In the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, strengthening your immunity has become crucial. From immunity-boosting foods to drinks, the market has plentiful options for enhancing your immunity. So, how do you choose?
Ayurvedic drinks can prove to be immensely helpful to bolster your immunity, without causing any side effects. Here, we bring you a list of powerful nutrient-packed drinks that can bolster your immunity and shield your body from disease-causing agents.
How Health Drinks Boost Your Immune System?
As per Ayurveda, every human is born with a unique Prakriti - the innate nature which is the manifestation of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha doshas present in different levels in your body. Thus, everyone has one or more dominant doshas which influences the psycho-physiological characteristics of an individual. To have a healthy state of mind, body and soul, you need to maintain proper balance of all the three doshas.
Your diet has a significant role to play in building a stronger immune system by keeping the harmony of all three doshas in your body. However, not all the foods are meant for your Prakriti and body type. As every food item has specific dosha balancing or elevating properties, consuming unsuitable foods may trigger your dominant doshas to spike up easily, disturbing the equilibrium of tridoshas. This can adversely affect your immune system’s functioning and lead to different health problems.
Health drinks [1] made of natural herbal ingredients based on your Prakriti work as immunity boosters and rightly nourishes your body. They also keep your body hydrated. The nutrients in the form of fluids are easier to digest and transport across your body tissues.
“Immunity boosting Ayurvedic drinks work remarkably well in providing essential nutrients [2] to your body. Such drinks are metabolized and absorbed by your digestive system easily and can boost your immune strength naturally,” says Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix.
Such Ayurvedic herbal drinks also help in maintaining the balance of acid-alkaline levels in your blood and body tissues. Along with natural medicinal properties, the ingredients provide various vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that aid your body in natural anti-oxidation and detoxification, thus boosting your immunity. These immune booster drinks are easy to prepare.
Your digestive tract [3] accounts for almost 80 percent of your immune system. Thus, your gut health has a significant influence on your immune responses.
Best Drinks To Boost Your Immune System
1. Turmeric Tea
Recipe:
Add 1 tsp of turmeric powder to 2-3 cups of water and boil it for about 15-20 minutes. Now, strain off the undissolved turmeric powder from the tea. Add 1 tsp of lemon and 1 tsp of unpasteurized honey to the tea and serve it hot.
Effect On Tridoshas:
It favors anyone with Vata, Pitta, or Kapha dominant Prakriti and helps in balancing all the three doshas.
How Does It Strengthen Your Immune System?
The ‘curcumin’[4] present in turmeric acts as an immune modulator while it helps in controlling the inflammation and pain. It has natural anti-microbial properties that keeps infections at bay. It corrects your metabolism and supports the free circulation of oxygen and nutrients to your body tissues, thus boosting immunity.
When & How To Drink?
You can have a cup of turmeric tea on an empty stomach in the morning. During summers, you can choose to drink it during the evening.
2. Watermelon, Mint & Lime Cooler Juice
Recipe:
Blend 3 cups of chopped seedless watermelon pieces and make a puree. Now, add a handful of fresh mint leaves, 1 tsp of lime juice and a little water to the puree and blend it well until it forms a smoothie-like consistency.
Effect On Tridoshas:
It benefits everyone with Vata, Pitta, or Kapha dominant Prakriti. It acts as an effective Pitta balancing drink.
How Does It Strengthen Your Immune System?
Watermelon has natural cooling and moistening properties that helps in reducing inflammation. Besides its healing nature, watermelon juice is an effective gut cleanser. It flushes out impurities and enhances your immunity.
When & How To Drink?
The best time to have a glass of watermelon, mint, and lime cooler juice is in the morning, before you go for an intense workout. You can also have it half an hour before your breakfast.
3. Kiwi And Strawberry Juice
Recipe:
Blend a peeled and sliced kiwi fruit to form a puree. Add 2 cups of sliced strawberries, 2 tsp of honey, 1 tsp of lemon juice and half cup of water to the kiwi puree. Blend all the ingredients to make a smoothie.
Effect On Tridoshas:
It is great for people with Vata dominant Prakriti. Pitta and Kapha people can take it in small quantities.
How Does It Strengthen Your Immune System?
Kiwi and strawberry juice is rich in antioxidants, which can help in combating the progressive cancerous cells. It boosts your immunity by detoxifying your skin and digestive system. Also, it prevents heart disorders by controlling bad cholesterol levels in your body.
When & How To Drink?
You can have a glass of kiwi and strawberry smoothie before breakfast, preferably on an empty stomach.
4. Orange, Grapefruit, and Other Citrus Fruit Juices
Recipe:
Take a cup of any citrus fruits such as orange, grape, tangerine, or sweet lemon. Add water to make juice. Strain the seeds using a sieve (strainer) and add 2 tsp of honey and some grated ginger to the juice.
Effect On Tridoshas:
Orange and sweet lemon (mosambi) juices are good for Vata and Pitta Prakriti people. Grape juice can be consumed by anyone as it balances all the three doshas. Tangerine juice is good for Vata and Kapha people but not for Pitta Prakriti.
How Does It Strengthen Your Immune System?
Citrus fruits [5] are enriched with vitamin C that helps in increasing the count of your white blood cells. The antioxidants present in citrus fruits clears the free radicals in your body tissues.
When & How To Drink?
It is better to have a glass of citrus fruit juice half an hour after your breakfast or lunch. “Avoid starting your day with citrus fruit juices as it increases acid production in your stomach. However, you can have a glass of diluted lemon juice with added honey as the first thing in the morning. It greatly benefits your immune system,” says Dr. Zeel.
