How Healthy is Aronia Juice?
Monica Reinagel, MS, LD/N, CNS
Q. My husband recently picked up some aronia juice at the market and the kids love it. It claims to be a “superfruit.” Is it really that good for you or should we treat it like any other fruit juice (i.e., limit our consumption because of the sugar)?
Answer. Like other berries, aronia fruit (also known as chokeberry) is quite high in antioxidant compounds that are thought to protect cells and help ward off aging and disease. But even though it may be higher in certain nutrients, there’s still no evidence that eating aronia does any more good than eating other, less-exotic berries.
In fact, raw aronia berries are much too tart and astringent to eat. Commercial aronia juice is almost always blended with other fruit juices or sweeteners to make it more palatable, so I think you’re smart to treat it like any other fruit juice.
See also: Is fruit juice a healthy choice?
Can you get too many antioxidants?
Superfruits
Aronia Juice image courtesy of Shutterstock
About the Author
Monica Reinagel is a board-certified licensed nutritionist, author, and the creator of one of iTunes’ most highly ranked health and fitness podcasts. Her advice is regularly featured on the TODAY show, Dr. Oz, NPR, and in the nation’s leading newspapers, magazines, and websites. Do you have a nutrition question? Call the Nutrition Diva listener line at 443-961-6206. Your question could be featured on the show.