Elderberry For Your Health

For those who don't know elderberry, it is a shrub or small tree that grows throughout the warmer regions of the Americas and Europe.  The berries that form late in the summer are most recently known to be really great at shortening the duration of colds and illnesses.  That's because they contain potassium and large amounts of vitamin c.  Elderberries are also a good source of anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants which are responsible for giving many red and purple fruits their color.  

In our house we've been using elderberry syrup, the most commonly found way of consuming elderberry, for a few years.  As soon as symptoms of a cold appear, we take it and often times the cold doesn't come to fruition, or if it does, it is way shorter than other friends who have the same cold.  It tastes pretty good too.  Even my son loves it (okay, so he eats sprouted lentils and dulse for snacks too.  Normal?)  

Elderberry is not like Echinacea.  You don't take it to keep the viruses away, but rather take it at the first sign of a virus.  I've read that it shouldn't be taken for more than 2 weeks at a time, as a tolerance can be built up against it.

There are a few brands to choose from.  The sweetest brand is "Sambucol".  The nastiest tasting brand is "Planetary Herbals", but its powerful in its punch and has other good stuff thrown into the mix.

The weather's getting colder, so get to your health food store and stock up on the good stuff.  Having it in the house even makes me feel like I have a better immune system!