2. Sip your way healthy
Unless 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.

3. Rise and shine
To 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.

4. Chai and mighty
A 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.)

5. Smoothie solution
Smoothies 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 smoothie
2½ cups almond, coconut or rice milk
1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1 scoop of concentrated, non-denatured whey powder
1/4 cup soaked chia seeds
1/2 banana
1 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.

6. Super C
Up 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 astragalus
2½ cups almond, coconut or rice milk
1 packet frozen acai berry pulp
500 mg vitamin C powder (available at health food stores)
1 scoop concentrated, non-denatured whey powder
500 mg astragalus extract or powder
1/2 banana

7. 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.

8. Fruit of the vino
Good 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.)

9. Hot honey helper
Your 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.

10. Go green
Sure 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.