We’re all looking for more ways to use fresh fruit and vegetables during this period of at-home cooking. Juicing not only helps to use up your market haul, but fresh juices have so many health benefits: Nutrient and vitamin-rich juices can fight colds, improve digestion and complexion, and boost your immunity. And did we mention glowing skin?
Get inspired by this ingredient reference guide, then check out a handful of immunity-boosting juice recipes for you to try during the pandemic (or anytime, really). Get juicing!
Healthy Ingredients
Fresh fruit and vegetables provide all kinds of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Hence, when combined, they can make powerful immune boosters that help ward off colds, the flu, and other illnesses and disease.
Here are some examples…
- Apples: Contain vitamins A, B, and C and may lower cholesterol, promote digestion, reduce heart disease, and reduce appetite.
- Carrots: Contain Vitamin A, promote good vision and skin, may help prevent cancer, are heart-healthy, and build immunity.
- Celery: Wanna “stalk” about celery? It can help prevent cancer, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, and is a diuretic.
- Cucumber: Promotes digestion, rehydrates, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, and may relieve joint pain.
- Garlic: Boosts circulation and white blood cell activity, is an immune boost, may help treat colds, and aids in digestion.
- Ginger: Aids digestion, relieves nausea, heals joint pain, and promotes circulation.
- Honey: It’s an antibacterial and anti-fungal, heals wounds, helps with weight loss, regulates blood sugar, and provides nutrients.
- Lemon: May lower weight and bad cholesterol, helps with digestion, and may help treat colds and the flu.
- Mango: Boosts immunity, may lower blood pressure, and is heart and brain healthy.
- Pineapple: Contains Vitamins B and C, may reduce heart attack and stroke risk, may improve immunity, and heals digestive tract infections
- Oranges: Contain Vitamins A, C, B1, and B2, can lower cardiovascular disease and cholesterol, and may build the immune system.
- Strawberries: May help improve complexion, brain health ,and vision, boosts immunity, strengthens teeth, and is rich in nutrients.
- Watermelon: Contains Vitamins A and C, nutrients, and plant compounds; can lower cholesterol; and keep sthe body hydrated.
Ready to make juice? Check out these delicious recipes, which only use a few ingredients.
The Glass of Morning Goodness
Morning a little blah? Try this fresh recipe! It’s vitamin-rich and loaded with antioxidants and flavor.
Ingredients
- 5-7 apples (skin-on for more fiber)
- 5-6 carrots (heads cut off)
- 1 cucumber (skin-on for more fiber)
- 2-4 oranges (peeled, seeds removed)
- 2 cups fresh pineapple (cut the external layer off) or canned without the syrup (to balance glucose levels)
Optional: Add a red beet, fresh ginger, and/or a few radishes (for extra antioxidants).
To make this recipe:
Blend the ingredients in a blender or food processor. Adjust the taste with a little lemon and/or lime juice and a teaspoon or two of honey.
The Hydration Boost
These ingredients include high levels of antioxidants for a fast immune boost, and the celery helps you release a lot of water/fluid. Parsley has essential oils with antibacterial and anti-fungal effects.
Ingredients
- 1 apple (skin-on for fiber)
- 4 stalks of celery
- 1 bunch of parsley
To make this recipe:
Blend all the ingredients in a blender or food processor. Add a little honey to sweeten the taste (optional).
The Energy Mixer
This drink is a yummy mix of sweet and tart, but its real benefit is that it’s loaded with vitamins A, C, and B6. It also includes potassium and folic acid.
Ingredients
- 1 apple (skin-on for fiber)
- 1 orange (peeled, seeds removed)
- 2 carrots (heads cut off)
To make this recipe:
Blend all the ingredients in a blender or food processor. Want to sweeten it a bit? Add a little orange juice or apple sauce.
The Power Shot
This spicy and powerful drink is loaded with benefits: Ginger is antibacterial and antioxidant, lemons provide vitamin C, and turmeric is rich in antioxidants.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger (peeled)
- The juice of a fresh lemon (remove the seeds)
- A few dashes of turmeric powder or 1 tablespoon fresh turmeric
To make this recipe:
Blend all the ingredients in a blender or food processor. If it’s too bitter, add a little honey or orange juice as this is such a small portion.
Note: Avoid this drink if you have gastrointestinal (GI) issues, as the lemon and ginger can worsen heartburn and gastritis.
The Citrus Refresher
Feeling under the weather? This drink’s high dose vitamin C is your new BFF. Bonus: It also includes vitamins A and B6, zinc, and folic acid.
Ingredients
- 4-7 peeled clementines
- 2-3 oranges
- 1 medium grapefruit (seeds removed)
- ½ lemon
To make this recipe:
Blend all the ingredients in a blender. If it’s too tart, add a little honey or orange juice.
Note: Leave out the grapefruit if you have kidney disease. Avoid this drink if you have gastrointestinal (GI) issues, as the acidity can worsen heartburn and gastritis.
The Power Pick-Me-Up
This bright citrus drink is a great morning beverage, and it’s a big immune booster to boot. It includes vitamins A, C, and E, iron, and folate.
Ingredients
- 1 cut mango
- 10-12 strawberries
- ½ cup orange juice or a peeled whole orange, seeds removed
To make this recipe:
Blend all the ingredients in a blender. Add a tablespoon or two of lime juice and honey depending on how sweet or tart you want it.
Pro tip: Blend with ice cubes for to make this a frosty beverage. Freeze it, then eat with a spoon for a healthy dessert!
Other “Juicy” Options
Here are a few other fruit and vegetable ingredients for immune boosts and other benefits:
- Asthma: Apple, carrots, lemon, garlic, and spinach.
- Colds: Carrots, pineapple, garlic, and ginger.
- Depression: Apple, carrots, nori, spinach, and beets.
- Eyes: Carrots and celery.
- Fatigue: Apple (green), beets, spinach, carrots, and lemon.
- Indigestion: Fresh ginger or lemon, carrots, fresh mint, and pineapple.
- Kidney Cleanses: Carrots, cucumber, cilantro, cucumber, and watermelon; or cayenne, honey, garlic, and ginger.
- Kidney Detoxes: Cucumber, watermelon, carrots, and cilantro.
- Kidney Stones: Avoid grapefruit, which can contribute to calcium buildup that forms stones) and try lemon, apple, orange, and watermelon.
- Memory: Beets, grapes, and pomegranate.
- Relationship or Job Trouble: Netflix, a bubble bath, a bottle of wine/or bubbly, and chocolate.
- Stress Reducer: Pear, strawberries, and bananas.
- Weight Loss: Carrots, apple, lemon, and cucumber.
