Elderberries Boost Night Vision

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Elderberries Boost Night Vision

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Elderberries are little, dark berries that mature in bunches on elder trees (also called elderberry bushes). The European Elder is located in temperate climates across Europe and North America. It is a resilient plant frequently growing in the damp soil along roadsides and tributaries.Elderberry bushes are quick growing and have compound leaves and tightly clustered bunches of tiny white flowers in late spring, followed by clusters of berries in late summer. The European elderberries are black to dark blue, and are most frequently used in recipes, extracts, and syrups. The American Elder, also popular, is said to be slightly sweeter. It is found most anywhere east of the Rockies. Some species have life spans between 80 and 100 years.

If the ancient Greeks are any authority, elderberries are healthy for us! Hippocrates referred to it as his “medicine chest.” It has been used for centuries to treat such things as asthma, arthritis, constipation, and the common cold.

Elderberries not only strengthen the immune system, but also are a great source of potassium and vitamin C.

Elderberries are famous for providing the system with anthocyanins. These protect the body from toxins of the environment, from stress, and from poor eating habits. They also help the body fight against the effects of bad cholesterol and reduce the risk of atherosclerosis by hindering platelets from sticking to blood vessel walls.

Elderberries not only help in dealing with stress, but they actually improve vision, especially at night. This is because elderberries help the body make rhodopsin, also known as visual purple, a chemical in the rods of the retina designed to see in reduced light.

Both the flowers and berries are beneficial. The white flowers may be battered and fried or stirred into muffins or sponge cake mix. They give a light, sweet flavor. Some even press then into tonics. Elderberry may be purchased as a dietary supplement or as a juice or concentrate. The suggested dosage is 400 mg daily.

Elderberries are only good cooked. First, they have a bitter flavor alone and are often either sweetened or cooked with pears or apples to naturally sweeten them. Second, the berries contain toxins that are removed when they are cooked. But once cooked, elderberries are used for pies, jams, syrups, extracts, and for garnishing, dying, or flavoring other food.

Throw away the roots, stems, twigs, and leaves of the elderberry, as well as any immature fruit. These are all poisonous. What’s more you should stay away from red elderberries. Evidence shows these to be elevated in certain toxins, even after being cooked. So keep on the safe side and only use the purple, black, and blue berries.