7 HEALTH BENEFITS OF ELDERBERRY TEA

Brimming with flavor and vitality, elderberry tea knows how to freshen your senses and bring a surge of sweet strength to your immune system too. Given superfood status, drinking elderberry tea is amazing for your health from tip to toe. This magic tea can help everything from cutting down on the discomfort of UTI’s to fighting off flu. Do you know any benefits from the bright elderberry tea? If not, don’t worry as we are about to explore them all…

WHAT IS ELDERBERRY TEA?

Elderberry tea is made from the berries of the elder tree. The berries are picked and then dried before being infused with water to make a warm and soothing tea. The berries come in different colours – from black and red to blue. They have a tart taste and have been proven beneficial at boosting the immune system.

The elderberry tree is part of the Sambucus Tree family (real name Sambucus Nigra) and from the same tree that gives us the elderflower. The tree flowers all over the world but is native to European shores and is found in abundance in the Irish countryside. These trees can grow up to 9 meters tall and burst with frothy white clusters of flowers with a delicate apple-like fragrance that is known as the elderflower. These flowers are often picked and made into syrups too. The elder berries need to be cooked to be consumed. When cooked they give off a jammy dark coloring and a tart lip pursing flavor that is very high in fibre and other nutrients.

SOURCE OF ANTHOCYANINS

It may not roll off the tongue with ease but Anthocyanins are one of the compounds that helps elderberry tea keep its reputation of being a top healer. This compound is also what gives the berries their lush black and purple coloring. But even beyond the pretty coloring, anthocyanins are known to also have health-boosting properties too. They are a rich source of antioxidants and also brim with anti-inflammatory properties. Studies conducted on both humans and animals have come back with positive results showcasing those anthocyanins can reduce cardiovascular risks, help control obesity, lower your likelihood of developing diabetes, and so much more. When you have these anthocyanins onside the odds seem to certainly be in your favor.

 

HIGH IN NUTRIENTS

One of the best things about elderberry tea is the fact that a single cup is stuffed full of nutrients and a whole host of other good stuff to reduce your risk of chronic disease. Elderberry tea is full of vitamin C, and fiber to keep your body healthy and is very rich in flavonoid phenolic acids.

 

BOOSTS IMMUNE SYSTEM

When you combine all those powerful antioxidants and array of nutrients, it’s no surprise that elderberry tea brings a boost to your immune system. Protecting against viruses, keeping the cell walls strong and fit, and increasing the production of inflammatory cytokines all come together to give your system an arsenal of defence to use against disease and illness. Animal studies have also shown that the polyphenols in elderberry also helped to bring up the white blood cell count. With a boosted immune system you can cut down on everything from colds to cancer risks.

 

DISEASE PREVENTION

Keeping your body fighting fit is always good especially when it comes to extending the quality of life and preventing a wide range of diseases. Elderberry tea can reduce the risk of a whole host of diseases, including when it comes to cancer prevention. Elderberries are said to contain quercetin, which is believed to have therapeutic effects on the immune system, encouraging it to snap into action and help when your body needs it most. As elderberries also keep blood sugar levels in check, this can help when it comes to managing diabetes and reduce the risks of complications developing from the disease.

 

PROTECTS AGAINST UV RADIATION & HARMFUL BACTERIA

Harmful bacteria can get into the cracks and wreak havoc on your health. When it comes to urinary tract infections and the berries ability to reduce inflammation, it is second to none. We all know the discomfort of a UTI and fortunately sipping elderberry tea can reduce the impact and get you cleared up even faster.

When it comes to protecting against sun damage and reducing the physical signs of aging, again elderberry tea can swoop in and come to the rescue. The anthocyanins that are found in the bright burst of elderberry are known to be a natural booster for your skin’s health and can protect against UV rays and sun damage. The fact that elderberry is also rich in antioxidants and polyphenols could also mean that the skin will enjoy those benefits too as these compounds are full of anti-inflammatory properties and can even reverse the process of harm done to UV exposed skin.

 

BEST FOR CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH

If you are interested in keeping your heart beating with all the strength then pour a cup of elderberry tea and let it infuse you with all the finery of cool cardiovascular health. A study conducted on heart health and elderberry juice found that the tart liquid helped to reduce fat in blood and cut down on cholesterol – both of which can be big contributing factors when it comes to heart disease risk.

But the research doesn’t stop there. Further cementing elderberry and its positive relationship to heart health, another study on rats and polyphenols extracted from elderberry came back showing that there was a reduction in high blood pressure levels (which puts a strain on the heart), and that alongside this there was a reduced risk when it came to organ damage. All this adds up to truly good news for your hart, simply by sipping a cup of elderberry tea.

