Elderberries naturally grow on the well-known elderberry bush that you see growing here and there in the Netherlands. It is native here and in the rest of Europe. This beautiful shrub with large bunches of flowers will look great in any garden. Elderberries can be eaten when they are ripe, but they are more often used as a basis for a syrup. You can make tea from the flowers. NB! This article is written from the personal view of the author and may contain information that is not scientifically substantiated and/or in line with the general view.

Contents:

• Wound treatment with elderberry
• Do not eat unripe elderberries!
• Anthocyanins, healthier than vitamins
• Elderberry is good against obesity and high blood pressure
• Elderberry goes into mass production
• Eating tips for elderberries

Wound treatment with elderberry

Elderberries have been used for centuries to treat wounds. The mashed berries are applied to the wound. When you eat them you can fight diseases such as colds and flu. Both the flowers and the fruits help to cure sore throats. The elderberry flowers are among the flowers to enjoy. Elderberry is suspected by university scientists to have antiviral properties. Scientists also believe that it has an anti-inflammatory effect and even has anti-cancer properties.Elderflower / Source: Sebastian Mackiewicz, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA-2.0)

Do not eat unripe elderberries!

For elderberry, it is warned that you should not eat unripe fruit because it may contain cyanide. You have to eat a lot of cyanide to notice the poison. The ripe elderberries are boiled so that they no longer contain cyanide. Elderberries are not eaten too much in the Netherlands, but more so in other European countries. Austria is the main producer of elderberries. Elderberry jams, elderberry juices, elderberry yoghurts and elderberry wine are made there. In the Netherlands we are familiar with the hard drug elderberry jenever, an unhealthy strong alcoholic stimulant.

Anthocyanins, healthier than vitamins

Elderberries contain many anthocyanins. These contain stronger antioxidants than vitamin C and vitamin E. Anthocyanins stimulate the production of citokines. Citokines are proteins that play the role of messengers in the immune system. This was investigated by the German Dr Rechkemmer of the Bundesforschung Anwalt in Karlruhe. Food is researched in this German research institute.

Elderberry is good against obesity and high blood pressure

There are all kinds of foods in nature that combat obesity. At a German research institute, the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University of Freiburg, researchers concluded that elderberry juice helps get rid of excess weight. Elderberry juice was combined with powder extracts of berries and powder extracts of asparagus. This combination also appeared to be good for regulating blood pressure throughout the body. The study participants reported better physical and emotional well-being. More research needs to be done to definitively confirm these conclusions.Ripe elderberries / Source: Pollinator, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA-3.0)

Elderberry goes into mass production

The elderberry is becoming so popular that serious preparations are being made in the US to cultivate this tree on a large scale to eventually make elderberry juice. Because science has confirmed that this is a very healthy plant, it is increasingly sold by local farmers. Large farms are trying to optimize the production of elderberries as an agricultural crop. The elderberry is naturally a fast growing tree and requires little maintenance other than regular pruning.

Eating tips for elderberries

Elderberries are used in various ways in cooking. There is a delicious recipe of elderflower incorporated into elderflower fritters. It is made in the same way as apple fritters but with elderberries. But try to use the flowers more often! You can also happily enjoy a flower salad. Of course you can also drink elderberry juice. Elderberry syrup works well in muesli, yogurt and over homemade ice cream. It is also a tasty drink if you add water. Elderberry tea should not be missing as a choice on the tea table.

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