Organic Elder Berries
Botanical Name: Sambucus nigra & S. ebulus
From: Bulgaria
Benefits:
1. High in nutrients: Elderberries are a low calorie food packed with antioxidants.
One cup (145 grams) of fresh berries contain 106 calories, 26.7 grams of carbs, and less than 1 gram each of fat and protein.
Plus, they have many nutritional benefits. Elderberries are:
- High in vitamin C. There are 52 mg of vitamin C per cup of fruit, which accounts for 57% of the daily value.
- High in dietary fiber. Elderberries contain 10 grams of fiber per cup of fresh berries, about 36% of the daily value.
- A good source of phenolic acids. These compounds are potent antioxidants that can help reduce damage from oxidative stress in the body.
- A good source of flavonols. Elderberry contains the antioxidant flavonols quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin. The flowers contain up to 10 times more flavonols than the berries
2. May improve cold and flu symptom: Black elderberry extracts and flower infusions have been shown to help reduce the severity and length of influenza.
3. High in antioxidants: The flowers, fruits, and leaves of the elderberry plant are excellent sources of antioxidants. For example, one of the anthocyanins found in the berries has 3.5 times the antioxidant power of vitamin E
Avoid: The bark, unripe berries, and seeds contain small amounts of substances known as lectins, which can cause stomach problems if too much is eaten.