 

HELPS TO REDUCE COLD

Tis the season to be struggling with sniffles, coughs, colds, and all kinds of antiviral and flu-like symptoms. Now more than ever it feels so important to cut down on your risk of catching flu and colds and keeping your body in tip-top shape should you find yourself floored by influenza season. Studies have shown the black elderberry can help to reduce the severity of those symptoms we tend to associate with colds and flu.

One such study found that those who ingested 15ml of elderberry syrup four times a day cut their healing time down dramatically. They showed a significant improvement and reduction in flu symptoms in 2-4 days whereas those who went without took 7-8 days to start getting better. Next time you feel a series of sniffles and sneezes coming on, be sure to stack up on that elderberry tea.

 

SIDE EFFECTS OF ELDERBERRY TEA

As you can see, Elderberry tea is swimming with sublime health properties and by making it part of your tea routine, you can reap all those beautiful benefits for your body. Like all berries, there can be side effects. Uncooked raw elderberries can cause stomach upsets if consumed in high doses. The best way to avoid any issues is to cook or dry the berries before consuming.

If you are out collecting elderberries yourself, make sure that you identify the plant correctly as similar looking plants can be toxic. Don’t forget to cook the berries before turning them into anything consumable and discard the branches, bark, and leaves as these elements aren’t edible. Picked correctly, there should be no dangers or side effects that come from drinking elderberry tea.

 

WHAT DOES ELDERBERRY TEA TASTE LIKE?

Sweet and tart and bursting with ripeness, the elderberry isn’t as sweet as some of the other more popular berries but instead holds on to its soft earthy hues too. One of the best things about working with elderberry tea is that you can change the taste to suit your own palate by adding in a few other berries or even spices. Like our Elderberry Blast, a mix of elderberries, blackcurrants & hibiscus. Or add some spice, From clove to cardamom and a pinch of cinnamon, you can easily add more layers to bring this berry burst into warming autumnal shades.

NUTRIENTS

Every cup of elderberry tea packs quite a punch when it comes to building up your nutritional intake and feeding your body exactly what it needs. Let’s say for every ounce of elderberries collected (28 grams), you can expect the following:

• · 20 calories
• · 5.2 grams of carbs
• · 0.1 gram of fat
• · 17% of your daily vitamin C intake
• · 3% of your daily vitamin A intake
• · 3% of your daily vitamin B intake
• · 2% of your daily potassium intake
• · 2% of your daily iron intake

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)

 

DO ELDERBERRIES CAUSE CYTOKINE STORMS?

Since the pandemic hit there has been plenty of misinformation out there regarding elderberry and cytokine storm and we are here to help shift through the noise. Cytokines have many purposes but one of them is to send messages between cells. A cytokine storm can occur when the body has an uncontrollable inflammatory response that is caused by the immune system going into overdrive. As elderberry is an immune stimulant, it has led to some people speculating that there could be a link. There have been ZERO reported cases or links between elderberries and cytokine storms.

 

ARE THE BENEFITS OF ELDERFLOWER THE SAME AS ELDERBERRIES?

They may hail from the same tree and each is drenched in health benefits but elderberries and elderflower bring different traits to the table. Elderflowers are much more delicate in taste and aroma compared to the tart sharpness that the elderberry can bring. Elderflower can also be used when battling cold and flu but can also be used as a gargle for those suffering from laryngitis or a sore throat and used to treat itchy eyes and skin ailments too. You can read more about the health benefits of elderflower right here.

 

CAN YOU DRINK ELDERBERRY TEA EVERY DAY?

Yes. Elderberry tea is rich in nutrients, can boost a healthy immune system, and is free from caffeine and is considered to be a safe and side-effect free drink to enjoy in moderation. If you want to top up your body with the good stuff, you can sip a beautiful cup of tea every single day without worry. Elderberry tea is especially good to drink during cold and flu season as it can help to reduce the severity of symptoms and get you back on your feet in no time.

 

DOES ELDERBERRY TEA HAVE CAFFEINE?

Because elderberry tea is a natural herbal tea made from the berries of the elder tree it contains no caffeine at all. For those who are looking for a delicious caffeine-free tea that won’t give them the coffee jitters or keep them up late, then elderberry tea can be a great alternative. Elderberry tea is such a great example of a naturally caffeine-free tea that brings a whole heap of goodness to your daily diet. For those who want to keep their immune system soaring, keep disease and illness at bay, and who want to up their intake of  antioxidants, nutrients, and a whole lot more, then be sure to add elderberry tea to your collection of natural remedies.

What are your thoughts on elderberry tea? Have you ever tried it or do you prefer other herbal teas instead? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.