Immune-Boosting Elderberry Tea
Ingredients
16 ounces of filtered water
2 tablespoons dried elderberries
¼ tsp cinnamon powder
½ tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp raw honey (optional) or maple syrup if you are a vegan
This delicious immune-boosting homemade elderberry tea is made with dried elderberries, herbs and spices. In folklore elderberries were used as a protection against influenza, & research has now established that elderberry extract is a clinically proven treatment against flu.
Time: 10 minutes
Instructions
Put the water and elderberries into a small saucepan.
Add turmeric and cinnamon.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes. This helps bring out the beneficial properties of the elderberries.
Remove from heat and let cool for about 5 minutes.
Strain through a fine mesh strainer and pour into individual mugs.
Stir in raw honey
If you prefer to drink this cool, pour into a mason jar and allow to cool, then refrigerate until cold.
Benefits
Elderberries have been used for their medicinal benefits for thousands of years.
They contain very high amounts of polyphenol anthocyanin, which give them their dark colour.
Anthocyanin’s antioxidant ability allows the berries to survive intense long periods of UV light radiation from the sun.
These antioxidants benefits are passed on to those whom consume the berry & provide anti-carcinogenic benefits. Its important to note Elderberries have a high ORAC, or oxygen radical absorbance capacity which means they contain twice as much as blueberries & cranberries along with trace minerals & more vitamin C than oranges.
Studies have proven that elderberry supports brain health, improves immune coordination, protects your blood vessels & reduces cancer cell growth patterns in the body.
Elderberries contain a potent antiviral agent called “antivirin '” which helps by neutralizing the potential viruses multiplying. This means that they can de-activate viruses ability to replicate in your cells.
Elderberries contain lots of flavonoids & free radical antioxidants, they contain 87% of your daily recommended value in vitamin C, & high amounts of vitamin A, potassium, iron, vitamin B6, fiber & beta-carotene.
Please note never drink or eat a product that made from raw elderflower fruit, flower or leaves as it needed to be completely cooked otherwise it is poisonous.
If you have diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis, are pregnant, breast feeding, or a child, talk to your doctor first. Elderflower is so powerful it could interact with chemotherapy for cancer, iimmunosuppressants drugs, laxatives & diuretics.
Turmeric has been used in this recipe because it has powerful anti-inflammatory benefits that have been used in Chinese & Indian medicine for thousands of years.
In one serving of turmeric you benefit from manganese, iron, vitamin B6, fiber, copper & potassium. Turmeric is known for being highly immune boosting & anti-oxidant as well as containing curcumin, which is used by a large number of pharmaceutical companies. Curcumin can boost levels of the brain hormone BDNF, which increases the growth of new neurons & fights various degenerative processes in the brain.
Cinnamon, which I incorporate into my diet everyday helps balance your blood sugar levels, & therefore helps to prevent possible diabetes 2 in later life.
Not only does this tea taste great, it has powerful healing and anti-inflammatory properties that are going to help protect & support your immune system during the winter months.
