By Vanessa Chalmers Health Reporter For Mailonline
Published: 17:51 BST, 5 April 2019 | Updated: 17:51 BST, 5 April 2019
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The latest 'superfood' to throw into your smoothie or porridge is chokeberries, scientists say.
The fruit, native to North America, is high in health-boosting antioxidants which can help in the fight against disease.
It's too tart to be eaten in it's raw state, but Polish scientists found the fruit's nutrients aren't damaged when cooked into porridge – unlike some other fruits.
But the berry, which looks similar to a cranberry or blueberry, may be difficult to get hold of in the UK because of low demand and a small market.
The latest 'superfood' to throw into your smoothie or porridge is chokeberries, Polish scientists say after findings its antioxidant properties aren't damaged when heated (stock image)
Natural plant food sources are being developed into functional foods – such as breakfast cereals – so they have health benefits beyond normal food products.
The team at the Medical University of Lublin in Poland were interested to see if they could create a corn porridge with chokeberries, also known as aronia berries.
In addition to their high concentration of antioxidants, chokeberries are full of vitamins, such as vitamin C and flavonoids, the team said.
It has previously been called 'the healthiest fruit in the world', is believed to have anti-ageing properties, be good for the heart and even work as an aphrodisiac.
The team created porridge with varying contents of chokeberry added, with the highest one containing 20 per cent fruit.
Antioxidants are man-made or natural substances that may prevent or delay some types of cell damage.
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