Is Elderberry Tea Good for You?
Elderberry plants are members of the flowering plant…
…genus Sambucus, and they may be found all over the world. Elderberries are available in a variety of hues, including red, black, and blue. With their bright colors, they’re a popular addition to gardens, but many people also like them in a freshly made cup of tea. The elderberry plant’s uncooked, unripe berries, as well as its leaves and stems, are toxic. They contain the poisonous sambunigrin. When sambunigrin is consumed, it degrades into hydrogen cyanide, which is toxic. You may get nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea if you consume the poisonous parts of the elderberry plant.
Fortunately, the same toxin does not exist in ripe fruit and flowers. Consuming ripe berries, on the other hand, may have additional detrimental health consequences. Cooked elderberries are the healthiest method to consume them. Cooking destroys sambunigrin in all parts of the elderberry plant. Elderberry tea is a beverage prepared from dried, ripe elderberries. These berries are cooked in water before being filtered to remove solids. The finished tea beverage has a sweet and tangy flavor with earthy overtones. To alter the flavor, boil the berries with extra seasonings such as:
- cinnamon sticks
- ginger
- orange juice
- honey (added after boiling)
It’s not difficult to locate internet testimonials from folks who swear by elderberry tea. It’s been said that it may help with anything from immunity to constipation, but what does the science say? Is there any evidence that drinking elderberry tea has any health benefits?
Health Benefits of Elderberry Tea
Elderberries as a elderberry tea have been linked to a slew of health advantages. They are not only healthy, but they may also assist with cold and flu symptoms, heart health, and fighting inflammation and infections, among other things.
Elderberry Tea High in Nutrients
Elderberry are a low-calorie, antioxidant-rich meal. Fresh berries include 106 calories, 26.7 grams of carbohydrates, and less than 1 gram of fat and protein per cup (145 grams).
They also have a lot of nutritional value. Elderberries are also known as:
- High in vitamin C. A cup of fruit contains 52 milligrams of vitamin C, which accounts for 57 percent of the daily requirement.
- High in dietary fiber. Elderberries include 10 grams of fiber per cup of fresh berries, which is roughly 36% of the recommended requirement.
- A good source of phenolic acids. These chemicals are powerful antioxidants that can aid in the reduction of oxidative stress damage in the body.
- A good source of flavonols. The antioxidant flavonols quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin are found in elderberry. The blooms have up to ten times the flavonol content of the berries.
- Rich in anthocyanins. These chemicals give the fruit its distinctive rich black-purple hue and are powerful antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties.
The exact nutritional composition of elderberries depends on:
- the plant variety
- the berry’s ripeness
- climatic and environmental circumstances
As a result, the nutritional value of each serving may differ.
Elderberry Tea May Improve Cold and Flu Symptoms
It has been demonstrated that black elderberry extracts and flower infusions can help lessen the intensity and duration of influenza. Elderberry commercial products for cold therapy exist in a variety of formats, including drinks, capsules, lozenges, and gummies. More large-scale research is needed to validate these findings and establish whether elderberry can also help prevent influenza. It should be noted that the majority of study has only been conducted on commercial goods. There is little information available on the safety and efficacy of home treatments.
Elderberry Tea High in Antioxidants
Reactive chemicals may be produced during normal metabolism and accumulate in the body. This can result in oxidative stress, which can lead to illnesses such as type 2 diabetes and cancer. Antioxidants are natural components of meals such as vitamins, phenolic acids, and flavonoids that can aid in the removal of reactive molecules. Antioxidant-rich diets may help avoid chronic illness, according to research.
The elderberry plant’s blooms, fruits, and leaves are high in antioxidants. One of the anthocyanins found in berries, for example, has 3.5 times the antioxidant activity of vitamin E. While elderberry has demonstrated encouraging benefits in the lab, human and animal studies are relatively restricted. In general, including it in your diet has just a little impact on your antioxidant level. Furthermore, elderberry preparation, such as extraction, boiling, or juicing, might decrease their antioxidant activity. As a result, items such as syrups, juices, teas, and jams may offer fewer advantages than those observed in laboratory research.
Elderberry Tea Good For Heart Health
Some indicators of heart and blood vessel health may benefit from the use of elderberry. Elderberry juice has been demonstrated in studies to lower blood fat levels and cholesterol. Furthermore, a diet rich in flavonoids such as anthocyanins has been linked to a lower risk of heart disease. Nonetheless, in one trial of 34 participants given 400 mg of elderberry extract (equal to 4 mL of juice) three times a day for two weeks, there was no significant reduction in cholesterol levels.
Another research in rats with elevated cholesterol revealed that a diet rich in black elderberry decreased cholesterol levels in the liver and aorta but not in the blood. Further research discovered that rats fed diets containing polyphenols derived from elderberry had lower blood pressure. Furthermore, elderberries may lower uric acid levels in the blood. Elevated uric acid levels have been related to high blood pressure and harmful consequences on heart health. Despite these encouraging findings, a direct reduction in heart attacks or other symptoms of heart disease has yet to be shown, and more human trials are required.
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