Immune Boosting Pancake Syrup

Happy National Pancake Day!  I don’t know about you but pancakes are an absolute crowd pleaser in my family. Not only is it our staple breakfast, but when the day has gotten away from me and dinner is an afterthought, I can always sell breakfast for dinner! Although, Alison is definitely the chef of the family, I thought it would be fun to go over a recipe for pancake syrup that actually strengthens your child’s immune system. The secret to boosting your child’s immune system while they are unknowingly enjoying their pancakes is elderberry!  A lot of parents struggle with illness when their child first goes to school and are asking for ways to help keep their children healthy.  Elderberry is a natural way to help promote immune coordination and overcome flu like symptoms.

Elderberries have several different health benefits. Elderberry has been shown to help with brain development, immune coordinations, digestion, and blood flow. I love it for its ability to help strengthen immunity and fight off flu-like symptoms. Elderberries are rich with anthocyanins, pigments that have been shown to boost the production of immune cytokines, which help the body to defend against disease and illness. Elderberry also contains a potent antiviral agent called antivirin. The antivirin not only helps to prevent viruses from invading cells, but also prevents the virus from replicating, therefore shortening the time one will suffer from the symptoms of a virus.

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup dried elderberries 
• 3 1/2 cups of water
• 2 tbsp fresh or dried ginger root
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1/2 tsp whole cloves or clove powder
• 1 cup raw honey- a child under the age of 1 should not be given honey

1. Pour water into medium saucepan and add elderberries, ginger, cinnamon and cloves (do not add honey).
2. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cover for about 45 minutes to an hour until the liquid has reduced by almost half.  Remove from the heat and let cool enough to be handled. Mash the berries carefully using a spoon or other flat utensil. Pour the mixture through a strainer into a glass jar or bowl.
3. Discard the elderberries (or compost them) and let the liquid cool more. When it is no longer hot, add 1 cup of honey and mix well to combine.
4. Pour the syrup into a quart sized mason jar or 16 ounce glass bottle.
5. Add your desired amount of elderberry syrup to your regular syrup.

For The Busy Mom.  Do not let this blog fool you, I do not spend my Sundays making homemade elderberry syrup for the week!  Nature’s Way makes an organic elderberry syrup for children. I love Amazon but any local wellness store will most likely carry it as well. However, if you are using it as a daily supplementation, it can get a bit expensive! So if you are having a lazy Sunday at home, it is great way to try something fun with the kids and save yourself some money.

There are contradictions and limitations to elderberry syrup so it is imperative that you discuss with your doctor whether it is appropriate for your child to start taking elderberry supplementation. Please make sure your doctor goes over the appropriate dosing.  Children under the age of 1 should not take this syrup.