Quick Immune Tonics

In this new era of COVID-19, it is imperative to protect our health. We are encouraged by the CDC and the WHO to physically distance, wear masks and gloves in public areas, routinely wash our hands, and sanitize everything. Normally, routine exposure to germs (in a healthy body) is what builds our immune systems. Now that the “new normal” entails cloistering ourselves, and eradicating any presence of germs from our personal space for an indefinite period of time, the strength of our natural immunity is bound to take a hit. I am not trying to dissuade people from taking these precautions, but to encourage everyone to realize that we need to be more proactive in the realm of nutrition and immune boosting than ever before. Not surprisingly, there is zero focus on nutrition and supplementation from government agencies. It is up to us to take that precaution, for the sake of our long-term health and that of our families.

Here are a few health tonics that really pack a *punch!*

Those who have a juicer are well ahead of the game. I highly recommend buying ginger root and turmeric root for juicing. A great immune cocktail: use one teaspoon of ginger juice, one tablespoon of turmeric juice, one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (unfiltered, with the “mother”), up to one tablespoon of maple syrup, and a cup of water. Add lemon or lime slices, if you like.

Organic lemons are wonderful cleansing agents and rich in vitamin C. Make a wonderful elderberry lemonade, either using a concentrated elderberry syrup (you can purchase online – my go-to is vitacost.com), or purchase a bag of dehydrated/ dried elderberries and boil with filtered water, making a concentrated liquid. You essentially use three or four times more elderberries than you normally would for a cup of tea. Put contents in a Mason jar and chill in the fridge.

When you are ready to make the lemonade, strain the berries out and put the remaining “berry water” in a pitcher. Squeeze two large lemons, and add desired sweetener to taste. I usually use agave. Fill the remainder of the pitcher with ice and filtered water. If you want a little “kick,” you can also add a ginger shot to the mix.

Finally, if you want to make a hot, savory, immune-fortifying broth: add five cloves of finely minced garlic and a chunk of minced ginger, an entire onion (diced), celery, herbs and sea salt to a pot of filtered water and simmer until everything becomes soft. Add shiitake mushrooms and let it sit until the mushrooms soften.

For more recipes and recommendations, feel free to reach out to me at karen@vegantransitioncoach.com.

You can also check out my blog at VeganTransitionCoach.com to learn about natural plant-derived supplements, organic herbs, medicinal uses for mushrooms, and the benefits of eating a 100% plant-based diet.