Elderberries are kind-of a strange fruit. On the one hand, these berries are poisonous in their raw form. On the opposite extreme, cooked elderberries show phenomenal potential as an immune booster. Indeed, traditional healers have used elderberries for centuries, and elderberry gummies are now considered one of the world’s best-selling supplements.
If you’ve ever wondered whether elderberries are the real deal, then this is the article for you. After reading all the info below, you will have a better sense of whether you should give elderberry gummies a try. As a bonus, we’ll also share a few tips on how to make a batch of safe & tasty elderberry gummies at home.
What Are Elderberry Gummies Good For?
The main reason people take elderberry gummies is to give their immune system a boost during cold & flu season. Scientists now know elderberries contain many healthful vitamins, flavonoids, and antioxidants that might bolster the body’s immune system.
Although improving immunity is the top reason people use elderberry pills, researchers are investigating other potential uses of this fascinating fruit. For instance, one study suggests elderberries might be able to combat the ulcer-causing H. pylori bacterium. Interestingly, someresearchers are looking into elderberry’s potential as a natural diuretic.
What Are The Best Brands Of Elderberry Gummies?
Now that you know more about the potential uses of elderberry gummies, it’s time to review a few of the highest-rated products on the market. Here are the names of the most popular elderberry gummies now available on Amazon.
Nature’s Way Sambucus
Established in the 1960s, Nature’s Way is a dominant player in the global supplement market. True to its name, this company strives to manufacture products as nature intended. Indeed, Nature’s Way often boasts of being the first herbal supplement company to get non-GMO and TRU-ID certifications.
Considering this company’s high status in the supplements market, it’s no wonder Nature’s Way Sambucus is one of the best-selling elderberry brands. Every gummy in Nature’s Way’s formula has 25 mg of black elderberry extract plus zinc and vitamin C. The company also claims to use a safe & solventless extraction technology. FYI: Nature’s Way also sells a kid-friendly version of Sambucus that’s approved for children two and up.
Sambucol
It’s debatable whether Sambucol is the oldest elderberry brand, but it has been around for decades. In fact, virologists first developed Sambucol’s black elderberry formula in the 1990s. To this day, Sambucol remains committed to researching and developing the best elderberry supplements in the business.
Although Sambucol is best known for its elderberry syrups, it has expanded its portfolio recently. For instance, Sambucol now offers a line of vegetarian-friendly black elderberry gummies.
Available in 30 and 60-count bottles, each of Sambucol’s gummies contains roughly 1.7 g of elderberries per gummy. So, if you take two of these gummies per day, it’s equivalent to one serving of Sambucol’s famous Elderberry Syrup. As if that weren’t enough, Sambucol includes traces of vitamin C and zinc for extra benefits.
And don’t worry if you’re on a low sugar diet. Sambucol promises each of their gummies has just one gram of pure cane sugar.
Nutra Champs Elderberry Gummies
Are you searching for a “blast” of elderberry? If so, you should check out the potent elderberry gummies put out by the Canadian company Nutra Champs.
Headquartered in Toronto, Nutra Champs has a reputation for using only the highest-quality FDA-approved ingredients. But what makes this company’s gummies stand out is their extreme potency. Just one of Nutra Champs’ gummies contains 100 mg of elderberry extract. On top of that, Nutra Champs includes 35 mg of vitamin C plus traces of herbs like Echinacea and propolis.
Despite their high potency, Nutra Champs claims these elderberry gummies are suitable for both adults and children. Also, this company offers an Organic Elderberry Tincture for those who are interested.
Airborne Elderberry Gummies
From the 1990s onward, Airborne’s popularity continues to “soar.” Best known for its original effervescent tablets, this Schiff Vitamins subsidiary continues to innovate in the immune supplement space. Case and point: Airborne now offers a line of sweet Elderberry Gummies.
Each of these sugar-coated drops has a heaping 150 mg of elderberry powder complex. In true Airborne fashion, these elderberry gummies also contain a generous blend of immune-supporting minerals and vitamins. Along with zinc and vitamin C, these gummies have noticeable traces of vitamins D and E.
