Easy Citrus-Ginger Immunity Shots
Cold and flu season is in full swing—here are some simple home remedies you can make to keep yourself from getting taken out by the viruses that are spreading right now. Immunity shots can now be found in most grocery stores, but they usually cost over $3 or $4 for just a few tablespoons! They can be made easily at home if you have a blender—no juicer required!
Not only is vitamin D necessary for maintaining proper immune function, but the food you consume daily also determines the state of your immune system. During an infection, it's important to have some level of inflammation to fight the virus, but too much inflammation can cause the virus to replicate unchecked and illness to progress to a point of tissue damage, and possibly even pneumonia. Consuming a wide variety of plant foods that are rich in phytonutrients can help modulate the immune system to function at its best. Think of fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds as your daily medicine for proper immune function. If you need more support with finding delicious, phytonutrient-rich recipes, consider becoming a Nourishing Meals® member to gain access to over 1800 member-only recipes and easy meal planning tools.
How do immunity shots help fight viruses?
Let's look at the ingredients! Oranges, lemons, fresh ginger, and fresh turmeric. How do these ingredients help support immune function?
Oranges and lemons contain vitamin C, and a number of important phytonutrients including naringin, naringenin, hesperetin, hesperidin, neohesperidin, and nobiletin. These are some of the compounds that the plant uses to protect itself from oxidation! Vitamin C can prevent and shorten the duration of cold and flu infections, and it is effective against pneumonia. Citrus bioflavonoids can reduce or inhibit inflammatory cytokines, and can act as natural antivirals.
Fresh ginger can inhibit viral replication and viral entry into cells, down-regulate oxidative stress, reduce inflammatory cytokines, and balance Treg cells (these immune cells help create a balanced immune response).
Fresh turmeric contains several bioactive compounds, including curcuminoids, turmerin, and turmerones. Turmeric can reduce oxidative stress, inhibit viral replication, inactivate Influenza A, and act as a powerful anti-inflammatory.
Immunity Shots for Calming the Gut!
I often recommend this recipe, or a variation of it, to my clients to aid in calming gut inflammation and reducing painful symptoms associated with SIBO, IBS, or IBD. If you are experiencing a flare, or ongoing bloating and abdominal pain, this immunity shot recipe can be helpful to start consuming daily.
You may want to make a double batch and keep a few jars in the fridge. Two 8-ounce cups daily is a good place to start.
Citrus-Ginger Immunity Shots
This immunity shot recipe can be easily whipped up in a blender—no juicer required! Ginger contains antiviral and antioxidant compounds that can help fight viruses; the citrus fruits provide vitamin C, which balances the inflammatory response, and bioflavonoids, which have antiviral and antioxidant functions. Curcumin, an active compound in turmeric, can inhibit viral replication, as well as reduce the oxidative stress caused by viruses. Make a double batch of these immunity shots, pour them into small mason jars, cover with a lid, and keep in your fridge for a few days and drink as needed to support your immune system during cold and flu season!
Use a sharp paring knife to peel the citrus fruits. First, cut off the top and bottom of the fruits and then use your knife to peel in a downwards direction on a cutting board, leaving some of the white pithy part.
- Peel the orange and lemon using a sharp paring knife. Cut each in half and pop out any seeds that might be there.
- Add all ingredients to a blender.
- Blend on high for a minute or so. Serve!
Use this recipe in our Meal Planner
About the Author
Ali Segersten
Alissa Segersten holds a Bachelor's of Science in Nutrition from Bastyr University and a Master’s of Science in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine from the University of Western States. She is a Functional Nutritionist, the mother of five children, a whole foods cooking instructor, professional recipe developer, and cookbook author. She is passionate about helping others find a diet that will truly nourish them. Alissa is the author of two very popular gluten-free, whole foods cookbooks and guidebooks: The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook and Nourishing Meals. She is also the co-author of The Elimination Diet book. Alissa is the founder and owner of Nourishing Meals®.Nourishing Meals Newsletter
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Thank you for your lemon -orange juice! For 4 years I drank the same but without water AND with garlic. It was good for immune fighting with cancer. I love it today as well but with less garlic and more pulp!
Thank you for this easy recipe which I love to prepare for my family.
There was a lot of pulp so I had to strain it out or my children would not drink it. Any chance you had a recipe to use up the pulp mixture? I'd hate to waste it. Thank you!
Hi Sue,
You could always bake it into muffins with added spices. Stir the pulp into applesauce and then use a recipe that calls for applesauce. :)
Thank you!
I add it to my smoothie. Can freeze it also in a tray and add at any time to a smoothie
I used 1 1/2 cups of beet juice instead of water. Yum.
Ela,
That's a great idea! I will have to try that. :)
Wow, these home remedies for boosting immunity are a game-changer! It's great to know that we can make our own immunity shots without needing a juicer. Thanks for sharing this recipe and saving us some bucks!
should not store in fridge for days since it will lose it's nutritional value after only one hour. Drink right away. Also some sites encourage eating of peelings.