Sift with Judy:

Judy Seybold, MS, RDN, LD, CLC
Chief Nutrition Officer

Discover the Benefits of Elderberry

Sifter is a great tool to search for products made with special ingredients of interest. This week, I want to find products made with elderberry, a natural botanical ingredient that has been used for centuries as a healing agent by lowering inflammation.

Elderberry is a dark purple berry of the black elder tree (Sambucus nigra) that grows in Europe, North America and Asia. A popular folk medicine for centuries, elderberry is used as a healing agent to help fight infections and boost immunity because it is a rich source of phenolic compounds, particularly anthocyanins, which give the fruit its dark color. Elderberry also contains flavonoids, such as quercetin, which laboratory tests have shown to be an antioxidant.

A few small studies indicate that elderberry can help reduce flu symptoms. This needs more testing, but as part of a healthy diet, elderberry can support good health.

Here's how I shop on Sifter for elderberry products:

1. Type elderberry in the search bar
2. From the drop-down menu, select Show all products with "elderberry." This brings up a page of products that use elderberry as an ingredient.
3. From here, I can sift further by selecting my preferences under Lifestyle Diets, Heath Diets, etc. My favorite elderberry products are shown below.

As always, talk with your doctor before starting any new supplement regimen.

updated April 2022