Strengthen your immune system with these smoothie recipes....

Colder, winter days are fast approaching – time to wrap up and boost your body’s natural defences!

Your immune system is a network of proteins, white blood cells, chemicals and organs, all working together to protect you from illness, disease and foreign invaders that can cause infection.¹

To help you support your immune system and stay healthy, we’ve created four immunity-boosting Kefir smoothie recipes for you to try at home.

Firstly, let’s look at why you should be using Kefir in all of your smoothies this season…

Why Kefir?

Kefir contains probiotics, compounds and nutrients, including folate and biotin, that help kick your immune system into gear. The probiotic strain, Latobacillus Kefiri in particular, helps defend against harmful biofilm-forming pathogens, like E-coli and salmonella, and inhibits the growth of ‘bad’ bacteria.² It also contains Kefiran, known for its powerful antimicrobial properties.³

Research shows that Kefir is “immunomodulatory”, meaning that it enables the immune system to work more effectively and appropriately.⁴

Ingredients:

Beetroot: rich in vitamin C, zinc and iron, beetroot helps to create healthy white blood cells, contributing to a strong immune system.⁵

Ginger: powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects which may boost immune health.⁶ Research shows that ginger can enhance the immune response⁷⁸ with one study determining that fresh ginger had antiviral effects against human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV), which causes respiratory infections, and helped boost immune response against HRSV.⁹

Apple: the skin is rich in the antioxidant quercetin, which can help regulate your immune system and reduce inflammation.¹⁰

Ingredients:

Strawberry: packed with vitamin C which plays an essential role in supporting a healthy immune system.¹¹ Strawberries also contain polyphenols which act against common viruses including influenza.¹²

Spinach: rich in vitamin C and beta carotene, both of which boost the infection-fighting ability of your immune system.¹³

Kiwi: contains roughly 230% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C¹⁴, which as we now know, is crucial in maintaining and stimulating a healthy immune response.

Ingredients:

Mango: contains vitamin A, known to aid the immune system.¹⁵ In fact, not getting enough of this vitamin is linked to a greater risk of infection.¹⁶

Avocado: source of healthy, beneficial fat which helps support skin health (your body’s first line of defence against harmful microbes)¹⁷ and the immune system.¹⁸

Kale: loaded with vitamins A, C and K, all of which are proven to help keep cells healthy and promote a strong immune system.¹⁹

Ingredients:

Turmeric: traditionally known for its anti-inflammatory effects. Curcumin, a compound of turmeric, can enhance antibody responses and modulate the immune system.²⁰

Green tea: loaded with antioxidants and polyphenols, including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) – studied extensively for its ability to reduce inflammation and boost immunity. In fact, a 2020 study found that EGCG altered the activity of certain proteins, which could help inhibit the flu virus from replicating.²¹ Furthermore, other compounds found in green tea, known as catechins, have antiviral effects, offering protection against illnesses and infections such as influenza and hepatitis²² and reduces the risk of upper respiratory tract infections.²³

You can add 100% pure stevia or yacon syrup to these smoothies if your sweet tooth craves it! Blend and enjoy!