With Cold Season upon us, now is the time to stock up on your Elderberry Syrup or Dried Elderberries to make your own, but the real question is what benefits does Elderberry offer and why should I be taking it to boost my immune system?
Elderberries are
- High in Vitamin C
- High in dietary fiber
- A good source of phenolic acids: These compounds are powerful antioxidants that can help reduce damage from oxidative stress in the body.
- A good source of flavonols
- Rich in anthocyanins: These compounds give the fruit its characteristic dark black-purple color and are a strong antioxidant with anti-inflammatory effects.
While we all know that Elderberries can help reduce the severity and duration of a cold, but did you know that there are studies proving that?
One study of 60 people with influenza found that those who took 15 ml of elderberry syrup four times per day showed symptom improvement in two to four days, while the control group took seven to eight days to improve. Another study of 64 people found that taking 175-mg elderberry extract lozenges for two days resulted in significant improvement in flu symptoms, including fever, headache, muscle aches and nasal congestion, after just 24 hours. Furthermore, a study of 312 air travelers taking capsules containing 300 mg of elderberry extract three times per day found that those who got sick experienced a shorter duration of illness and less severe symptoms.
Other research is showing that Elderberries are great for heart health, helping to fight cancer, could protect against UV radiation, and may even have antidepressant properties.
So make sure to pick up your bottle of Elderberry Syrup or a bag of Dried Elderberries on your next visit!
