17 Apr Spotlight on IMMUNE Ingredient: Elderberry
You may have been hearing about elderberry often for the past few years, and it’s for many good reasons! One of them is because it is consistently at the forefront of research when it comes to health, wellness and immunity. But what exactly is elderberry?
Elderberry is a flowering plant with several varieties from the Sambucus tree and is one of the most used medicinal plants worldwide. Traditionally used by Ancient Egyptians and Native Americans for a wide range of ailments, elderberry is used today as a supplement to support immunity, cardiovascular health and blood glucose control1.
Let’s dive into the science of Elderberry! Elderberry’s health boosting powers are thanks to the presence of flavonoids called anthocyanins which give Elderberry its deep purple color. These anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants that are linked to anti-inflammatory properties which in turn help support immunity2. Elderberry has a very high ORAC score, aka oxygen radical absorbance capacity, a score that is twice as high as blueberries and cranberries!
Because of Elderberry’s high antioxidant levels, taking elderberry is positively associated with supporting the endothelial lining in the blood vessels and capillaries of the body which may help with blood pressure and allow the blood to move more freely throughout the body.3The antioxidants support the reduction of inflammation, which additionally is linked to possible improvements in blood glucose regulation.
So what does all of this mean? When the circulatory system of the body is working efficiently, it is better able to carry white blood cells where they are needed to fight off bacterial and viral infections, so we want to do everything we can to keep it healthy!
Elderberry is one of many amazing immune health supporting ingredients found in FITTEAM’s brand new IMMUNE formula!
Maryann Walsh, MFN, RD, CDE
Registered Dietitian Consultant