Immune Boosting Smoothies

Autumn is the time we should focus on laying down the foundations for optimally functioning immune health to help us fend off infections through the winter months.   This includes getting good sleep, sufficient exercise (preferably outside), having a healthy gut microbiome, keeping hydrated, managing our stress and inflammation levels.

Hopefully we have all benefitted from upping our Vitamin D levels through the sunshine of the summer months and eating a wide variety of colourful, fresh, local and nutritious ingredients.  In terms of functionality, now is the time to focus on maintaining our nutrition as the winter closes in.  Good daily doses of Vitamins A, B6, folate, B12, D and C, as well as the trace minerals zinc and selenium, all contribute to the normal function of the immune system.

Smoothies are a great way to get different nutritious fresh fruit and veg into your diet quickly and easily.

I recommend a base mix for immune boosting smoothies to which other tasty things can be added for variety.

For 2 people:

Juice of 2 lemons

A thumb sized piece of fresh ginger, peeled

A thumb sized piece of fresh turmeric, peeled (or 1 tbsp dried ground turmeric)

Small handful of nuts (esp walnuts and brazil nuts) &/or 1 tbsp coconut oil

Water to get to consistency you like

Great things to add for immune boosting nutrition include: 

• 2 sticks celery, 2 medium beetroot, 2 tbsp of ripe dark purple fruit such as cooked elderberries, raw cherries or blueberries
• 2 carrots, 2 sticks celery, 1/4tsp dried cayenne, grind of black pepper
• 2 sticks celery, 1 apple, handful spinach, grind of black pepper, sprinkle dried seaweed
• 1 banana, 1 mango, 1 cup kefir

Orchard Barn Shop holds a wide range of nutritional supplements to support immune health and the practitioners are the clinic are there to advice you in your own unique situation.