How Much Do You Know About Elderberry?
How Much Do You Know About Elderberry?
Hailed as the immune superstar in 2020 and 2021, Elderberry has been making waves in the health industry, including supplements. Discover interesting facts about this purple fruit!
1. Known as a super berry, elderberry is packed with powerful antioxidants such as polyphenol anthocyanins, phenolic acids, flavanols, vitamin A and C.1 It contains greater antioxidants than strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and cranberries.
2. Elderberry has been featured in many recent studies supporting the use of elderberries for immune health, making it an immune health superstar in 2020 and 2021.2,3
3. Anthocyanin is the compound responsible for elderberries’ deep, dark purple colour and is popular for its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, antioxidant properties and immune health benefits4,5 such as reducing symptoms of cold and flu, cough, nasal congestion and sinus.6
4. Compounds in elderberries can block viruses from attaching and entering cells to prevent viruses from replicating, protecting you from potential infections.7
5. Unripe, raw elderberry can’t be eaten! Its unripe fruit, leaves and stems contain cyanogenic glycosides, when metabolised, is converted into cyanide that is poisonous and can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea and worse, could kill!
6. Elderberries are quite aromatic but aren’t very sweet and have a tart, bitter taste. They’re more often cooked and used in jams, pies, syrup, teas, gummies and lozenges.
DID YOU KNOW?
These 4 Shaklee products are packed with this purple superfood.
References:
1. Sidor, A., & Gramza-M. A. (2015). Advanced research on the antioxidant and health benefit of elderberry (Sambucus nigra) in food – A review. Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 18, Part B. doi:10.1016/j.jff.2014.07.012.
2. Wieland, L.S., Piechotta, V., Feinberg, T. et al. (2021) Elderberry for prevention and treatment of viral respiratory illnesses: a systematic review. BMC Complement Med Ther 21, 112. doi.org/10.1186/s12906-021-03283-5
3. Mahboubi, M. (2020) Sambucus nigra (black elder) as alternative treatment for cold and flu. ADV TRADIT MED (ADTM). doi: 10.1007/s13596-020-00469-z.
4. Młynarczyk, K., Walkowiak-Tomczak, D., & Łysiak, G. P. (2018). Bioactive properties of Sambucus nigra L. as a functional ingredient for food and pharmaceutical industry. Journal of functional foods, 40, 377–390. Doi: 10.1016/j.jff.2017.11.025
5. Porter, R. S., & Bode, R. F. (2017). A Review of the Antiviral Properties of Black Elder (Sambucus nigra L.) Products. Phytotherapy research : PTR, 31(4), 533–554. doi:10.1002/ptr.5782
6. Jian He et al. (2010). Anthocyanins: natural colorants with health-promoting properties. Annual Review of Food Science and Technology. Vol. 1:163-187
7. Golnoosh, T., Peter, V., Qayyum A., & Fariba D. (2019) Anti-influenza activity of elderberry (Sambucus nigra), Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 54,Pages 353-360, ISSN 1756-4646. doi: 10.1016/j.jff.2019.01.031
