There are immunity-boosting supplements and foods, but did you know that there are also immunity-boosting drinks?

A few times per year, all of us think about what we can do not to catch a cold or the flu, and usually, we think about what we can eat to boost our body’s immune system. But from now on, you should also focus your attention on what drinks are able to give you an immunity boost.

The immune system works as a barrier to keep “intruders” out of our bodies, but it also has a complex cell defense mechanism that is able to fight off infections. This is why we should do our best to keep our immunity in shape.

Read on and learn everything you need to know about immunity-boosting drinks and how to prepare your body’s defense in a proper way.

1. Tomato juice

We all love tomatoes for their umami flavor, but they are capable of so much more besides this. In the same fashion as citrus fruits, these slightly tangy red fruits—yes, tomatoes are fruits—are packed with lots and lots of vitamin C. And as we already know, one of the best things that can help you with a cold is vitamin C.

Another thing that makes tomato juice one of the immunity-boosting drinks is lycopene. This compound is not as popular as vitamin C, but it has some incredible properties, one of which is that it reduces systemic inflammation.

If you are not a big fan of fresh tomato juice, you can always try to eat some tomato soup. If you have to battle a cold or the flu, a warm bowl of tomato soup can give you the same amount of vitamin C as a glass of fresh juice.

What is even more awesome about tomato juice is that it has only 50 calories per 8 ounces! Also, there are no added sugars, and these 8 ounces alone almost contain all of the necessary vitamin C that you need for an entire day.

The only drawback might be the high concentration of sodium, but you can effectively avoid this by consuming lower-sodium tomato juice.

2. Immunity-boosting drinks: Water

Maybe you were not expecting this, but water is one of the immunity-boosting drinks, and if you give it some thought, it actually makes sense. After all, our bodies are 60% to 70% water, and they will always require water to function properly.

So, a good place to start your immunity-boosting drinks journey is by drinking the right amount of water every day. When you feel dehydrated, your body defenses are weaker than normal, which means there is a higher chance of bacterial growth and viruses.

If you are not sure how much water you should consume in one day, you can follow this simple rule: always drink half of your body weight in fluid ounces. Let’s say that you weigh 150 pounds. This means you should drink 75 ounces of water per day.

If you are wondering how water can boost your immunity, we are here to tell you more about that. Water is the perfect fluid that can transport nutrients all around your body. It helps with the absorption of these nutrients and keeps your first-line defenses, the membranes of your mouth and nose, in good shape, ready to fight any intruder. Also, don’t forget that the lymphatic fluid, which carries white blood cells to combat infections, also contains water.

According to research that appeared in the journal Medical Hypotheses, those who had been labeled as dehydrated before getting COVID-19 had a higher chance of passing from the illness.

3. Orange or grapefruit juice

Now, we are talking about 100% orange juice, not those that are made with concentrate. If you want one of the best immunity-boosting drinks, you need the real deal. Orange juice has always been used as a first-line weapon against the flu and the cold, and it is true that the juice of citrus fruits is effective for such a job.

Research that was published in Frontiers in Immunology claims that the vitamin C as well as folate in citrus juices maintain the strength of the immune function and also shields T-cells and natural killer cells, among other immune cell types. Even more, some bioactive compounds found in citrus have anti-inflammatory effects, which also help your immune system fight infection.

No matter if you choose the classic orange juice or you want to try something a little bit different, such as the grapefruit juice, you need to know that both of them will provide you with more than 100% of the total vitamin C you need per day. All of this in one serving!

It’s also possible to get orange juice that has been fortified with vitamin D, a compound that has been known for years to be vital to a strong immune system.

4. Green tea

Since this is one of the immunity-boosting drinks, we can’t miss green tea. If you want a great beverage that can give you energy and also boost your immune system at the same time, this is the perfect one.

As a rich source of health-promoting polyphenol flavonoids, green tea lowers the risk of heart disease and some types of cancer and also effectively reduces inflammation. The key element that makes green tea one of the immunity-boosting drinks is, for sure, the antioxidants.

They help minimize the oxidation of the cells by reducing oxidative stress. It does this by reducing the reactive oxygen species. The antioxidant properties of green tea, along with several other potential mechanisms, have been believed to provide protection against illnesses and infections.

Besides, all of this green tea is also calorie-free. So, if you want a drink that will increase the strength of your immune system with 0 calories, you’ve found the one.

5. Lemon ginger tea

Speaking of tea, we also have to mention lemon ginger tea. Anyone fighting a cold has tried this at least once. You can buy this type of tea from the supermarket, or you can make it on your own at home with the main ingredients: ginger, lemon, and honey.

For hundreds of years, people have used this tea as one of the greatest immunity-boosting drinks that helped them keep their immunity up. Brands that are sold nationwide contain natural ginger, lemon peel, and lemongrass. Probiotics have also been added by some for even greater immune-boosting effects.

Lemon ginger tea is so amazing because of its high amount of vitamin C, and it is also rich in antioxidants. Vitamin C boosts immunity, but it also has some good anti-inflammatory properties that will help your immune response.

According to studies published in the journal Nutrients, ginger also contains over one hundred bioactive compounds that assist in preventing nausea, lowering the risk of some cancers, boosting blood lipids, lowering inflammation, and a whole lot more.

As you can see, there are many immunity-boosting drinks that can help you fight the cold and the flu or just help you have stronger and better immunity. Which one is your drink of choice? Tell us about it in the comments section!

If you want to buy fortified orange juice, this one is a great choice: Simply Orange Juice, 89 fl oz, 100% Juice with Calcium & Vitamin D, Pulp Free

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