Article, Recipe and Blog Photography by Tiffany Stuart (@itsmeladyg), Women’s Lifestyle, Wellness, and Mom Blogger and Certified Health Coach
Coming down with a cold is simply never fun. For the better part of my life, I thought there were very little things I could do to support my immune system against the common cold, aside from washing my hands often and avoiding potentially compromising situations.
However, this approach was overhauled when I became a parent. Once I became responsible for someone other than myself, I was quickly faced with the reality that parents get very little rest days. Parenting is a 24/7 gig, even when you’re sick.
My search for additional pro-active options brought me right to the amazing wellness and immune supporting benefits of Black Elderberries, which are packed with antioxidants and vitamins. And my experience and commitment to high quality products led me right to Gaia Herbs Black Elderberry line.
Unlike many other Black Elderberry lines on the shelves, Gaia Herbs Black Elderberry products are made with the same level of care and whole-food ingredients as many of their other beloved products. This great tasting Black Elderberry Syrup is made with clean ingredients and is USDA Certified Organic, making this a great addition to my family’s daily wellness routine.
How I Use Gaia Herbs Black Elderberry Syrup
I love to get creative and make it into a drink that resembles a berry juice, using a couple spoonfuls mixed into a gallon of filtered water with some berries. When left in the refrigerator for a couple of hours, it’s an easy way to get some Black Elderberry into anyone’s day. This same mixture can be made into a sparkling drink by swapping the filtered water with seltzer.
The Black Elderberry Syrup is such a flavorful and rich formulation that it makes a delicious tea for cool nights. I add half a teaspoon to a warm mug of water and sip slowly. I especially love to do this when I feel the early signs of a cold coming on.
Another way I use Black Elderberry Syrup is in smoothie bowls. Who doesn’t like a delicious smoothie bowl? To me they are an easy way to get in your servings of fruits and veggies while forcing yourself to sit down and relax. My latest recipe is for a Blueberry, Elderberry, Avocado Immune Supporting Smoothie Bowl with a teaspoon of Gaia Herbs Black Elderberry syrup added for as a delicious immune booster.
Ingredients:
- 1 Medium Banana (plus more for toppings)
- 1 Cup Frozen Blueberries
- 1 Cup Frozen Cauliflower
- 1 Teaspoon Gaia Herbs Organic Black Elderberry Syrup
- 1/2 Kiwi
- 1/2 Avocado
- 1 Cup Nut Milk of your choice
Preparation:
- Add all ingredients into a blender. The avocado and bananas do not need to be frozen, but can be if desired.
- Blend until smooth. The banana and avocado will make the mix extra creamy and thick.
- Spoon into a bowl and top as desired. Go wild and get creative with this part.
And while it’s not at all hard to get my little ones to take a spoonful of the original Black Elderberry Syrup, they also love the GaiaKids Black Elderberry Syrup. For my kids, I try to work it into their routine by taking it before heading out to school. However, it’s a must when my son comes back from one of his many extracurricular activities or a birthday party. We have had too many instances where we left from either of these gatherings with more “memories” than we wanted, which lasted longer than we’d hoped for.
Black Elderberry Helps My Family Stay Feeling Great
Taking Black Elderberry has made such a difference in our health and overall quality of life. There’s a very short list of products and brands that I would deem as must-haves for my house. However, without a doubt, Gaia Herbs Black Elderberry line tops that list year-round.
Tiffany "It's Me, Lady G" Stuart, is a mom of 2, veggie-loving, internationally-published blogger, recipe developer, brand consultant, YouTuber, public speaker, and a Certified Integrative Nutrition Holistic Health Coach. She contributes to the Huffington Post, the NON-GMO Project, and other health, wellness and lifestyle brands. Tiffany is also an organizer of several women's groups in the NYC area, and was one of the 2017-2019 Natural Products Expo East Top Influencers in the wellness industry. Her mission is to help other women embrace themselves and their power, and ultimately become their own educated health and wellness advocate.