The season of increased flu and cold outbreaks is approaching. The children have gone back to school, and outside it's gray, cold, and rainy. Chronic colds can lead to reduced immunity. Autumn is the time when it's especially worth taking care of our health. One of the natural methods of supporting immunity, known for many generations, is drinking elderberry juice. Elderberry fruits and blossoms are valued for their many valuable health properties.

Elderberry, or wild elderberry, is a large shrub that reaches quite large sizes and is widespread throughout Europe, including Poland. It blooms white in spring, and the fruits that appear at the end of summer are dark blue, almost black, and small, hence the name "black." Elderberries, valued for their health-promoting properties, are rich in, among other things:

• Vitamin C ,
• B vitamins,
• Rutin and chlorogenic acid,
• Pectin,
• organic acids,
• anthocyanins,
• Potassium,
• iron ,
• Aluminum.

Properties of elderberry juice :

• Supporting the work of the immune system,
• antibacterial effect,
• anti-inflammatory effect,
• antiviral effect,
• analgesic effect,
• diuretic effect,
• diaphoretic effect,
• makes coughing easier,
• helps to cleanse the body of toxins,
• supports the treatment of sciatica and rheumatic diseases.

Especially in fall and winter, it's worth incorporating elderberry juice into your daily diet on a regular basis. Used prophylactically, it's one of the most effective and natural ways to support immunity. However, if you have a cold, drinking elderberry juice can help relieve unpleasant symptoms like a dry cough or fever.

Ready-to-drink elderberry juice is available in herbal shops and pharmacies. It has a slightly sour and tart flavor. It's safe for children and pregnant women to consume. Never pick unripe elderberries. Unripe and raw fruits contain sambunigricin and prunasin, which are toxic substances that are hazardous to health. Consumption can lead to food poisoning, which can manifest as nausea, abdominal pain, or vomiting.