Elderberries BOOST your immune system

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Michelle in Around the House, Money Saving Tips

    Nature’s medicine chest gives us the elderberry. The medicinal properties of this plant have been appreciated for thousands of years. Its flowers, berries, leaves, and bark were traditionally used for treating colds, pneumonia, flu, sore throat… and many other ailments. Black Elderberry has strong immune-stimulating properties and it is one of the most powerful anti-viral remedies known to man.

The elderberry has gained proof in medical and scientific studies of it’s medicinal properties. According to the Journal of International Medical Research patients with confirmed cases of the flu who were given elderberry juice recovered twice as quickly and exhibited fewer symptoms as patients who received a placebo. Virologists in 2009 also led a study that showed it was equally effective in combating the H1N1 flu (swine flue). Dr. Madeleine Mumcuoglu made elderberries internationally famous through the well publicized research and laboratory studies conducted at the Hadassah Medical School of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. It was demonstrated that Sambucus nigra species of elderberry was effective against a wide range of influenza viruses including human, swine and avian strains. This led to the development of a popular elderberry syrup preparation called Sambucol. Even if the preparation is taken too late to act as a preventative, controlled clinical studies have demonstrated that it could reduce the severity and duration of influenza by half.

Many of the benefits of taking elderberry are theorized to be a result of the ability of elderberry to balance and boost the immune system. When a person’s body and immune system are in balance the body is able to use its own natural defenses to fight off infections of any kind and stay healthy. Today as we eat highly processed foods, live with a daily exposure to pollution of all kinds, experience high stress, and increase our toxin loads the immune system is one of the most compromised body systems. If we balance the immune system many health issues disappear.

Of additional interest is the fact that elderberry is useful for treating bacterial sinusitis because it reduces excessive mucus in the sinus cavities, promotes better drainage, and reduces nasal congestion and swelling of mucous membranes. In that light, it seems that elderberry would be beneficial during a mucous producing cytokine storm. Elderberries many professed health benefits include:

• Immune System Booster
• Fights Cancer
• Improves vision
• Fights infections including influenza, herpes, viral infections, bacterial infections
• Lowers cholesterol
• Improves heart health
• Fights coughs and colds
• Protect against cell damage
• Impedes yeast infections
• Fights hay fever
• Helps with asthma
• Improves complexion
• Improves eczema

The action of elderberries comes from phytochemicals known as flavonoids. The class of flavonoid that elderberry is loaded with is anthocyanins. The elderberry is the most concentrated source of anthocyanins.  Antrocyanins are powerful antioxidants which are responsible for giving many red and purple fruits their color. Blueberries contain the same anthocyanins but in much lower quantities.

Research by Dr. Rechkemmer, president of Germany’s Federal Research Institute for Nutrition and Food, show the purple-black pigment of the elderberry containing the anthocyanins promote the production of cytokines. Cytokines are the body’s protein messengers that keep the immune system healthy, balanced, and strong. These little proteins are essential for the immune system to function properly and protect the body from harm. Cytokines are sent by the body during an immune system response directly to the sight of the trouble.

In addition to this Flavonoids elderberries contain many other vitamins and minerals. This rich variety of nutrients help the body to get many of the nutrients it desperately needs to stay healthy.

Elderberries are small, dark berries that grow in clusters on elder trees (also called elderberry bushes). Elderberry bushes are a hardy plant growing native in many climates, often in the moist soil along roadsides and streams. They’re fast-growing and typically grow quite large and full, with compound leaves and tightly clustered bunches of tiny white flowers in late spring, followed by clusters of berries in late summer. The berries are a favorite of wildlife especially birds.

There are many different varieties of elderberry bushes, but I’ll focus here on the most common. The European Elder, or Sambucus nigra (also called Black Elder or Common Elder), is found throughout warmer parts of Europe and North America. The berries are black to dark blue, and it’s the type of elderberry most frequently used in recipes and retail extracts and syrups.

The American Elder, or Sambucus canadensis (also called Sweet Elder), is also used in recipes and said to be slightly sweeter than the Sambucus nigra variety. It’s found in many climates, including most of North America east of the Rocky Mountains. Depending on who you ask, the canadensis is technically a sub-set of the nigra variety, but nurseries tend to list them as a separate species, so best to think of it as its own species for the purposes of choosing which types to plant together.

The red-berried elder, or Sambucus racemosa, grows throughout the cooler parts of North America, but the berries, when ripe, are a bright red color. I have seen accounts saying the red do not taste as good. According to other sources, it is poisonous.  So without being a horticulturalist or a doctor, my advice for anyone just starting would be to stick with blue, black or dark purple elderberries, and leave the reds alone.

The white flowers of the elderberry bush have been used in many things; pressed into tonics, brewed into wines and champagne, lightly battered and fried into fritters, or stirred into muffin or sponge cake mix for a light, sweet flavor.

The ripe berries, cleaned and cooked, can be made into many things: wine, jelly, tea, extracts, syrups, pies, jams, or used as garnish, dye or flavoring are just a few. The leaves, twigs, stems, roots and unripe berries of all elderberry plants are not edible, and contain toxins that can make a person quite sick. For home use concentrate on ripe berries and flowers only!

Recipe to make Elderberry Syrup

IMPORTANT CAUTIONS:

Avoid any kind of elderberry preparation if you have a known allergy to plants in the honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae) family.

Don’t consume raw elderberries or uncooked elderberry juice, which may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal pain. It is understood that cooked elderberries are safe and completely free of any cyanide toxicity.

Don’t take elderberry if you are undergoing chemotherapy without consulting your doctor. Elderberry may increase the effects of some cancer chemotherapies, but may also increase adverse effects as well.