Other benefits associated with Airborne’s elderberry brand include gelatin-free status, all-natural flavorings, and no added sugars or dyes. Also, Airborne offers this elderberry formula in a kid-friendly version.
Zarbee’s Naturals Children’s Elderberry Gummies
Zarbee’s Naturals is the most “buzz-worthy” supplement brand in the children’s cough category. For those who didn’t get that joke, Zarbee’s Naturals’ best-selling formula uses raw honey as its main ingredient. While Zarbee’s now offers dozens of other supplements, the company’s mission remains the same: make pediatrician-approved products that soothe coughs and boost immune health.
So, if you want to strengthen your little one’s immunity, be sure to check out Zarbee’s Naturals’ Children’s Elderberry Gummies. This kid-friendly product has 45 mg of elderberry extract per gummy. Each Zarbee’s elderberry gummy also has a bit of zinc, vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin D3.
According to Zarbee’s Naturals, this product is intended for kids who are at least two years old. For the best results, children between two to three should take one gummy per day, while kids four and up could take two gummies daily.
Garden of Life mykind Organics Elderberry Gummies
Headquartered in Florida, Garden of Life has a sterling reputation for its organic, food-sourced ingredients. Indeed, this company makes it clear that all of their supplements come from naturally-grown food, not synthetic chemicals. In addition to USDA Organic Certification, Garden of Life’s products are non-GMO verified, vegan-friendly, and kosher.
You can find all of these high-quality features in Garden of Life’s mykind Organic Elderberry Gummies. Instead of using sugar to flavor these gummies, Garden of Life uses organic fruit concentrates like apple, cherry, and peach. Also, Garden of Life included many exotic secondary ingredients like guava fruit, emblic, and aronia berry.
While Garden of Life’s Elderberry Capsules aren’t the most potent, they remain a prime choice for customers who are most concerned with quality.
Zhou Elder-Mune Sambucus Elderberry Gummies
Created in 2014, Zhou Nutrition is a relative newcomer to the global supplements space. However, in less than a decade, this brand has already built up a surprisingly large portfolio—and an even larger online following! Known for its “#Greatness” campaign, Zhou Nutrition believes everyone can achieve their natural “greatness” with a little help from Mother Nature.
Currently, Zhou offers a popular brand of elderberry gummies known as “Elder-Mune.” These lab-verified supplements contain about 62 mg of European elderberry extract per gummy. Zhou also includes enough zinc and vitamin C to assist your immune system.
If you don’t care for Zhou Nutrition’s gummies, no worries! This company is well-known for its 60-day money-back guarantee.
Nutricost Elderberry Gummies
Customers who are looking for a potent elderberry supplement might want to check out the gummies put out by Nutricost. Each Nutricost gummy contains about 100 mg of elderberry extract and 35 mg of vitamin C. On top of that, Nutricost mixes in healing herbs like Echinacea and propolis to enhance the strength of its product. According to the manufacturers, these elderberry gummies are suitable for both adults and children.
Is It Safe To Take Elderberry Gummies Daily?
At this point, it’s unclear whether it’s safe to take elderberry gummies every day. Although reports of severe side effects are rare, there are currently too few studies examining the long-term impact of these supplements.
Remember, most people only take elderberry gummies for a few months during cold & flu season. Also, the majority of research papers looking into elderberry gummies only examine the supplement’s effects over a relatively short period. Officially, health experts recommend taking elderberry fruit extract for no longer than 12 weeks.
While taking a low-dose elderberry supplement every day might be safe, you should talk with your doctor before making this a part of your routine. Anyone who is already on prescription medications, especially immunosuppressant drugs, shouldn’t take elderberry gummies without a doctor’s approval.
As a preventative measure, most doctors advise women who are pregnant or breastfeeding to avoid elderberry supplements. Patients under the age of 18 should also approach elderberry capsules with caution.
Do Elderberry Gummies Really Work?
