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If you have been with us for a while, you might remember we used to make popsicles for our local customers and they were a fan favorite! For those of you who are new or haven’t been with us for as long, our popsicles served as a treat to make those hot summer days a little bit cooler. We get asked for the popsicles a lot, but have not found a way to make them shippable…. yet ;)

We know our customers are always looking for ways to support their immune system and keep their families healthy! We thought it would be fun to give you some recipes over the next few blogs as a way to bring a little fun to your daily dose of Elderberry Syrup! Whether that’s through popsicles, drinks, smoothies, and so on, we want you to be fully confident that you are staying healthy while being able to use our syrup in different ways. 

We have an AWESOME popsicle recipe for you to make your own popsicles with our Elderberry Syrup at home! 

Why Popsicles? We say, why not popsicles?

They’re a delicious treat everyone loves, ESPECIALLY kids! It’s a bonus that this recipe is a healthy one! 

5 items to make a tasty popsicle:

• 4 Tablespoons of The Elderberry Co. Syrup
• 2 Tablespoons of Our local raw honey if you would like it a little more sweet
• 1 cup of Organic Apple Juice (100%)
• ½ cup of organic Cranberry juice (100%)
• 1 cup of coconut water
• Juice of 1 lemon

Directions-

1. Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher (Makes it easier to pour) and stir well.
2. Pour the mixture into Popsicle Molds and freeze for at least 6 hours until completely frozen. We’ve included a link to a BPA free silicone Popsicle mold from Amazon that we love! 
3. If you are using molds, you may run warm water over the molds for 15 seconds once they are frozen. This will help to release the ice pop.
4. Enjoy your tasty Elderberry Popsicle. 

Let us know in the comments what recipe kind of recipe you would like to see next!

https://black-elderberry.com/elderberry-ice-pops/

What sets us apart from other Elderberry Syrup brands?

This is a question we receive on a regular basis.  Now, I know we are biased, but there are several significant ways our Elderberry Syrup is above and beyond other brands out there...free shipping, no added sugar or preservatives, brewed fresh weekly and... (drum roll, please) aronia berries! Usually when I say “aronia berries”, people look at me like I have ten heads. Well, their common name is “chokeberry” and they are AMAZING.

When I first started making syrup in my home kitchen, I only used elderberries in the recipe. I didn’t even know aronia berries existed! Then a sweet older couple at our Farmer’s Market introduced them to me and asked me to make a batch using fresh ones from their farm. I eagerly went home and researched aronia berries. Once I learned all about the benefits, there was no way I couldn’t include them in my recipe! They enhanced the flavor, made our syrup a brighter pink and added so much strength in terms of immune support!

Aronia berries are a small, round fruit found in North America. They contain high levels of antioxidants which makes it one of the highest antioxidant content of any fruit (even elderberries)! When it comes to antioxidants, studies have shown they help reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, inflammation, bacterial infections and many others. These berries also contain tons of vitamins and minerals, including zinc, magnesium, iron and vitamins C, B and K. 

If you are looking for ways to add aronia berries into your daily routine other than our elderberry syrup, here are some helpful ideas! They can be eaten fresh or as a dried snack, make a refreshing summer smoothie, easily add them into some sweet desserts, make a delicious jam, and they can also be found in some teas, coffee and even wine! 

Let’s break down the health benefits a little bit more here! As always, we recommend checking with your care provider when beginning any health regimen.

• Offer overall improvement of the circulatory, respiratory, and digestive  systems
• Help combat the growth of certain cancers
• Support the immune system and help fight diseases and infection

Be sure to check out some recipes below of how you can use aronia berries!

https://smoothiefairytales.com/aronia-berry-smoothie/

https://www.vibrantplate.com/aronia-oatmeal-crumble-bars-vegan/

https://www.ediblewildfood.com/aronia-berry-cookies.aspx

http://www.nonasnutritionnotes.com/aronia_berries/

https://mummysfastandeasy.com/2019/08/16/no-bake-aronia-berry-cheesecake/

Have you used aronia berries in a recipe that you love? Share the recipe with us, we would love to hear about it!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve found myself daydreaming about what this time last year looked like and felt like. Exactly one year ago, most of us were told to stay home and only travel for essential reasons. I remember walking into the grocery store and the eerie feeling of everyone shopping in masks, avoiding close proximity and definitely no small talk. I also remember loving the time I had at home with my family...playing board games, movie nights, time in the backyard, and getting gobs and gobs of take out food from local small businesses. While it was an uncertain and scary time for our world, I know I wasn’t alone in feeling grateful for the “forced slowdown” and extra time with my family.

In terms of The Elderberry Co, the pandemic skyrocketed us in sales, similarly to toilet paper. Before March 2020, we were making about 300 gallons of fresh elderberry syrup each week. Our busiest week in March 2020, we made over 1,100 gallons of elderberry syrup! It was absolutely nuts! In terms of order volume, we were averaging 4,000 orders per month….March 2020? 13,000 orders! I was mass texting all of my friends and family asking if anyone wanted to come help us fulfill orders. We had to start a night shift just to get everything done in time. All while having to social distance and take all safety protocols.

When our community here in southern Indiana moved to only essential businesses open, our mayor contacted us directly and ensured that we were essential as a manufacturing business, especially as our products help support healthy immune systems. I felt grateful that our business was allowed to stay open; however, I felt a huge responsibility to be responsible and contribute to the solution of getting through the pandemic safely. It was a ton of pressure and a deep dive into leadership and business owning for me. 

