Immunity Smoothie

This spicy, citrusy, and slightly creamy smoothie will help your sick, sniffling self feel like a brand new person the next morning!

I absolutely SWEAR by this immunity smoothie recipe when I start feeling like I’m getting get sick. If my throat starts acting up, or I feel an oncoming sinus infection, I will go out of my way to venture out to the store and buy fresh ingredients just so I can drink the immunity smoothie! Paired with plenty of rest, this smoothie has helped me get over sinus infections without antibiotics, and I usually wake up feeling significantly less sick than I did the night before.

This immunity smoothie contains plenty of fresh, natural vitamin C thanks to the lovely whole citrus fruits used in this recipe. Ginger and turmeric both contain anti-inflammatory properties, which is why these two ingredients are incorporated in the immunity smoothie. A dash of black pepper helps to activate the turmeric and increase its absorption. Research shows that the piperine found in black pepper can increase the bioavailability of the curcumin in turmeric by up to 2000%. That is a significant absorption difference, which is why a tiny pinch of black pepper is an essential component to this immunity smoothie.

I like to make my immunity smoothie STRONG with spiciness from the ginger. I usually make mine with 2 inches of ginger root (3 if I’m real desperate for relief) to try and maximize the immunity benefits. I like my ginger in immunity smoothies like I like my liquor in cocktails – strong to get the job done.

The raw honey adds an additional immunity benefit with its effect on seasonal allergies. It is thought that since the bees travel to and from different pollen sources, consuming raw honey helps to subtly introduce the pollen in an amount small enough to train your immune system not to respond as strongly to it – a concept similar to that of vaccines. The raw honey also helps displace a bit of the spiciness from the ginger due to its natural sweetness.