Looking for a natural alternative to fight colds and flus? Tired of the price you pay for natural products in the store? Learn about elderberry benefits.
My mom was, and always has been, against conventional medicine. My sister and I rarely went to the doctors as kids. My mom always had some natural method up her sleeve. Of all of the items I tried, elderberry goes back the furthest.
I remember when I was still in elementary school. My mother gave me elderberry syrup when I was sick. I remember its sweet flavors. Its smooth taste. Its quick responses on my cough. To this day. we still keep a bottle of elderberry syrup in our refrigerator for future cold outbreaks. Learn how elderberry benefits can help your family. Better yet, learn how to make this magical syrup for only a fraction of a cost.
Elderberry is a plant found naturally in North America. Its berries are used for medicinal properties. Commonly, elderberry is used to treat colds, flus, and sinus infections. Elderberry is typically consumed orally through elderberry syrup. A typical dose ranges from one to three teaspoons depending on age.
There are numerous benefits to taking elderberry. In trials, elderberry syrup was shown to treat several strains of flu successfully. Symptoms in patients were usually relieved 4 days sooner when taking elderberry. What if you are not sick? Can you still take elderberry? Certainly. Elderberry syrup has many other health benefits.
Other Elderberry Benefits
Elderberry syrup can be used in cooking applications as well. It can incorporate many vitamins and minerals your body needs to function properly. Elderberry is also rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants. These components help lower cholesterol, improve vision, boost the immune system, and can stimulate heart health. Even if you do not have the coughs and sniffles, it is a still good idea to take elderberry.
What is the recommended dose? This depends if you are sick. If you are sick try 1 teaspoon 3 times a day. If you are trying to prevent sickness? One teaspoon daily should be plenty.
Look to trying elderberry syrup to help with those coughs and colds. If you want to be safe elderberry is not a bad food to consume to be preventative. Elderberry benefits are clinically proven, why not try it out? If you aren’t into making your own syrup, you can buy elderberry liquid or capsules as dietary supplements.
Homemade Elderberry Syrup Recipe
Looking for other ways to get the benefits from this amazing plants? Check out how to use elderflower tea to help fight off illnesses here.
Elderberry Syrup
Looking for a natural alternative to fight colds and flus? Tired of the price you pay for natural products in the store? Learn about elderberry benefits.
Ingredients
- 3 cups of water
- Approximately 1/2 cup of elderberries (see note)
- 1 cup of honey or other natural sweetener
Instructions
- Using a small saucepan mix the water and elderberries. Bring to a boil.
- Once boiling starts, reduce to a low simmer.
- While on simmer mash the elderberries to get out any remaining juices.
- Continue simmering and mashing for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Strain mixture into a container. A mason jar or jam jar will work.
- Mix in the honey or other natural sweetener.
Notes
A smaller amount of dried elderberries can also be used.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
108Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 10Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 0gSugar: 3gProtein: 0g
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