5. Beetroot And Carrot Juice
Recipe:
Take a peeled carrot and beetroot cut into small pieces in a blender jar. Add ½ cup of water and blend into a fine smoothie. Now, strain the juice using a sieve and add some grated ginger, 1 tsp of lemon juice, and a pinch of salt to it.
Effect On Tridoshas:
It is good for Vata and Kapha Prakriti people. Pitta Prakriti people should avoid drinking beetroot and carrot juice as it aggravates Pitta dosha.
How Does It Strengthen Your Immune System?
Beetroot and carrot juice relieve you from constipation problems and improves your gut health with their rich phytonutrient and fiber content. Also, the juice can stimulate your metabolic system greatly, thus, improving your immunity.
When & How To Drink?
Drink a glass of beetroot and carrot juice early morning on an empty stomach. You can also have it an hour before your breakfast.
6. Immunity Boosting Green Juice
Recipe:
Take a cup of coriander leaves, baby spinach, mint leaves, chopped cucumber slices, 2 tsp of lemon juice, a cup of water and a pinch of black salt. Blend all the ingredients together until smooth.
Effect On Tridoshas:
It has Vata, Pitta, and Kapha balancing properties, hence is suitable for all.
How Does It Strengthen Your Immune System?
Green juice is rich in antioxidants and helps to reduce overall inflammation in your body. The chlorophyll content present in it improves red blood cells count in your blood which in turn increases oxygen supply across your body tissues. It also has enzymes that boost your digestive health and helps in detoxification, leading to strengthening your immune system.
When & How To Drink?
It is best to drink a glass of green juice everyday on an empty stomach in the morning. You can also pair it up with a raw veggie salad meal. But, avoid drinking green juice with any cooked meal.
If you are someone with Kapha Prakriti, lessen your intake of cucumbers and if you are someone with Pitta Prakriti, lessen your intake of spinach.
7. Green Tea
Recipe:
Add 1 tsp of dried green tea leaves to one and a half cup of water and boil it for 5 minutes. Strain the leaves and add 1 tsp of honey to the decoction.
Effect On Tridoshas:
It is good for Pitta and Kapha Prakriti people. But, Vata Prakriti people should avoid it as it elevates Vata dosha in the body.
How Does It Strengthen Your Immune System?
Green tea [6] has properties that can increase the T-lymphocyte cell count in your body. It also helps in suppressing autoimmune diseases while reducing inflammation in your body.
When & How To Drink?
You can have 3-4 cups of green tea at different times of the day. For best results, schedule your green tea before your workout session in the morning.
8. Aloe Vera Juice
Recipe:
Blend 2 tsp of freshly extracted aloe vera gel, 1/4th piece of amla, and 3-4 basil leaves till it forms a thick and fine solution.
Effect On Tridoshas:
It balances Vata, Pitta, and Kapha doshas. Hence, it is suitable for everyone.
How Does It Strengthen Your Immune System?
Aloe vera [7] boosts your immune system by combating the damages caused in your body by free radicals. It also has laxative properties which helps to flush out toxins from your digestive tract. Also, aloe vera promotes the growth of good bacteria in your gut and controls yeast infections.
When & How To Drink?
Take around 8 ounces of aloe vera servings everyday, early morning on an empty stomach.
9. Kadha Or Herbal Concoction
Recipe:
Add 1 tsp of grated ginger, 2-3 peppercorns, 2 cloves, 1-inch cinnamon stick, 1 star anise, 1-2 crushed cardamom pod along with a handful of basil leaves in 1 litre of water. Boil all the ingredients for 30 minutes. Strain the concoction and add 1 tsp of honey into 1/4th cup of the concoction.
Effect On Tridoshas:
It benefits everyone as it has Vata, Pitta, and Kapha balancing properties.
How Does It Strengthen Your Immune System?
The herbs used in kadha are mutually compatible and have a collective effect on your immune system. These herbs have natural healing compounds that reduce the risk of certain infections, especially during allergy season. Kadha improves the functioning of your digestive system and deeply detoxifies your body.
When & How To Drink?
You can drink kadha within 4-5 hours of preparing it. A dosage of 20-80 ml of kadha per day in divided doses on an empty stomach is usually recommended.
A. For people with Vata dominant Prakriti, it is better to drink lukewarm kadha with some added ghee during the evening (6 pm).
B. For people with Pitta dominant Prakriti, it is best to drink Kadha at room temperature during early morning or evening(6 am or 6 pm on an empty stomach).
C. People with Kapha dominant Prakriti can drink Kadha slightly hot with some added honey at any time during the day.
10. Other Herbal Teas
Here is the list of different herbal teas you can consume based on your Prakriti:
|
For Vata Prakriti |
For Pitta Prakriti |
For Kapha Prakriti |
|
|
|
How Does It Strengthen Your Immune System?
Herbal teas have natural anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties that help boost your immunity.
When & How To Drink?
You can have a cup of herbal tea of your choice based on your dominant dosha in the evening or at least 30 minutes post-lunch.
Vedix Tip: Always drink freshly made herbal tea. Reheating tends to burn out the active compounds present in the herbal tea, which is very much against Ayurveda.
The Last Word
You can strengthen your immunity power in simple and effective ways and sail through the trying times with ease. All you need to do is plan a well-balanced diet and follow it religiously. While that’s one important way to bolster your immunity, there are different Ayurvedic immunity-boosting drinks based on your Prakriti and dosha levels to speed up the process. This way, your body can get the necessary nutrients while maintaining your doshas in equilibrium.
Along with health drinks, you can also replenish your gut immunity with Ayurvedic herbal supplements. At Vedix, we customize immunity-boosting supplements with time tested Ayurvedic formulations based on your dosha levels and unique needs.
Know Your Dosha Now1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5438379/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6723551/
3. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/digestive-system-how-it-works
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4603973/
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4690266/
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