For those who consume it, elderberry extract has numerous health benefits, according to WildmanSteveBrill.com. The most common method of consumption is when it is added to food. It can also be taken in the form of an injection. The benefits of elderberry extract range from improving the health of your heart to relieving pain.
Flu Fighter
Elderberry extract contains compounds known as Sambucus nigra agglutinin, or SNA, that prevents some strains of the influenza virus from being reproduced. According to SupplementQuality.com, a recent study of flu patients who took Sambucol, which is a name-brand juice product that contains elderberry extract, experienced full recovery from flu symptoms in just three days as opposed to seven days in patients who were not using the juice.
Reduces Free Radical Activity
When free radicals are running rampant in your body, the end result could be the death of important cells. Twelve fruits were examined by the United States Department of Agriculture. Of those fruits, chokecherries were the only fruit that was capable of absorbing a higher amount of free radicals than elderberries. The black elderberries absorbed twice as many free radicals as blueberries and 1.5 the amount that cranberries absorbed. Caryn Honig, R.D., a contributing author and nutritional consultant at Rice University Sports Med Web, states that free radicals are groups of atoms that have an unpaired number of electrons. They are formed when oxygen begins to interact with particular molecules in the body.
Cold Relief
Drinking a tea that has been made with elderberry extract can aid in relieving many cold symptoms, such as coughing, fever, sore throat, headache and fatigue, according to Medline Plus. To make a tea to help fight these cold symptoms, simply brew up your favorite tea and add four tablespoons of elderberry extract to each cup. To get the most benefits, drink at least three cups of tea for a minimum of three days. Preliminary research has shown that plenty of evidence exists that show elderberry extract to be a potent treatment for symptoms of colds. According to Medline Plus, more research is being planned to further confirm the benefits.
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