Elderberry popsicles are perfect for cold and flu season

When the various bugs of winter hit your home, you’ll do almost anything to prevent it from happening again. My family is just now coming out of a nonstop barrage of illnesses that started before Christmas — and these elderberry ice pops look like a great immunity booster for the rest of winter.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, several studies have shown that antioxidant-rich elderberry may help prevent colds and flu, and possibly even shorten the duration of viral illnesses. Simplemost’s own health expert, Brittany Anas, swears by the stuff.

Supplements are available in a variety of formats, but the elderberry popsicles by Jill Mills at Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons turn elderberry into a tasty, kid-friendly treat.

The star ingredient, of course, is elderberry syrup. Mills says her family’s had “great success” battling bugs with elderberry during the yucky months. The syrup is easy to find. It’s available pre-made on Amazon or at health-food stores. And it tends to be reasonably priced, as a bonus.

In addition to that immunity-enhancing elderberry, Mills’ recipe includes vitamin-C-rich orange and grape juices. A little honey helps soothe scratchy throats, too. Mills recommends using raw, unpasteurized honey, though there may not be a big nutritional difference between raw and commercially processed honey. (It’s also good to remember to keep honey-containing food away from infants less than a year old.)

Once you’ve got your ingredients together, the ice pops are simple to whip up — you can find the whole recipe here.

You can also make your own elderberry syrup using dried elderberries, which are available on Amazon, too. The Daring Gourmet touts an elderberry syrup that sounds tasty enough to dose by the spoonful. It uses cinnamon, clove, ginger and, again, honey to jazz up the plain elderberry flavor.

Whether you choose to make ice pops, sip some syrup, or perhaps pop a gummy, a little elderberry just might get you through the season in good health!