ROWAN BERRY HEALTH BENEFITS

Feb 2, 2017
2 min read

OVERVIEW

This tiny berry packs quite a nutritious punch, and includes high levels of vitamin C, sorbic acid, and dietary fiber, but they are mostly praised for their unique antioxidant composition. Rowan berries contain anthocyanins, tannins, polyphenolic compounds, and flavonols, including various types of quercetin and rutin.

Some of the health benefits of rowan berries include its ability to boost the immune system, strengthen the respiratory system, improve digestion, prevent certain cancers, and reduce bacterial infections.

CANCER PREVENTION

The high levels of antioxidants found in rowan berries make it a very powerful superfood against various chronic diseases, including cancer. Quercetin varieties and sorbic acid both act as antioxidants, preventing the harmful effects of free radicals throughout the body. Free radicals are the dangerous byproducts of cellular metabolism that can cause healthy cells to mutate into cancerous cells, or simply perish. Therefore, eating rowan berries can significantly boost your antioxidant levels, which means preventing cancerous growths, reducing the chances of premature aging, improving the health of your skin, increasing cell regeneration and healing rates, and boosting eye health, including reducing the chances of macular degeneration.

IMMUNE SYSTEM BOOST

Although rowan berries aren’t packed with a variety of vitamins, they are found to have high levels of vitamin C. Ascorbic acid is a very important element in human health, as it can stimulate the production of white blood cells and act as an antioxidant as well. Furthermore, vitamin C is essential for a number of bodily processes, including the creation of collagen, which strengthens muscle tissue and helps to build/repair blood vessels.

ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY

Sorbic acid has been directly linked to reducing the effects of microbial and bacterial agents on the skin and in the body. Therefore, in cosmetic use, rowan berry extracts are occasionally used, but as a food source, it can function as an antibacterial and antimicrobial booster.

DIGESTIVE HEALTH

Fiber, which is found in moderate amounts in rowan berries, helps to facilitate digestion and reduce constipation by bulking up stool and optimizing your gastrointestinal system. Furthermore, the organic compounds in rowan berries are thought to directly improve any symptoms of diarrhea, although the exact mechanism of this is still unclear.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

In traditional medicine, rowan berry juice was used to reduce inflammation of the respiratory tract, improve sore throats, and relieve asthma and congestion. Some of this may be due to the antioxidant compounds that also act as anti-inflammatory agents, while vitamin C is known to soothe the symptoms of asthma. Whatever the direct links are, rowan berries have been trusted for generations as a home remedy for respiratory ailments.