Health benefits of elderberries and why you should include it into your diet

 

Why you should add elderberries to your diet

What are the benefits of elderberry?

Different fruits and vegetables take their turn in the spotlight as a “superfood” for their various perceived benefits.

One of the latest to take a starring role is elderberry, which comes from the European elder tree and many people consume in teas, syrups, gummies, lozenges, supplements, wine and food flavorings. They also can be used in tasty baked goods, like muffins and pancakes.

One reason elderberry is popular, and why you should seek it out, is because it is packed with antioxidants and phytonutrients, or plant nutrients, from the blue and purple category, like anthocyanins, quercetin, resveratrol, and ellagic acid. These antioxidants and plant nutrients, which give the foods their rich color, help support your immune system and your brain and heart health.

Boost the blue

Another reason to seek it out? You’re likely not getting enough of those phytonutrients. While most people are good at putting shades of green and red in their grocery cart—those are the primary colors seen in the produce section—keeping up the quantities of blue and purple is more of a challenge.

Most people aren’t getting enough fruits and vegetables each day and blue and purple are the least consumed globally, according to the Global Phytonutrient Report commissioned by the Nutrilite Health Institute of Amway.

The report showed most adults would need to at least double their intake of fruits and vegetables to achieve the minimum of five servings (or 400g) per day recommended by the World Health Organization.

Filling the gap

Effective dietary supplements, such as Nutrilite™ Double X™ Vitamin/Mineral/Phytonutrient Supplement, Nutrilite Men’s Daily Multivitamin or Nutrilite Women’s Daily Multivitamin can help fill nutrient gaps in the diet.

Double X includes a blend of grape, blueberry, elderberry and black currant extracts, giving you that extra boost of blue and purple you might need. And the Men’s and Women’s Daily features 200mg of plant nutrients grown on our certified organic Nutrilite farms and partner farms, including purple carrot and elderberry.

You could also try n* by Nutrilite™ Go Shield – Immunity Gummies, which have 100mg of elderberry extract per serving as well as vitamin C and zinc.

While the elderberry may be enjoying some renewed fame, some researchers cite evidence it was used during prehistoric times while others say ancient Egyptians were buried with the berries.

We’re not sure about the health benefits of that, but it’s safe to say that sipping your next cup of elderberry tea or spreading elderberry jam on your toast not only will taste good, it will give you some needed antioxidants and phytonutrients!