Ribose is a simple, five-carbon monosaccharide, or pentose sugar, found in body cells. It is the backbone of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a key molecule in the metabolic cycle that provides energy to cells.
Elderberries grow beyond the folklore into mainstream functional foods.
An old Austrian saying, "Tip your hat to the elder," expresses the respect with which Europeans have long regarded the elder tree (Sambucus nigra L. Caprifoliaceae) and its dark purple berries.
Research increasingly supports the medicinal benefits of food ingredients.
Even "empty calorie" food and beverages provide needed calories, if little else, to the human body. And, at the other extreme, more than a few plants have historical use not only as a food but for their medicinal benefits as well.