Drinking this juice daily may be potent for weight loss, scientists say
Share:
It could lower blood glucose levels by about 24 per cent. Drinking elderberry juice daily can lead to positive gut bacteria changes and improve metabolism for weight management, a new clinical trial suggests. The research, published in the journal Nutrients, found that drinking about 12 ounces of elderberry juice daily for a week could be a “potent tool” to alter the community of microbes living in the gut and improve the body’s glucose tolerance and fat oxidation.
The dark purple berry found on elder trees native to Europe is used widely as a medicinal plant and as a supplement for the immune system. However, its other health benefits are poorly understood, said researchers from the Washington State University in the US.
“Elderberry is an underappreciated berry, commercially and nutritionally. We’re now starting to recognize its value for human health, and the results are very exciting,” study co-author Patrick Solverson said. The small randomised, placebo-controlled trial assessed the effects of the berry on 18 overweight adults.
Participants consumed either elderberry juice or a similar-tasting and coloured placebo. Researchers found the participants who consumed elderberry juice had significantly increased amounts of beneficial gut microbes, including bacteria groups such as firmicutes and actinobacteria.