If you’re looking for the best elderberry supplements to buy this year, then you’ve come to the right place.
You can also get more info by jumping to our Elderberry Supplements Guide.
Top 10 Elderberry Supplements
#1 | Gaia Herbs Black Elderberry | More Info | |
#2 | Now Foods Elderberry Extract | More Info | |
#3 | Nature’s Sunshine Elderberry Immune | More Info | |
#4 | Pure Encapsulations Elderberry | More Info | |
#5 | BlueBonnet Elderberry Fruit Extract | More Info | |
#6 | Paradise Herbs Elderberry | More Info | |
#7 | Eclectic Institute Elder | More Info | |
#8 | Solaray Elderberry | More Info | |
#9 | GNC Herbal Plus Elderberry Fruit | More Info | |
#10 | Planetary Herbals Full Spectrum Elderberry Extract | More Info |
Elderberry Supplements Guide
Elderberries are a traditional medicine that has been used to fight off common illness for generations. These nutrient-rich berries offer a wide range of health benefits when you include a high quality elderberry supplement in regular health routine.
What Is An Elderberry?
Edible elderberries are found on Sambucus nigra spp canadensis, commonly called the black elderberry or Sambucus tree. The Sambucus nigra species is the only elderberry tree that produces berries that are considered non-toxic, although the berry’s pith and all other parts of the tree are poisonous. While other species of elderberry are edible, the berries must be carefully cleaned and cooked before they safe to eat. The flowers are also edible, but the tiny white petals must be carefully removed from the stems to reduce the risk of consuming poison.
To identify edible elderberries, examine the height and shape of the plant, and note the color and texture of the bark. The black elderberry is a bushy shrub that is often equally tall and wide. The rounded shrub reaches heights of 12 to 16 feet and is surrounded by a thick canopy that makes the main trunk difficult to see. The shrub has pinnate leafs that grow opposite pairs along the branches.
Elderberry bushes, or Sambucus canadensis, are bushes that have spongy green branches accented with a bold pinkish-purple color. This bush is typically much smaller than the black elderberry. In spring, the bush produces the white flowers seen on the black elderberry. The berries appear in late spring and ripen to a deep black color in late summer. The berries look similar to those found on the Sambucus niger, the smaller elderberry bush produces berries that are poisonous until the pith is removed and the berries are cooked using an approved method. In spring, lacy white flowers appear on most species of elderberry. The flowers often look flat from a distance, and are made up of clusters of tiny blossoms, followed by the appearance of green berries that turn red then black as they ripen.
Benefits of Elderberries
Elderberry trees are native in the United States and Europe, and were particularly loved in England, where the trees were planted near homes as symbols of protection. The berries were often used to make syrups and cordials, much like the methods used to preserve the medicinal benefits of elderberries today. The most common use of elderberry supplements is to fight common illnesses like colds and flu. Anthocyanins, an antioxidant found in elderberries, triggers the release of the proteins that trigger an immune response in the body. When these proteins are released, the body can fight illness and disease more effectively.
Elderberries are used in the treatment of both bacterial and viral infections, and the supplement is particularly effective against tonsillitis and the seasonal flu. The immune boosting and diuretic effect relieve inflammation in the bladder and urinary tract, reducing the pain and discomfort associated with urinary system infections. Elderberries are also a mild laxative that effectively treats occasional constipation for better digestive health.
Elderberries are rich in potassium, a nutrient that helps maintain normal blood pressure levels and promotes good heart health. Liquid supplements are an option for treating upper respiratory illnesses. The liquid supplement is an expectorant that loosens mucus for a more productive cough. Antioxidants
The liquid supplement reduces inflammation to soothe a sore throat relief and helps eliminate inflammation in the body to reduce some types of joint pain. Elderberry supplements offer many benefits, there are some warnings to consider before using the supplements to treat illness or disease.
Are There Any Side Effects?
