The juice of this “underrated” berry can help you lose weight and improve your metabolic health

Could a simple glass of elderberry juice be the key to weight loss? Scientists are now turning to the dark purple elderberry berries, native to Europe, as a promising tool for weight management and metabolic health.

Some preliminary tests has shown that elderberry can help relieve symptoms of flu, colds and other upper respiratory infections. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, some companies promoted elderberry as a treatment for SARS-CoV-2, prompting the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take action against these unsubstantiated claims.

Recent test conducted by Washington State University highlighted the potential of elderberry juice for weight management. Researchers found that drinking just 12 ounces of elderberry juice daily for a week resulted in positive changes in the gut microbiome, improved glucose tolerance and increased fat oxidation. This is the first human clinical trial to demonstrate the health benefits of daily consumption of elderberry juice in 18 overweight adults.

“Elderberry is a berry that is underestimated commercially and nutritionally. Now we are starting to see its value in human health, and the results are very exciting,” said correspondent Patrick Solverson, assistant professor at the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology in A press release.

“Food is medicine, and science is keeping up with this popular wisdom. “This study provides growing evidence that elderberry, used as a folk remedy for centuries, has numerous benefits for both metabolic and prebiotic health,” Solverson added.

The study found that participants who consumed elderberry juice for a week showed significant improvements in their gut microbiome compared to those who drank a placebo. In particular, there was an increase in beneficial bacteria such as Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcaceae and Bifidobacterium, while less beneficial bacteria such as Bacteroidetes, Bacteroides and lactic acid-producing bacteria decreased.

The results indicate that consuming anthocyanin-rich berries, such as elderberry, may have a beneficial effect on blood sugar regulation and fat metabolism. The researchers observed a 24% reduction in the serum glucose area under the curve (AUC), which indicates better blood sugar control, and a 27% increase in fat oxidation, which means the body burned more fat for energy.

“The findings suggest that the anti-obesity effects of elderberry juice observed in translational research models do apply to humans. These observations need to be confirmed in longer studies that adequately examine both sexes and broader age groups. “Future research should aim to investigate the mechanisms of action of obesity using preclinical, clinical, and translational research models,” the researchers wrote.