Juice from powerful 'folk remedy' berry helps burn fat, study shows

A clinical trial has found that drinking elderberry juice daily may support weight management and improve metabolic health — and juice experts at Presscription, who reviewed the findings,

say it's one of the most promising juice ingredients for functional wellness. The Washington State University study, published in the journal Nutrients, tested the effects of elderberry

juice on overweight adults. After just one week, participants who consumed 12 ounces daily showed measurable improvements in blood sugar control and fat metabolism. The study found a 24%

reduction in blood glucose levels, a 9% drop in insulin and increased fat oxidation (the body’s ability to burn fat) after meals and during exercise. Corresponding author Patrick Solverson,

an assistant professor in the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine’s Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, said: “Elderberry is an underappreciated berry, commercially and

nutritionally. We’re now starting to recognise its value for human health, and the results are very exciting.” He added: "Food is medicine, and science is catching up to that popular

wisdom. This study contributes to a growing body of evidence that elderberry, which has been used as a folk remedy for centuries, has numerous benefits for metabolic as well as prebiotic

health.” The benefits are linked to elderberry’s high concentration of anthocyanins — natural plant compounds with anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties. Elderberries

contain significantly more anthocyanins than other berries. For comparison, you’d need to eat almost a kilo of blackberries to match the anthocyanins in 160ml of elderberry juice.

Participants in the study who consumed elderberry juice had significantly increased amounts of beneficial gut bacteria and decreased amounts of harmful bacteria. While elderberry is best

known for immune support, this new research points to wider potential — including better glucose control, gut health, and weight management. A spokesperson from Presscription said: “This

study highlights what we’ve seen anecdotally for years — that elderberry can do more than support immunity. It’s showing real potential for helping people manage their metabolism, blood

sugar, and digestion. "We’re always exploring ingredients that offer more than just good taste, and elderberry is definitely one to watch. As always, we recommend using raw,

cold-pressed methods to get the most out of any juice.”