Generally, commercially prepared elderberry supplements are safe for adults who limit their use to less than five days. Avoid giving children elderberry supplements, even if the product is designed for children, to prevent serious side effects. Breastfeeding women, pregnant women, and people taking immune-suppressing medications should talk to their doctor before using elderberry supplements.
People with rheumatoid arthritis or other diseases caused by an immunological response shouldn’t take elderberry supplements. The supplement can cause your symptoms to worsen as result of increased immune response. While supplements that you buy in the store are usually safe, homemade elderberry products can pose a significant health risk when the berries aren’t cleaned or cooked properly.
Most uncooked elderberries contain cyanide-inducing glycosides, a poison that can cause serious gastrointestinal distress when consumed in small amounts. The poison can also build up in the body, resulting in more serious side effects when the product is consumed over a period of time. Homemade products that contain larger amount of cyanide-inducing glycosides can be life-threatening.
To reduce the risk of poisoning, never eat raw elderberries, do not eat the pith inside the berry, and do not consume any part of the tree. Choosing a commercially prepare formula is the safest option when you want to enjoy the medicinal benefits of elderberries. Allergic reaction is possible when taking any kind of elderberry supplement. If you experience trouble breathing or other unusual symptoms after taking the supplement, seek immediate medical care.
How to Take Elderberry Supplements
Elderberry supplements are available in a range of formulas, and the supplements are available in liquid, gummy and capsule forms. The dosage amount varies significantly based on the brand and formula. Follow the instructions on the supplement label to ensure you take the right dosage. A standard dosage for elderberry hasn’t been officially established, but an average dose of 1,000 milligrams a day is recommended for medicinal use. The dosage varies between one and two capsules. The capsules are typically taken once daily.
Gummy supplements are also available. Gummy supplements are usually made with concentrated plant materials, allowing a smaller dosage to work just as effectively as the larger dosage amounts found in capsules. The average dose for a gummy elderberry supplement that contains 50 milligrams of elderberry per piece is two gummies chewed once daily. Like gummy supplements, liquids are often concentrated and work effectively when taken in small doses.
The recommended dosage for elderberry syrup that contains 3.8 grams of elderberry per 10 milliliters of syrup is five to 10 milliliters taken once daily. Elderberry extract is also a liquid supplement. The typical dosage for elderberry extract is three to five milliliters taken once daily when the formula contains equal parts of the active and inactive ingredients in a base of 25 percent alcohol.
Elderberry lozenges an option that you can use to treat colds and flu. For lozenges that contain 130 milligrams of elderberry, the recommended intensive dosage is one lozenge taken up to four times daily for two days. As part of a daily maintenance routine, the dosage is one lozenge taken once daily. Limit medicinal use of the supplements to five days, and avoid using the supplement for longer than 12 weeks, as long-term elderberry use has unknown side effects.
What to Look for In a Good Elderberry Supplement
A good elderberry supplement contains high-quality ingredients that come from natural sources. When choosing an elderberry supplement for the treatment of illness, syrups and other liquid formulas are usually recommended because liquid formulas are more concentrated and have compounds that are naturally present in the berry. Some elderberry formulas contain additional ingredients. Ingredients like vitamin C or zinc are common additions that provide additional immune support.
Inactive ingredients are fillers that reduce the effectiveness of the supplement. For a more effective option, look for supplements that contain very few inactive ingredients. Alcohol is often used to create extracts because it is an affordable, shelf-stable preservative. To avoid alcohol based supplements, use syrup or lozenges instead of extracts.
Avoid extracts and syrups that are made by individuals to reduce the risk of potentially dangerous side effects. Instead, use supplements that are manufactured and sold by reliable companies that are well-established in the supplement industry.
The post 10 Best Elderberry Supplements – Reviewed & Ranked for 2017 appeared first on Supplement Hound - Supplement Reviews for 2016.
from Supplement Hound – Supplement Reviews for 2016 http://supplementhound.com/best-elderberry-supplements/
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