After a few weeks of eating and drinking too much, sleeping too little and kissing too many oncles and aunts, odds are that many of you aren’t at the top of their form. I can relate. I used to always get sick after the Holidays, often even right in the middle.
But now that we haven’t been spending Christmas in Québec and that I regularly drink preventive beverages, I haven’t been sick. Never more than a runny nose! Such as my flu-fighting infusion, which is so popular that it reached the second place on the 10 most viewed recipes of 2016, and the three versions of my immune-boosting orange juice I’m sharing with you today.
Oh and let’s not forget the most recent recipe on the blog, my vegan chicken noodle soup! It’s perfect after a day spent playing in the snow!
My warm orange juice is super easy to make and really delicious. When I simply want something light and yummy, I choose the first version, simply infused with a minimal amount of turmeric and Cayenne. But as soon as I feel the first symptoms of the cold, I switch into second gear and prepare a version that is mixed in the blender for a better absorption of its numerous benefits. I use the Omniblend, but any less powerful model will do just fine.
Finally, the third version is the real deal. It’s really strong. It’s better to drink it before you’re sick or at least as soon as the first symptoms appear. But drinking it after you’ve been infected will also help give your immune system the kick it needs to fight off those nasty microbes.
Orange: Orange juice, which is high in vitamin C and antioxidants, is said to help reduce fever, on top of nourishing your body.
Fresh ginger: Thanks to its antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory powers, ginger is used to treat, among others, intestinal troubles, cold, flu, sore throats and headaches.
Fresh turmeric: A rhizome of the same family as ginger, turmeric has very strong antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. We mostly know it as a powdered spice, a staple of Indian cuisine found in curry, a traditional spice mix, but its fresh form is now making its way into more and more stores.
Curcumin, which gives turmeric its yellow colour, is a powerful antioxidant praised for its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. For maximum effect, it’s recommended to integrate turmeric to your daily diet and to always pair it with black pepper, which increases its absorption by the body manifold. Luckily, it’s easy to add it to your recipes without altering their taste.
You should be able to find powdered turmeric in every regular supermarket. As for fresh turmeric, you’ll have more luck in organic food or health stores.
Disclaimer: CAREFUL IT STAINS! It stains fingers, countertops, clothes… Luckily there’s a simple trick to remove said stains: just leave the stained objects in the sun (on the counter near a window does the trick for my blender)!
Cayenne pepper: Cayenne pepper has important antibacterial and expectorants properties, a fancy way of saying that it helps to evacuate mucus. The capsaicin it contains, which is actually a defence mechanism that gives the pepper its fiery taste, is also said to help stimulate the metabolism.
If you try this recipe, make sure to snap a picture and share it on Instagram or Facebook using the hashtag #valisesetgourmandises. I wanna see your creations! And don’t forget to leave a comment below :)
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Flu-fighting orange juice infusion
Ingredients
- 1 cup 250ml organic orange juice
- ½ cup 125ml water
- About 2 inches organic fresh ginger thinly sliced
- a pinch to 1/8 teaspoon powdered organic turmeric *see notes
- Pinch of Cayenne pepper*
- Pinch of black pepper
Instructions
- In a small pot on medium-high heat, bring all the ingredients to a simmer. Let simmer for 5 minutes, pour into a tall mug and enjoy.
Notes
Flu-fighting orange juice
Ingredients
- 1 cup 250ml organic orange juice
- ½ cup 125ml water
- 1 inch fresh organic ginnger finely sliced*see notes
- 1 inch fresh turmeric OR 1/8 to ¼ teaspoon organic powdered turmeric*
- A pinch of Cayenne*
- A pinch of black pepper
Instructions
- Put all the ingredients in the bowl of your blender and blend for about 30 seconds. Pour into a small pot with the orange juice on medium high heat and bring to a simmer. Let simmer for about 5 minutes, pour into a tall mug and enjoy. *Filter before serving if preferred
Notes
*If you don't have a blender, finely grate the ginger and the turmeric and mix well.
flu-fighting orange juice shot
Ingredients
- ½ cup 125ml organic orange juice (ideally freshly pressed)
- 1/4 cup 60ml water
- 1-2 inches organic fresh ginger* see notes
- 1 inch fresh curcuma or 1/4 teaspoon powdered organic turmeric *
- 1/8 to ¼ teaspoon of Cayenne pepper*
- Pinch of black pepper
- One crushed garlic clove optional but betters the flu-fighting properties
Instructions
- Put all the ingredients into the bowl of your blender. Blend 30 seconds until everything is well mixed. Pour into an air-tight jar and take a shooter 4 times a day to get rid of the cold symptoms.
Notes
*If you don't have a blender, finely grate the ginger, the turmeric and the garlic clove and mix well.
Related recipes
Vegan chicken noodle soup
Flu-fighting infusion
These sound great !! We all need immune boosting this time of year
Thanks Amanda! That’s right, especially with the temperatures almost dropping below zero here!
Plus it tastes good, so it’s a win-win :)