A Study Shows How Elderberry Promotes Weight Loss in Just One Week
Scientists are now very interested in an underappreciated fruit after recent research revealed that it might have revolutionary effects on weight loss in just one week. This is what you should know.
The simple elderberry appears to have advantages for gastrointestinal and metabolic health, as well as more effective sugar processing and fat-burning properties, according to a new clinical experiment published in the Journal of Nutrients. The good news is that the juice of elderberries, which are tiny, dark purple berries, is widely accessible and grows all over the world. Experts say that the high amounts of plant components called anthocyanins in elderberries are what give them their power.
According to the study’s corresponding author, Patrick Solverson, an associate professor at Washington State University’s Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, “elderberries are an underappreciated berry, both commercially and nutritionally.” “The results are very exciting, and we are now beginning to recognize its value for human health.”
How was the study carried out?
Eighteen overweight adults aged between 22 and 75 years were given either a daily 12-ounce (355-ml) elderberry juice or a similar-looking placebo drink and later tested on a range of health indicators such as blood glucose and plasma and insulin levels, gut microbiota, and weight changes.
What were the results?
After just one week, those who drank the elderberry juice benefitted from positive microbiota changes in addition to an average of 24% lower blood glucose levels and a 9% decrease in insulin levels. The elderberry drinkers also received significantly increased fat oxidation, breaking down fatty acids more readily.
“Food is medicine, and science is catching up to that popular wisdom,” comments Solverson. “This study contributes to a growing body of evidence that elderberry, which has been used as a folk remedy for centuries, has numerous benefits for metabolic as well as prebiotic health.”
Why Elderberry is So Powerful
While other more popular berries contain anthocyanins, the levels are often in less abundance. A person would need to consume more than three times the amount of blackberries to get the same anthocyanin content as elderberries.
With more than 70% of adults in the United States now overweight and 42% suffering from obesity, natural remedies are in high demand. Experts are now hoping to take their elderberry enlightenment to the next level and widen their studies to provide an alternative to prescription weight loss medicines.