So here we are, one year later. Many are vaccinated, stats are improving and we are slowly finding our way back to “normal”. While our business continues to grow, we are finding a steady pace of growth and are able to do exciting things like develop new products (more on that later). As a leader, I am constantly learning how to lead and love my team well. I am thankful for all of you who support us in our mission to empower families to support their immune systems. If this blog is your introduction to our company, welcome and hello! We are so glad you are here. To stay up to date on all things elderberry, you can:

• Subscribe to our mailing list here. A box will pop up for you to add your name and email.
• Follow us on FB or IG
• Join our subscription program to receive our products on a recurring basis! Click here to learn more about how to join.

As always, thank you for supporting our small business. We are excited for what the rest of 2021 has in store for our team and are excited to grow alongside you!

A few months ago, we chatted about Vitamin C and all the great benefits of adding it to your daily regimen. Another Vitamin that shows up in our gummies is Vitamin D so we wanted to take some time to give you a snapshot of this powerful and beneficial vitamin!

Fun Fact- Vitamin D is the only vitamin your body makes itself (and it’s actually a hormone). Although there are many forms of vitamin D, the two most common types are vitamin D3 and vitamin D2.

When your body lacks Vitamin D, these are some of the things you might experience: 

• Fatigue
• Bone pain
• Muscle weakness, muscle aches, or muscle cramps
• Mood changes, like depression

One of the biggest indicators that you may be at risk for a lack of Vitamin D may be related to where you live. It is said that the further away from the equator you live, the less Vitamin D you’re receiving. Other reasons that you could be experiencing a lack in this Vitamin is the air quality, use of sunscreen, your weight or even your age.

The sun's rays are most powerful between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Being in the sun for 15-20 minutes a day can help your body get the Vitamin D it needs to function properly. 

Eating nutritious foods can also help get your body get the Vitamin D it needs. Wondering how to incorporate more foods rich in Vitamin D? Try these:

• Fatty fish- salmon, mackerel, and tuna. 
• Egg yolks
• Cheese 
• beef liver 
• Mushrooms 
• fortified milk 
• fortified cereals and juices. 

Sometimes doctors recommend taking a Vitamin D supplement to increase your levels. Here is the recommended dosage to help you better understand how much you should aim for:

Our Elderberry Gummies are a great source of Vitamin D as well as Zinc and Vitamins C and E... and they are a fun treat for your kid! They’re the perfect choice to help keep your family healthy on the go this summer while you’re out soaking up all the wonderful Vitamin D! 

Links-

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15050-vitamin-d--vitamin-d-deficiency

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/best-vitamin-d-supplement#daily-requirements

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/6-things-you-should-know-about-vitamin-d

https://healthinspireddentistry.com/blogs/interesting-facts-about-vitamin-d/#:~:text=It%20is%20the%20only%20vitamin,getting%20enough%20from%20the%20sun. 

Ugh, allergies…specifically outdoor seasonal allergies can be so irritating and inconvenient. We live in the Ohio River Valley which often causes tons of allergy issues, especially in spring and fall. The snotty noses, constant sneezing, itchy eyes. It can be miserable! As moms, we dread those symptoms in our kiddos cause it often means sleepless nights and fussy attitudes. Finding natural and inexpensive ways to alleviate allergies can be a daunting task. We hear from SO MANY customers about our syrup and honey keeping our customers healthy during high pollen seasons.  Below are some more natural remedies I have come across that can help your family fight off seasonal allergies. As always, I’m not a doctor and encourage you to ask your doctor before starting any regimen. My hope is that these ideas can keep you and your family active and healthy all year long!

1. Raw Honey- The bees in your backyard are pollinating the plants that could be causing your allergies. By eating the honey of bees local to your area, your body can begin to build up immunities to your local allergens. In addition, raw honey (as opposed to processed honey) contains natural enzymes that can promote your health and wellness. We have an amazing and delicious product line of raw honeys, check them out here. We offer many infused flavors of raw honey, like vanilla, as well as, regular raw honey.
2. Humidifier- I don’t know any parent who hasn’t used a humidifier in their kid’s rooms to help with either a cold or allergies. They increase the humidity and purify the air. Rotating filter discs submerged in water remove larger pathogens (bacteria and viruses) and irritants from the air. These humidifiers need more regular cleaning and maintenance, but they can offer more allergy relief by filtering out pollen and dust.
3. Lowering sugar intake- Even in small amounts sugar suppresses immunity and worsens viral infections 
4. Vitamin C- Vitamin C is an immune booster to help your body fight against viruses and bacteria, It also aids in the support of a healthy immune system when it comes to allergies. Our Elderberry Gummies are a great source of Vitamin C, check them out here.
5. Essential oils- peppermint, eucalyptus, frankincense OR Lavender, lemon, and Peppermint are commonly used blend for allergies and healthy breathing. Many people will diffuse these in their homes to purify the air around them and safely experience the benefits of essential oils. Looking for a trustworthy company to get essential oils? Jubilee of Wellness is a dear friend of mine and the quality of her oils is AMAZING! You can order from her website or if you are local, we sell her oils at our shop in New Albany, IN.

If you’re reading this with a houseful of kids plagued with allergies (or maybe you’re the one suffering), know that you are NOT alone! As frustrating as the symptoms can be, we hear all the time about these natural ways providing relief for our customers. Interested in trying our Elderberry Syrup or Gummies? Use code BREATHEEASY10 to get 10% off your order! Happy Spring!

Referenced articles:

https://www.healthline.com/health/allergies/honey-remedy#purpose

https://www.healthline.com/health/allergies/humidity-humidifiers#:~:text=They%20increase%20the%20humidity%20and,filtering%20out%20pollen%20and%20dust.

https://acaai.org/allergies/seasonal-allergies

https://www.isabellemckenzie.com/blog/how-sugar-fuels-your-seasonal-allergies-how-to-fix-it