Surprising Benefit from Elderberry!

🔥 Looking for natural boosts for your metabolism?

We usually think about elderberry 🫐 for immune support during the cold and flu season, but a new study shows it may also benefit metabolic health.

After drinking 12 ounces of elderberry juice daily for a week, participants experienced:

1️⃣ Improved gut health

Elderberry juice increased beneficial gut bacteria and decreased harmful ones. A healthy gut microbiome is closely linked to better metabolic health.

2️⃣ Better blood sugar control:

Participants had a 24% decrease in blood glucose levels and a 9% decrease in insulin levels, showing improved sugar metabolism.

3️⃣ Enhanced fat burning:

Elderberry juice improved the body’s ability to oxidize fat, especially after carb-heavy meals and during exercise.

What makes elderberries so great?

Anthocyanins ✨

Anthocyanins are phytonutrients (plant compounds) with powerful antioxidant and health-promoting properties, and elderberries contain them in much higher concentrations than most other berries.

It’s all about nutrient density.

As with all supplements, it’s essential to consult a practitioner who can evaluate your unique situation. Even natural options like elderberry juice may not be right for everyone.

👉🏽 Looking for tailored support for metabolic health?

We specialize in personalized care, helping you understand what works for your unique body and goals.

Get started with your personalized health plan by scheduling your first visit today! 💜

[New Study] How Intermittent Fasting Affects Women’s Hormones

✨new research on intermittent fasting in women ✨

Intermittent fasting is effective for weight loss, but we have never known whether it has any effect on female hormones—until now.

A study at The University of Illinois Chicago looked at the hormonal effects in 23 obese pre- and postmenopausal women following the “warrior diet.”

The warrior diet restricts eating to a 4 or 6-hour window each day and allows only for water for the other 18-20 hours.

Here’s what they found after 8 weeks:

↔️ There were no changes in testosterone or SHBG levels in pre- or postmenopausal women

↔️ There were no changes in estrogen or progesterone levels in postmenopausal women (these weren’t tested in premenopausal)

⬇️ DHEA levels dropped by about 14% in both pre- and postmenopausal women

The women following the warrior diet did experience weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity.

The study was published in Obesity in October 2022.

The takeaway?

👉 Intermittent fasting may lower DHEA levels in women. This is a hormone that is important for fertility and as a precursor to other hormones after menopause.

We need to weigh the risks and benefits for each individual because there is no one-size fits all. Plus, we need to keep following the research as it comes out (we’ll do that part so you don’t have to!).

If you need a personalized approach to your hormones and weight, please book a consult. Appointments can be scheduled at elementsnatmed.com 🔗

Reference

Faiza Kalam, Rand T. Akasheh, Sofia Cienfuegos, et al. Effect of time‐restricted eating on sex hormone levels in premenopausal and postmenopausal females. Obesity, 2022. [link]