Colds and flu are party poopers especially for kids and parents like you. They stop you from doing the usual things you do with the same liveliness. The kids can’t play, meet with their friends, or just simply feel normal. And when your kids feel a little under the weather, it can also be rough for you as a parent. You know very well how hard it is to see your kids not feeling good, even though it’s just a common cold or mild case of flu.
Fortunately, nature has been very giving when it comes to remedies to help avoid minor illnesses or at least ease up the symptoms if ever you catch one.
One superfood, although not widely known, has been used for centuries in folk traditions during the cold and flu season: the elderberries.
What is Elderberry?
Elderberries are purple berries from the sambucus nigra plant which have traditionally been used as a natural tonic. These herbal wonders date back to the time of Hippocrates and people drank or ate elderberries for cold, flu, and other minor illnesses. It was also used as a go-to pick-me-up and nutritional boost during that time.
While elderberries are native to Europe, elderberries are also widely used in other parts of the world like in North Africa, America and parts of Asia for hundreds of years.
Health Benefits of Elderberries
Can Help support Your immune system
As mentioned, elderberries are rich in antioxidants that can help strengthen one’s immune system. It’s also believed that elderberries can reduce the length and severity of common illnesses like fever, headaches and runny noses.
Can Help Reduce Inflammation
This superfood also contains different “bioactives” like tannins and flavonoids. These compounds are soothing that can help prevent the onset of cellular damage or reduce the inflammation that’s occurring on your skin. In addition to that, elderberries are also rich in fibre, with approximately 10g. Fibre, as you may know, can help improve digestion and support a healthy gut.
Make Your Own Elderberry Syrup
Elderberries are often taken as a syrup, and it could be the best and easiest way to make the most of the benefits of this superfood.
You might be wondering where to buy elderberry syrup. We’re sure that there are several natural elderberry syrups available online and in other health stores. But if we were in your shoes, you might be better off making your own. Not only that you’ll be able to make the flavour based on your kids’ preference, but you’ll be able to make more syrup, too, at a much cheaper cost. Most importantly, nothing really beats home-made!
Are you ready to create your own healthy mix? Below is the recipe we whipped up just for you!
Elderberry Syrup Recipe
Here is an easy Elderberry syrup recipe made with Superfoods Australia’s Elderberries, raw honey and spices that make a super tasty and immune-supporting syrup. You can eat it with yoghurt, pancakes, waffles, toast, smoothies or other recipes.
Preparation Info
Preparation Time: around 6 mins
Time to cook: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 20 mins
Amount of servings: 3 cups
Calories: very low (approximately 6kcal per teaspoon)
Ingredients
5 cups water
1.5 cups raw honey
1.5 tsp cinnamon
1 cup Freeze Dried Elderberry Powder
3 Tablespoons of grated ginger
2/3 tsp ground cloves
Instructions
1. Mix five cups of water, Freeze Dried Elderberry Powder, grated ginger, cinnamon powder, and cloves into a medium saucepan.
2. Boil the mixture in the saucepan then reduce the liquid by about half by covering and simmering it for about 45 minutes to an hour.
3. Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow it to cool until the pan can be touched with bare hands.
4. Use a strainer to strain the mixture into a mason jar or glass bowl.
5. Put whatever’s left in the strainer to your compost.
6. Add the honey and mix it well when the mixture is still warm. This temperature will help the honey to mix well with your mixture.
7. After the honey is stirred well into the elderberry solution, pour the final product into a mason jar or bottle if you use a bowl.
And voila! In just seven easy steps, you’ve procured your own healthy flavoured elderberry syrup! Easy, right?
Use your homemade elderberry syrup 5 days a week in the morning to get you going and keep your immune system firing. Refrigerate the mixture or keep a month’s supply in the fridge and the rest in the freezer.
Suggested Use
0.5 - 1 teaspoon for kids and 0.5 - 1 tablespoon for adults.
Nutrition
Serving: 1tsp | Calories: 6kcal | Carbohydrates: 1.7g | Fibre: 0.1g | Sugar: 1.5g
Elderberries are really underrated superfoods. They can grow in shrubs along the roads, although rarely, or at the back of your yard and you won’t even notice. Who would have thought that a berry in such a cute size actually packs a number of vitamins, antioxidants and other healthy compounds?
Don’t wait until you or your kids get a little under the weather again. Get a hold of this superfood right now and make your own syrup!
Good thing it’s now easier to add an elderberry flavour to your diet. At Superfoods Australia, you can order your Freeze-Dried Elderberry Powder. It’s 100% natural and doesn’t contain any additives such as sugars, acids, colourants, and preservatives. Yes, not even a hint! Our Freeze-Dried Elderberry Powder is certified organic and safe from pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, irradiation, allergens (100% free), and GMOs.
Don’t wait for eternity and order here!
This article is general information only and is not medical advice. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting a new supplement.
