Have you been hit with the roaming flu epidemic this week? Us too. First Torin had a fever then slept 16 hours straight. Next I snoozed in until 11am on Saturday (pushing myself a bit too at work no doubt). Then low and behold – for the first time in over three years, we got sick. And so I thought it time to whip up this flu busting smoothie.
How to make a flu busting smoothie
Oranges, carrot, lemon, ginger, & turmeric (plus optional gubinge or camu), this Flu Busting Smoothie has all the vitamin C goodies to keep your immune system fighting from the inside out. It’ll take you just 5 minutes to make, and only 7 ingredients. If it’s getting cold where you are, simply skip the ice!
If we get a round of flus in our house (which doesn’t happen too often), I’ll make a bulk batch of this and put it in a large bottle in the fridge. That way we can all have a glass until the illness is done with. It will not only encourage a faster recovery if you’ve already caught a virus, but will help prevent you from acquiring one too.
Benefits of these flu fighting ingredients
Here are just some of the benefits of the ingredients inside:
- Carrots – high in antioxidants to offset oxidation and free radical damage from external viruses and bacteria. Also high in fiber to help bulk out your stools (when you’re unwell they can often go the other way), as well as beta-carotene (a vitamin A pre-cursor).
- Lemon / Lime / Orange – packed with vitamin C, antioxidants, lemon and lime also act as natural antibiotics and liver cleansers. If you’ve got a grapefruit tree nearby, this is also an incredible addition (brilliant for the liver).
- Ginger – immune booster, anti-inflammatory, helps to fight infections, and soothe the stomach. A favourite tonic in Ayurvedic, Traditional Chinese, and Western herbal medicine.
- Turmeric – anti-inflammatory and high in antioxidants.
- Gubinge / Camu Camu – these two foods are the highest sources of vitamin C in the world. Gubinge is otherwise known as Kakadu Plum, and comes from an aboriginal region in Australia. You can get it in a powder form here. Camu camu meanwhile is a tart berry from the Amazon – with just slightly less vitamin C than gubinge.
As a result, this smoothie is an incredible source of vitamin C – one of the top 75 sources in fact. Vitamin C is one of our vitamins that’s only found in plants – yet another reason to add a few more into your life.
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Ingredients
- ½ carrot
- ½ orange peeled
- ½ lemon peeled
- ½ lime peeled
- 1 cm ginger
- 1 cm turmeric
- 1 date
- 1 c ice
- ½ c water
- 1 tsp gubinge / camu camu powder (optional)
- 1 tsp bee pollen (optional)
Instructions
- Wash the carrot, ginger, and turmeric root (you can leave the skins on unless they're really thick and grisly), and chop roughly. Peel the orange, lemon, and lime, remove any seeds or thick inner pith, and chop roughly also.
- Blend all ingredients in a blender for one minute until smooth and creamy, then serve immediately.
Equipment
Recipe Notes
- If you prefer a sweeter drink, add another date.
- If you have a grapefruit tree, I LOVE using these. Just swap the lemon and lime for ½ a grapefruit (or swap the orange for ½ a grapefruit).
- Tangelos are also great in this, sub out the orange for ½ of one (or 1 whole if it’s small).
- If you don’t have lime, increase the lemon to ½.
Did You Make This?
Tag @begoodorganics
I can’t wait to see your creations!
