Immune Boosting Juice Recipe

No matter what time of year it is, there are always pesky viruses and other sickness going around. But when school starts back in the fall, it’s time to be sure we are getting those immune strengthening nutrients in. This immune boosting juice recipe is a simple, yet delicious and kid-friendly juice that delivers a powerful nutrition punch.

Juicing is one way to get a concentrated amount of these nutrients in — and kids love them because they taste amazing. We also do many smoothies in our house, and they have their benefits as well!

Juicing vs smoothies

The main difference between juicing and smoothies is the fiber content. Juicing is, obviously, extracting only the juice. This means that you do miss out on the fiber, but this means you can get a high vitamin and mineral concentration because you can drink more since there is no fiber.

There are times where the fiber is much needed, in diet, and a smoothie is a better option in that case. I think a blend of both is a great option for many families. For example, my kids will drink a juice with carrot juice in it, yet don’t love a smoothie full of carrots.

Juicers, juicers everywhere

There are so many juicers to choose from, where do you even begin?

The ideal juicer is a cold-pressed juicer, as this retains the most nutrients. Cold-pressed juicers can cost anywhere from $150 to $1,000. After doing my own research, I decided that the Omega Vertical Masticating juicer was the best fit.

I love that the Omega juicer is dishwasher-friendly. I can say from personal experience when I had a different juicer over 10 years ago, that if it doesn’t clean easily, I will not use it!

It also fits nicely under a cabinet and does not take up a lot of space. My old juicer was huge and heavy, so I did not ever pull it out to use it.

The Omega juicer is so easy to use that my son uses it quite frequently, and I’m just so happy it actually gets used!

Foods for the Immune System

Our bodies are so complex, yet simple foods can do amazing things for our immune system!

Often, the simple foods are the ones that get pushed out of the way by more processed and hyperpalatable foods. My kids would rather snack on a chocolate peanut butter granola bar than an apple or carrot.

By using these foods to make a juice, you’re easily getting all of this nutrition in. Here are the ways these simple, whole foods can boost the immune system:

• Carrots. These root vegetables are full of beta carotene which is converted to Vitamin A in the body. This vitamin has been shown to enhance immune function, along with many other health benefits! Carrots are also a source of Vitamin C, which stimulates the activity of white blood cells! Vitamin C even has been shown to have an antibacterial effect.
• Apples. This sweet and juicy fruit not only makes the juice taste amazing, but delivers a high dose of Vitamin C. They are also a source of iron, zinc and other micronutrients that are important for growth, bone health and immune function.
• Lemon. Citrus fruits have an immune boosting effect, and lemons are a source of vitamin C and folate. Consuming citrus juice has been shown to decrease inflammation.
• Turmeric. Turmeric has been thoroughly researched for its anti-inflammatory effects. Curcumin, the compound of turmeric that gives it its yellow color, is an immune system modulator.

How to Make the Immune Boosting Juice Recipe

The recipe below is a tried and true favorite in our house, but feel free to juice any fruits or vegetables you have and play around with different flavor combinations. Any and all fruits and vegetables can boost the immune system, as they all contain a variety of nutrients!

One tip for reducing food waste is to use apples that might be getting a little soft or have a couple of blemishes for your juice.

Whether it is “sick season” or not, this immune boosting juice recipe may help prevent anything from the common cold to more serious illness!