Patients using theophylline should consult with a medical professional before using elderberry preparations. The quercetin in elderberries may inhibit xanthine oxidase, and may also affect theophylline levels.

Elderberry may lower blood sugar levels. If you are a diabetic, monitoring and medication adjustments by a qualified health professional may be in order.

 http://www.mainecreativedesign.com/wp/2012/02/17/making-elderberry-syrup/

What we are eating

The cost to feed family

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Michelle in Around the House

Pinching Pennies

I was looking at the December 2011 USDA determined cost of feeding a family. These figures are tracked monthly and have been increasing on a monthly basis at least this past winter and fall. I know I have been complaining (to anyone who will listen) that every time I go to the store I am spending more money and there is less choices available. What I didn’t realize is that not only is it true but it is out there on paper. Somehow seeing it on paper makes it more real.

I have always tried to live frugally. I thought we were doing very well in 2005, feeding 2 adults and 5 children on $400 a month sometimes less. I could still buy snacks for school lunches and even eat out now and then. Now I find I can not afford snacks at all and our monthly store budget is  $600 to feed 2 adults and 2 children.  I am also feeding, 2 dogs, 2 cats, a goose, bunny, and several fish. Snacks aside, we do always have a variety of fresh fruit available in the house, usually apples, bananas, and oranges.

Following this chart I find we we are right in line with the thrifty low-cost plan. The chart is based only on FOOD. There is nothing in this to account for money spend at the grocery store on sundry items; toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, garbage bags, shampoo, soap, etc…. So I guess we are doing much better than I though. Sigh, it still is depressing to walk out of the grocery store, feeling my wallet so depleted

The government uses a formula, revised in 2007, to determine how much FOOD is consumed weekly, by age group, based on dietary food guidelines and actual ‘basket counts’ of a sample of shoppers. It is based on food being prepared at home though the cost of different levels assumes the purchase of more prepared foods as you progress from thrifty to liberal. I am sure you can also add in higher quality of meat cuts, fresh verses frozen or canned vegetables, organic verses non-organic, and more variety of foods.  That doesn’t even throw in sales and coupons. Though I have to admit I rarely manage to use coupons.

While it was somewhat gratifying to discover I was right on track (thank you USDA) it was rather depressing to see in print, that in fact – we are right on track with what the government determines a family of 4 is spending in at the grocery store.  The thrifty plan says a family of 4 (two adults under 50, male 12-13 and a child 2-3) costs $138.80 to feed weekly or $601.20 a month.

According to the USDA Economic Research Service the average household income as of December 2011 for Androscoggin County is $41,831 (or 91% of the state average).  At $600 a month we are spending $7,200 a year on food alone (and we are spending less than most). That is almost 20% of the average household income. They say taxes are approximately 1/3 of your  income. I have heard that most people’s mortgages are 1/4 of their income. As we all know only too well, in the winter here in New England heating your home can often exceeds 1/4 of your monthly income. It is frightening to think about. Based on the same type of statistics how do low income families manage when just food, mortagage, heat and taxes add up to almost 98% of your income.

We are going to start really putting effort into growing our own food. No more hobby garden for me. We are moving on to serious food production at this house. I don’t know how else to keep up with this economy and continuously escalating prices.  If we are lucky perhaps we can produce more than we need and donate some food back to the community.

Official USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home at Four Levels,

U.S. Average, December 2011

Age-Gender             Weekly costs 2 Monthly costs 2 Groups Thrifty plan Low-cost plan Moderate-cost plan Liberal plan Thrifty plan Low-cost plan Moderate-cost plan Liberal plan    Individuals 3 Child: 1 year 21.1 28.3 32.1 39 91.6 122.6 139.2 169 2-3 years 23.1 29.2 35.4 43.1 100 126.4 153.2 186.6 4-5 years 24 30.4 37.5 45.7 104.2 131.8 162.6 197.8 6-8 years 30.7 42.1 51.1 60.2 133 182.5 221.6 260.9 9-11 years 35 45.9 59.3 69.1 151.5 198.8 256.8 299.5 Male: 12-13 years 37.4 52.8 65.9 77.3 161.9 228.6 285.7 335 14-18 years 38.5 54 68.1 78.1 166.9 234 295.1 338.3 19-50 years 41.5 53.5 67 82.5 179.7 232 290.3 357.3 51-70 years 37.9 50.5 62.2 75.4 164.4 219 269.3 326.8 71+ years 38.1 50.3 62 76.5 165.1 217.8   268.6 331.4 Female: 12-13 years 37.5 45.7 54.8 66.9 162.5 198 237.5 289.7 14-18 years 37 45.9 55.6 68.5 160.1 199.1   240.9 296.6 19-50 years 36.8 46.5 57.4 73.4 159.6 201.5  248.9 318.3 51-70 years 36.4 45.4 56.2 67.3 157.6 196.6   243.4 291.8 71+ years 35.7 45.1 55.8 67.2 154.6 195.5   241.9 291.1 Families Family of 2 4 19-50 years 86.1 110 136.9 171.5 373.3 476.8   593.1 743.1 51-70 years 81.7 105.5 130.2 157 354.2 457.2   564 680.5 Family of 4 Couple, 19-50 years and 2 children 2-3 and 4-5 years 125.4 159.6  197.3 244.6 543.5 691.6  855 1060 6-8 and 9-11 years 144 188 234.9 285.2 623.8 814.7   1017.6 1235.9

Syria: UN and Arab League consider joint observer mission to try to stop killings

Syria: UN and Arab League consider joint observer mission to try to stop killings

How many more people have to die??? What are the reasons that Russia and China refuse help through the UN and Arab League???