Immunity Boosting Elderberry Syrup Recipe
By: Julie Stenner
Website: physiojulie.com | Instagram: @physiojulie
“Elderberries are an excellent source of beta carotene which converts to vitamin A in your body, 6% of your daily dose of calcium and vitamin C.”
The colorful elderberry packs powerful antioxidants that research suggests may boost the immune system and relieve flu-like symptoms. While it's not a miracle cure, the berry is rich in healthful flavonoids, especially anthocyanins that create the elderberry’s dark coloring. While you cannot eat them raw, you can brew the berries into a tea, cook them or in this case— create a simple, tasty and immune supporting syrup!
In a 2016 study, researchers found that 312 air travelers with a cold who took elderberry for 10 days before travel and up to five days after arriving at their overseas destination experienced a significant reduction in their cold-like symptoms than those who did not take elderberry.
Elderberries ripen around summertime and should be harvested then as well. If you can’t get your hands on fresh elderberries due to the season or for any other reason, you can find them frozen or dried year-round. Amaranth Foods sells dried elderberries perfect for making into syrups!
You can find dried elderberries, cinnamon sticks, ginger, cloves and honey available at Amaranth Foods!
To store fresh elderberries, keep them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Keep dried elderberries in a cool, dark, dry place in a sealed bag or container, where they can last for at least a year. If you buy or pick fresh elderberries on the stem, freezing them first helps you pluck the berries off the stems without squashing them.
Your kids will also enjoy the taste of elderberry, it isn’t overtly sweet and it has a bright flavour that’s both earthy and tart! There’s no wonder why many supplements also use it as a component to immune support and as a natural flavouring! Just remember that you or your children should never consume raw elderberry due to high concentrations of cyanide.
For more recipes like the Elderberry Syrup and reaching your goals in maximizing your body while reducing pain and improving strength, function & performance, follow @juliephysio on social media and sign up for her Feel Good Friday Newsletter!