The Importance of Keeping The Immune System High

A healthy immune system is your body’s best defense when it comes to protecting you from illnesses both big and small. After all, who wants to be sick!? Foreign substances that attempt to enter the body have no chance when your immunity is high and holding strong. The good news is a healthy immune system is easily attained through a healthy diet. Eating meals rich in fruits and vegetables provide your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs to stay alkalined, balanced, and functioning at its best! And although it is safe to say that practically all fruits and veggies contribute to a strong immune system, certain foods can give you an even bigger boost! 

Citrus fruits are definitely one of those foods. Delicious, water-filled, tangy produce like oranges, lemons, grapefruits, mandarins, and clementines are loaded for vitamin C which is vital for growth, development, and again, a smooth-operating immune system. It’s no secret that when we are sick or feel a cold coming on that we almost instinctively opt for eating more oranges and lemon water. That’s because the acidic nature of these fruits levels out our system through their detoxifying properties.

Vitamin C’s Role in the Immune System

We hear it time and time again that the vitamin C found in citrus fruits is a super immune system booster, but why exactly is that? Well because vitamin C plays a key role in enhancing the formation of antibodies within the body, and as we learned earlier, antibodies help fight off toxins from infecting and weakening your body. This is crucial! 

Other foods like ginger should come at no surprise when talking of natural immunity boosts due to its high amounts of antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties. The antioxidants found in ginger protect the body from harmful free radicals which are chemicals that can play a role in developing different cancers. And when you combine both citrus and ginger, you have a powerful cleansing combination to help keep you and your insides in tip top shape!

This citrus ginger smoothie boosts your immune system while detoxifying your body. With just a few, simple ingredients you can make a nutritious and refreshing smoothie that is perfect for time-pressed mornings when you are rushing, but still want to step towards your health goals! The base of this smoothie is one of my favorites to have on hand. Every week once my bananas have ripened to spotty perfection, I break them up and add them into large freezer-safe baggies. Anytime I have an intense sweet craving or just want a light snack, I grab these frozen banana pieces to serve as the foundation to all of my smoothie desires! They are great for you, but also add a nice bulk to the recipe which helps you by staying fuller longer. I receive my fresh oranges weekly through FarmboxRx the fruits and vegetables delivery service. They hold each piece of produce to the highest standard, and for ordering healthy food online, the quality of the fresh produce can be tasted with each bite. Farm fresh and fragrant, I’ll eat oranges whole as a snack, use the zest on top of my meals, and even in water or tea! I like to store them in the fridge alongside my other ripened produce so that when I am ready to eat them they are slightly chilled. This is just my personal preference! 

Now to get into the recipe! My favorite part about smoothies is how quick they are to make and even quicker to clean you. Give your produce a couple quick chops, add it to the blender, along with your additional ingredients, press the blend button, and there you have it! And when it comes to cleaning up, just run some warm water all throughout the blender and you’ll be ready for your next treat in seconds!

Be sure to give this smoothie a try and tag us at @FarmboxRx and by using the hashtag #FarmboxRx!