued: "By incorporating just five percent of aronia juice into a balanced diet can significantly improve inflammation and DNA repair mechanisms in the body."
Delving into the research on aronia berries, Garcia-flores et al (2018) found that when triathletes drank 200 ml/day of aronia juice, they reported positive effects on the levels of inflammation.
DON'T MISS
Type 2 diabetes: The best drink to consume to help lower blood sugar [TIPS]
Best supplements for high blood pressure: Supplement to lower pressure and reduce risk [TIPS]
How to live longer: The hot drink proven to reduce risk of early death from all causes [TIPS]
Related articles
Researchers from the Department of Pharmacognosy and Molecular Basis of Phytotherapy, at the University of Warsaw, examined if aronia fruit extract could provide protection against atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is when fatty materials are deposited on artery walls - heavily associated with cardiovascular disease.
The data revealed that aronia berry could "play a potential role in the prevention of coronary artery disease".
This is because the aronia extract helped to relax the tissue, enabling improved blood flow.
Coronary heart disease is one of the four main types of cardiovascular disease.
The other three are: strokes and mini strokes (transient ischaemic attacks), peripheral arterial disease, and aortic disease.
As well as high blood pressure, other risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease include smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, inactivity and being overweight.
How to ingest aronia berries
People can eat fresh aronia berries, juiced aronia berries and use them as an ingredient in baked goods or other recipes.
Related articles
In addition, aronia berries are available in supplement form. Tom Zivanovic, from Pharmavita, commented that "aronia berries are a game-changing staple".
Realising the full potential aronia berries can have on a person's health, Zivanovic created AroniaX Berry Shot.
"With all the discussions around immunity boosting and health on everyone’s radar, there’s never been a better time to up your polyphenol count.
"And AroniaX Berry Shot provides a month’s worth of polyphenols in a convenient series of one-a-day shots for a week."
