A Flu Shot In A Blender

Your kids are sneezing in your face, your co-workers cough all day, and you’ve learned this year’s flu strain is particularly virulent. What should you do? Besides the obvious (get enough sleep, wash your hands frequently and avoid sick people like the, well, plague), you can take proactive steps with fruits and veggies to boost your immune system.

Knowing that good nutrition is one of the best weapons against illness, we created a delicious elixir, the Flu Shot. You can blend it up fast to get yourself a solid dose of vitamins and minerals, all of which can help boost immunity and, if you’re already under the weather, can reduce the severity of symptoms. 

In this vitamin-packed juice shot, we feature blood oranges, which have more vitamin C than almost all of its citrus cousins (24% of your daily C quota in just 1 ounce). Plus, as you can tell from its vibrant color, it has the added punch of antioxidant-rich anthocyanins. Pink grapefruit not only provides more vitamin C but also the cancer-preventative phytonutrient lycopene. Lemon lends a third boost of vitamin C and a sour foil to the sweeter juices. Ginger has gingerol, a substance that can help lower the risk of infection, while raw local honey boosts immunity and can fight bacterial infections. Cinnamon’s antioxidants have anti-inflammatory properties.

And finally, the secret ingredient? Garlic. Yes, garlic. Its allicin compound and zinc boost the immune system, dramatically reducing the length of cold symptoms. 

Bottoms up!