Turn Up the Dial on Fat Burning
We’re a few weeks into the New Year, so I wanted to check in on your resolutions.
How are they working out?
I hope you’re still going strong with any health goals you set to boost your quality of life.
Weight loss and improving blood sugar top many people’s resolutions list—and if they’re on yours too, I have something that could supercharge your metabolic health to keep you on track…
If you’re familiar with elderberries, it’s probably because of their reputation for strengthening the immune system during cold and flu season.
The berries are indeed packed with antioxidants and antiviral, immune-stimulating, and anti-inflammatory compounds.
But it turns out that if you’re trying to improve your metabolic health, they could also do wonders for you.
According to a recent study in overweight adults, drinking 12 ounces of elderberry juice daily for a week improved…
- The gut microbiome (the collection of microorganisms that call your gut home),
- Glucose tolerance, and
- Fat burning (breaking down fat to be used for energy).
Those drinking the elderberry juice saw an increase in the beneficial bugs, firmicutes, and actinobacteria, and a decrease in harmful Bacteroidetes.
Participants also had an impressive 24 percent drop in average blood glucose levels and a 9 percent decrease in insulin levels.
Equally as impressive, they burned significantly more fat after eating a high-carb meal than the non-juice-drinking folks.
The same compounds behind some of elderberries’ immune-boosting benefits—anthocyanins—are likely also responsible for their metabolic advantages.
However, whatever the reason, elderberries are the perfect winter companion for boosting your immune system and your metabolism.
Elderberry syrups, powders, dried berries, teas, and juices are available online and in health food stores.
P.S. Try this “Fruit Bowl” secret to fight off metabolic syndrome.
View Sources
Teets, C., Ghanem, N., Ma, G., Minj, J., Johnson, S. A., Etter, A. J., Carbonero, F. G., & Solverson, P. M. A One-Week Elderberry Juice Intervention Augments the Fecal Microbiota and Suggests Improvement in Glucose Tolerance and Fat Oxidation in a Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients, 16(20), 3555.
