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We are well into cold and flu season and this Ultimate Kick-that-Cold Immunity Booster Juice is a recipe you need in your back pocket!
If you feel a cold coming on, or you are currently in the throes of one, this juice recipe with oranges, lemon, carrots, ginger and turmeric will give you an extra boost of vitamin C and antioxidants to help your body naturally feel better!
My Go To Immune Juice
When cold and flu seasons hits staying healthy can be a top priority. Our bodies naturally do a great job at utilizing their own defenses to fight off colds but it can never hurt to arm yourself with some extra Vitamin C and antioxidants to do it.
This recipe has been used in my house for years and it’s time it’s officially landed on the blog.
If we feel ourselves starting to get sick we immediately make this Ultimate Kick-that-Cold Juice and drink up! I swear by it, but it’s also super delicious and a good pick-me-up.
Ingredients Needed and Substitutions
- Carrots:
- Oranges
- Lemons
- Ginger
- Turmeric
- Pinch Black Pepper
- Optional: Cayenne Pepper
The juice is made up of oranges, carrots, lemon, fresh ginger and turmeric! The citrus and carrots add a much needed boost of vitamin c and antioxidants, the ginger is a natural antiviral and the turmeric has the nutrient curcumin which is a powerful anti-inflammatory.
To prep the fruits and veggies you remove the rinds from all of the fruit before juicing. This is important because the skin/rind is what can hold the most pesticide residue and we want to keep away all that harmful chemicals, especially when your body is fighting off a cold. You can either just wash the carrots, or peel them.
Benefits of Juicing
Juicing can be controversial in the health world as it does remove some fiber from the fruit and veggies, but I’ve found, when I am coming down with something, this really does the trick! While of course fiber IS important (because it also contains nutrients and helps digestion), practically speaking, you will absorb more nutrients because the gut doesn’t need to digest all that fiber at the same time! Want more info? I like this article!
Juicing extracts the juice from fresh fruits or vegetables. The resulting liquid contains most of the vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients found in the whole fruit! Since you have to use a far larger quantity of fruits and vegetables to make a glass of juice than you typically would eat in a sitting, you will get higher doses of those micronutrients and phytochemical. Juice quickly reaches your vital organs, can help reset your body, re-oxygenates yourblood, flush out fat, and more!
What I will say is: when ordering juice out, ask them how much fruit is going into your juice (so you can watch the sugar intake). Nobody needs 3 apples in one sitting!
Why Do You Peel The Rinds?
Though yes, they can be nutritional powerhouses, I find they taste very bitter in a juice! I don’t recommend it.
Storing Your Juice
Store in the fridge for 3 days, or freeze in cubes to enjoy for 4-6 months. To defrost, put in hot water, like tea, or in the fridge overnight.
More Immune Boosting Recipes:
- Antioxidant Smoothie Freezer Pack
- Açaí Smoothie Bowl
- Chicken and Rice Soup
- Fermented Garlic Honey
- Island Blast Green Smoothie
- Immune-Boosting Feel Good Detox Soup
- Golden Turmeric Milk Latte with Espresso
- How to Make Elderberry Syrup (Natural Cold and Flu Remedy)
Ultimate Kick-that-Cold Juice
Ingredients
- 4 oranges rind removed
- 1 lemon rind removed
- 2 ” chunk ginger
- 1 ” knob turmeric
- 5 large carrots cleaned / peeled
- Pinch black pepper (to activate turmeric)
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
Instructions
- Place all ingredients through a high-speed juicer and mix well before serving over ice. Consume immediately. Store in the fridge for 3 days, or freeze in cubes to enjoy for 4-6 months.4 oranges, 1 lemon, 2 ” chunk ginger, 1 ” knob turmeric, 5 large carrots, Pinch black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
You must drink immediately since the oxygen introduced via the centrifugal extraction (same with blending) will quickly turn the carrots bitter.
A slow/ mastication juicer doesn’t add oxygen and your juice tastes fresher for 2-3 days!
I only have powdered turmeric. How much would I add?
Hi toni! we havent tested using powder. so sorry! feel free to sprinkle some in.
I added 1/4 tsp powdered turmeric for 1 serving. It was delicious and helped kick my husband’s cold!
we LOVE hearing this!
Rind removed??? The rind (and peels) has an abundance of nutrients. It will affect flavor, but this is a natural medicine, not an Orange Julius.
For this recipe we find the best results without the rinds, but feel free to leave on if that’s your preference!
I love this immune-boosting orange juice & it is so delicious. Thank you Lexi for this drink.
Yum! Hubby has a cold and I don’t want it, so we’re drinking this recipe right now! Had to use turmeric powder though. On my shopping list! Thank you!
This looks so beautiful and delicious. I love these photos and it’s definitely a great way to get quick vitamins during winter! Thanks you so much.
Great Blog! Love these types of juices and smoothies.
If you wash the carrots there is absolutely no need to peel them, they actually have more flavour when you don’t – just my opinion. Also one should leave the pith on the citrus as this has sooooo much vitamin C and fiber (cholesterol lowering) that the body needs.
Sometimes it alters the taste in juice – go for it!!