Research into the benefits of elderberries is ongoing, but there are a few studies that suggest these supplements might improve immunity. For instance, a recent study out of Jerusalem examined the effectiveness of using elderberries to help influenza patients. Interestingly, patients who took doses of elderberry syrup reported a reduction in influenza symptoms four days sooner than patients who were given a placebo.
In another placebo-controlled study, Australian researchers tracked cold & flu symptoms in about 300 airline passengers. Half of the study participants swallowed elderberry capsules while the others took placebo pills. On average, the people who took the elderberry capsules reported 57 days with cold-like symptoms compared with 117 days in the placebo group. Participants that took elderberry capsules also said they experienced milder symptoms compared with those in the placebo group.
Although these results are encouraging, more research is necessary to fully understand how elderberries should be used. Hopefully, more controlled scientific studies will help doctors explain the potential benefits of taking elderberry gummies.
How Do Elderberry Gummies Work?
Scientists now know elderberries have strong traces of many antioxidants like vitamin C, quercetin, and rutin. Taking these healthful compounds might decrease inflammation, which could reduce flu-like symptoms and pain.
Another interesting compound found in elderberries is kaempferol, a flavonoid that’s also in veggies like kale. The unique feature of kaempferol is its ability to stimulate the production of inflammation-fighting endocannabinoids.
Those who are familiar with medicinal cannabis should already know a bit about the body’s natural endocannabinoid system. Although research into this system is in its infancy, scientists now believe it plays a crucial role in balancing the body’s immune and inflammatory responses.
Yet another reason elderberries might be beneficial has to do with their high fiber content. Of course, fiber is inextricably linked with digestive health, but it also plays a vital role in promoting healthy levels of beneficial bacteria (aka probiotics). New research strongly suggests high levels of probiotics can support the immune system.
Side Effects Of Elderberry Gummies
As long as you eat the manufacturer’s recommended dose of elderberry gummies, there’s a low chance you’ll experience serious adverse effects. The most commonly reported side effects from elderberry gummies usually include digestive upset, nausea, and fatigue.
As mentioned above, you should never eat any part of the elderberry plant in its raw form. Fresh elderberries contain traces of cyanide, which can be lethal in higher doses. Frequently, people who eat raw elderberries experience severe side effects like vomiting, diarrhea, and shortness of breath. If you notice any of these adverse effects, get in touch with a doctor ASAP.
Thankfully, commercially available elderberry gummies must be adequately cooked and distilled before they hit store shelves. As long as you go with a reputable company, your elderberry gummies should have no traces of poisonous substances.
Whenever you start taking a new supplement like elderberries, it’s essential to start with the smallest dose possible and monitor how your body reacts. If you have any questions about dosing elderberry gummies, you should contact your product’s manufacturer or reach out to your primary care physician.
How To Make Elderberry Gummies At Home
Yes, it is possible to make elderberry gummies from the comforts of home. All you need is a cup of purified elderberry syrup, an oil of your choice, silicone molds, gelatin powder, and hot water.
First, heat a pot with ½ cup until it just starts to boil. Take this pot off the heat as you rub a dab of your preferred cooking oil into the silicone molds.
Now that everything is prepped, it’s time to mix ¼ cup of your elderberry syrup with ¼ cup of gelatin powder. After the powder is well incorporated, pour in your warm water and continue stirring. Lastly, mix in ¾ cup of elderberry syrup.
When you’re confident that there are no clumps in your mixture, pour it into your silicone molds and let them chill in the fridge for a few hours. Check your elderberry gummies for firmness before taking them out of the molds and putting them in an airtight container. These gummies should last a few weeks if they are properly stored inside your refrigerator.
Are Elderberry Gummies Right For You?
If you’re looking for a tasty way to bump up your immune system, then elderberry gummies might be right for you. Not only are these supplements sweet, they are generally safe and seem to help with cold & flu symptoms. Of course, elderberry gummies are no substitute for doctor-approved medications, and they shouldn’t be used as an alternative treatment. Please talk with your doctor before using elderberry gummies, especially if you take prescription meds or have any pre-existing conditions.
