Immune-Boost Smoothie for Winter Blues

Some winters are harsh, and others can be much harsher. No matter what condition you find you must winter this season you deserve to face it with the best health ever. That’s why we’ve created the limited time only immune-boost smoothie to help you navigate through the downtime of winter blues! Now, let’s get to the good stuff, shall we?

Haskap Berry

Also termed “honey berry” or honeysuckle berry”, either way, you have a power-packed punch of goodness in this tiny fruit. Don’t be fooled by the blueberry look because this comes with 3x more wholefood Vitamin C, an essential nutrient to improve immune health during flu season. (1) Furthermore, among all the berries, this stands head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to antioxidant levels, as well as sorbitol content.

Speaking of antioxidants levels of anthocyanin - a type of polyphenol - in Haskap berries are through the roof! So what happens when you take lung cells lines and inject a cancer-causing compound from tobacco while applying Haskap extract? Recovery! Researchers found the success was due to the antioxidant and polyphenol power of the berry which reduced DNA damage, and Reactive Oxygen Species, while initiating repair mechanisms. (2) Yet another study demonstrated improved inflammatory markers stating that:

“haskap berry polyphenols has the potential to act as an effective inflammation inhibitor”. (3)

The Boss of the Sea

Irish Sea Moss (Chondrus crispus) is a superbly mineral-rich red seaweed. How many minerals you ask? 92 to be exact! Wow! Its best known for its high organic iodine content, a mineral essential for thyroid function. It also boasts natural (DIT) a thyroid hormone precursor, boosting hypothyroid individuals through the cold winter months. (4) Micronutrient malabsorption is unfortunately a reality for many in the post-industrial era where large-scale agriculture practices have stripped essential nutrients form the soil without replenishing them. Not to fear, because Irish Moss will deal with that like a boss! (5)

Everyone knows the importance of gut-health for peak performing immunity. Once again, this sea vegetable comes to the rescue. When put to the test Irish Moss was able to effectively modulate the gut microbiota by increasing the beneficial bacteria while simultaneously decreasing the bad bugs. “The results suggest multiple prebiotic effects, such as influencing the composition of gut microbial communities, improvement of gut health and immune modulation in rats supplemented with [Irish Moss].” (6) Don’t mess with the boss unless you want some serious immune boost!

Bonus Goodies

Vitamin D can be a scarce commodity in the northern latitudes as the daylight hours decrease along with the outdoor temperature. Thankfully, we’ve added a natural boost of this immune system nutrient in this smoothie as well. Studies have shown that certain species of mushroom, such as Shiitake, can produce its endogenous cholecalciferol (D3) when subjected to ultraviolet light. (7) No animals harmed either!

Sources:

1 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37107325/

2 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32413456/

3 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26043379/

4 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30990756/

5 - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814602001711

6 - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12906-015-0802-5

7 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30322118/