American Elderberry for Brain Health

Here are River Hills Harvest, we have been farming American elderberries for over 25 years. Our nutrient dense, American Elderberry Juice was one of our first products and still stands as our top product chosen for daily health by our customers. We have watched more American elderberry farms pop up throughout the USA in recent years and many more elderberries being gardened in backyards and on homesteads. However, here in the USA, imported elderberries are still the most consumed.

We grow and use only American elderberries, or Sambucus nigra spp. canadensis. Learn about the major differences and why we think American elderberries are the best HERE. Most of what you see on store shelves is made with imported elderberries, and most medical research has been done using them as well. While in general, many of the qualities of all elderberries are the same, we want to keep you up to date on research done on our American elderberries. So, you can make a more informed decision when it comes to your health.

Today we are talking about brain health, particularly cognitive impairment. Elderberries, or foods rich in anthocyanins and antioxidants may be able to help reduce the risk of memory loss and slow cognitive decline. These are general characteristics of all elderberries. Recently however, our American Elderberry Juice has been used in two brain health studies relating to cognitive impairment, for its simple ingredients and nutrient-dense qualities. 

American Elderberry Juice

Our River Hills Harvest American Elderberry Juice shows promising results in helping improve mild cognitive impairment symptoms in patients in two recent brain health studies...

Recently our juice was used in a brain health study, that now has two different articles to published you can read up on. That's right, OUR elderberry juice was used in these studies! The basis of the study was that high anthocyanin foods, which are high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties may help improve brain function in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Our American Elderberry Juice fit the bill for a nutrient dense way to administer elderberry in these studies.

Patients with mild cognitive impairment were administered our American elderberry juice 3 times daily, monitored and measured over the course of two different trials. The first trial looked at the effects our juice may have, studying inflammatory and cognitive markers in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Our juice showed promising results, enough to justify a further trial. The second study breaks down how they measure improvements and again, the addition of elderberry juice was seen to help improve some symptoms. Give them a read below:

• Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of American Elderberry Juice for Improving Cognition and Inflammation in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment. Click HERE to read.

• Preliminary Effects of American Elderberry Juice on Cognitive Functioning in Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients: A Secondary Analysis of Cognitive Composite Scores in a Randomized Clinical Trial.  Click HERE to read.

First, we have to say we are honored that our product is being used in studies like this, and we hope that helps our consumers see the value in a premium American elderberry juice as opposed to other elderberry products on the market. Granted, they are relatively small trials and there is still much research to be done, but it's a good start! It's a start that wouldn't be possible if ourselves and numerous other elderberry farmers across the USA didn't have a passion for what we were growing. We are proud to be part of it and even more excited to continue to see results of our American Elderberry Juice.

Why is our American Elderberry Juice chosen by scientists and researchers in these types of studies? Why is it different than what else is on the market?

• Our elderberries are cleaned and then frozen. Once thawed, they are gently squeezed to make our juice. Most elderberry syrups, tonics or nectars are made by adding water to dehydrated elderberries. This is a much different taste and nutrient content than a freshly squeezed juice.

• We use only American black elderberries, or Sambucus canadensis (native to North America). These berries are able to be processed using low heat, they also contain additional antioxidants. In contrast, most elderberry products are made using Sambucus nigra elderberries (imported), which must be boiled before consumption.

• Our process for making juice has been trusted by customers for over 20 years, and those who take it can tell the difference. Our American Elderberry Juice contains zero added water or sugar.

• Our American Elderberry Juice is nutrient dense and does not contain any harmful additives, making it a prime candidate for health research.  There are less than a handful of other elderberry farmers here in the USA who offer a pure, elderberry juice. The only ingredient added is citric acid so it can be shelf stable.

• You may be asking yourself why you don't see elderberry juice made from Sambucus nigra (imported) elderberries on store shelves?  That goes back to the additional antioxidants that our Sambucus canadensis berries have. These additional antioxidants help our juice maintain a beautiful color and a non-bitter taste, something other elderberries can't do.

• What you may see is an elderberry concentrate made from Sambucus nigra elderberries. Why don't you see an American elderberry concentrate?  A concentrate has been cooked down using high heat. Since we don't need to boil or cook our American elderberries, we don't want to use high heat and lose many of the valuable nutrients in the process. We want to offer a consistent, quality product with all the available nutrients possible.  

With high amounts of antioxidants, anthocyanins, dietary fiber and vitamins, elderberries are a great choice for a healthy lifestyle. Even more so now that we know a little more about how they can help our brains. Visit our Health page on our website to read up on how elderberries can be good for our immune systems, inflammation, gut health and more. Visit our Recipes page if you want some ideas of how to creatively consume our American Elderberry Juice or freeze-dried American elderberries.

We hope after reading, you better understand the power of our American Elderberry Juice compared to other products on the market. We hope you'll choose to support American farmers and businesses by choosing products made with American elderberries as well, even if it's not ours.

Until next time, cheers to your health!

I am Heather Wilson, of the River Hills Harvest crew. By being part of the company, I am blessed to have access to American elderberries in all forms. I enjoy experimenting with new ways to incorporate them into my diet, as well as other natural plants, berries and more. I have a background in greenhouse management as well as floral design and am involved in the art community as an artist, when time allows. I enjoy playing guitar and writing songs. I also enjoy wandering in nature with no real purpose, because a purpose always presents itself. It’s a busy life, but one that I love and feel lucky to be a part of.