Top 10 Delicious Drink For Body Immunity

Sip your way healthyUnless you’re Rudolph, sporting a red nose for the winter probably isn't the look you’re going for. And given all the sneezing, wheezing, and coughing that come with a seasonal cold or flu, that look can be, well, downright frightful. So wouldn't it be nice to skip the whole thing altogether? While there’s no magic potion that can guarantee you’ll bypass the season of sniffling, research shows you can tip the odds in your favor with some smart immunity-boosting beverages.

By getting a mega dose of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals in liquid form, you’re making it easier for your system to digest and absorb them, says nutrition expert Isaac Eliaz, MD, medical director of Amitabha Healing Clinic in Santa Rosa, California. Plus, the extra fluids help keep you hydrated, improve communication between immune cells, and flush out foreign invaders. So whether you’re looking to start your day off with extra energy, end it on a high note, or ease your way through sick season, here are 10 immunity-boosting drinks you’re going to want to try.

Rise and shineTo get your day off on the right foot, Dr. Eliaz suggests starting simple. “One of my top recommendations for immunity and overall health is to start your morning with a cup of hot water with fresh lemon and ginger,” he says. Don’t be deceived by the simplicity: Grating one teaspoon of fresh ginger into 8 to 12 ounces of water and adding the juice of 1 to 2 lemon slices offers up a hefty dose of antioxidants, vitamin C, and other immunity-boosting compounds. “It warms, activates, and cleanses your entire system,” he says. (Make the perfect brew every time with these 5 Steps To A Perfect Cup Of Tea.

Chai and mightyA traditional Indian tea, your standard chai is a blend of black or green tea, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, black pepper, clove, and fennel. All these herbs add up to a whole lot of beneficial compounds that enhance immune cells, energize cellular mitochondria for greater energy and vitality, directly fight bacteria and viruses in the body, and reduce chronic inflammation, says Dr. Eliaz. Phew! One word of warning: make sure that your chai is unsweetened for maximum benefit. “Even natural sugars spike blood glucose which suppresses immunity,” he says. (Still need a sweet boost? Check out 10 Crazy Ways To Sweeten Without Sugar.)

Smoothie solutionSmoothies can be nothing more than glorified milkshakes, but with the right ingredients, they can become powerful medicine. “Choose low-sugar fruits such as apples, bananas, and especially berries, which have powerful poly phenol compounds offering immunity benefits,” says Dr. Eliaz. For a protein punch, try un-denatured whey, he says. “It’s shown to increase immunity and support detoxification by increasing a key antioxidant, glutathione.” Omega-3 fats found in flax and chia seeds nourish immune cells and restore vital energy. Give this boosting blend a try:

Blueberry chia smoothie2½ cups almond, coconut or rice milk1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)1 scoop of concentrated, non-denatured whey powder1/4 cup soaked chia seeds 1/2 banana1 ounce coconut kiefer Tip: To maximize the nutrients in chia seeds, soak 1/3 cup in 2 cups of water overnight. If you’re short on time, even 15 minutes will make a difference.

Super CUp for something a bit fruitier? Vitamin C powder can increase white blood cells and reduce inflammation, says Dr. Eliaz. And berry powders, frozen pulp, or extracts can pack in even more antioxidants and nutrients. Another booster: Adaptogenic herbs, such as astragalus, which can help offset the effects of stress and support long-term immunity, he says. Give this smoothie a whirl:

Super-C smoothie with astragalus2½ cups almond, coconut or rice milk1 packet frozen acai berry pulp 500 mg vitamin C powder (available at health food stores)1 scoop concentrated, non-denatured whey powder500 mg astragalus extract or powder 1/2 banana

Game, set, matcha!Matcha is a powdered form of green tea, and has the same immune-pumping ingredients but in 10 times the concentration. The antioxidants and medicinal compounds in matcha tea can help you fight off viruses and bacteria, and even abnormal cells, says Dr. Eliaz. “They also help reduce inflammation, support cardiovascular health, improve energy and focus, and balance hormones,” he says. You can find matcha at health food stores and specialty tea stores.

Fruit of the vinoGood news, wine lovers! The antioxidants in red wine may help keep you healthy. A 2010 study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that among 4,000 Spanish adults, those who drank more than 14 weekly glasses of wine for a year were 40% less likely to come down with a common cold. Why? Antioxidants are believed to fight infection and protect cells against the effects of free radicals. But like all good things, the key is, of course, moderation. “Too much will cancel the benefits, because the alcohol and sugars strain the liver and reduce immunity,” says Dr. Eliaz. (Think you might overdo it on the vino? See 6 Sneaky Signs You Drink Too Much.)

Hot honey helperYour mom knew what she was talking about when she made you drink tea at the first sign of a cold: Hot drinks stimulate digestion, ease cold and flu symptoms, and give your immune system the extra kick it needs to fight germs. In fact, people who drank five cups a day of black tea for two weeks had 10 times more virus-fighting cells in their blood than people who drank a placebo hot drink, finds a Harvard study. Sweeten your immune-revving cup with honey, which offers its own health-boosting antioxidants. The darker the honey, the more antioxidants, so opt for varieties like buckwheat to get the best kick.

Go greenSure they look sketchy, but green juices and juice powders can provide a healthy dose of nutrient-dense greens, including wheat and barley grass and even micro-algae like spirulina and chlorella. “Greens help to alkalize your system which creates an inhospitable environment for germs and abnormal cells,” says Dr. Eliaz. Another perk: Drinking your greens can help detoxify your body, he says. Opt for a green juice with a diverse selection of organic ingredients and added probiotics, such as Vitality SuperGreen by Body Ecology, which has a blend of cereal grasses, micro-algae, green veggies, and probiotics.

Vitamin C also known as ascorbic acid, is one of the best known essential nutrients required by the human body for health and vitality. First discovered in 1747 by naval surgeon James Lind as a component of citrus fruit that prevented the disease, scurvy, most vitamin C products are now either synthetically produced in a laboratory setting or extracted from natural sources, such as citrus fruit, rosehips, berries and vegetables. Few animal products are rich in vitamin C, though some Inuit tribes in North America consume whale meat and whale skin as their main dietary source of vitamin C. Since its discovery, researchers have found vitamin C to be an essential ingredient for making the body healthy, as it prevents atherosclerosis, reduces cognitive decline, speeds wound healing, prevents scarring, balances stress hormones, fights free radicals and supports a strong immune system. In addition, vitamin C plays a specific role in the sexual health and fertility of men.

Super Immunity Booster It strengthens the body’s immune system. It helps defend your body from bacterial & viral diseases such as Anthrax, Hiv, Influenza, Epstein-Barr, Herpes. Alleviates sore throats, chronic sinusitis, skin disease, and pneumonia. Eliminates symptoms of all types of infections, including viral, yeast, fungal, bacterial, and other parasitic protozoan. Effectively treats chronic fatigue syndrome, athlete’s foot, arthritis, psoriasis, even the common cold.