Top 16 Refreshing Drinks to Boost Immunity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Coconut water is a popular refreshing drink known for its sweet, mild taste and non-toxic properties. It helps enhance mental clarity and offers numerous health benefits. Regular consumption of coconut water is good for your overall health. It can also treat various infections, such as bronchitis, sore throat, and urinary tract infections.

How to prepare: You can drink fresh coconut water directly or add a pinch of salt, sugar, and ice for a personalized taste.

Watermelon juice not only helps boost your immune system but also relieves pain from joint-related issues. Moreover, it supports cognitive development and improves memory in children. Watermelon juice is a perfect choice for family members as it offers a sweet, refreshing taste that's easy to enjoy.

How to prepare: Peel the watermelon and cut it into small pieces; place it in a blender, add ice and sugar to taste; strain it (if you prefer a smooth texture) and enjoy the refreshing drink.

Tomatoes are excellent for overall health and boosting immunity. Rich in folic acid, tomatoes help your body regenerate and stimulate the production of new cells, preventing aging. Not only is tomato juice a well-known refreshing drink that helps cool your body down, but it also offers various benefits in supporting and treating common ailments.

How to prepare: Wash the tomatoes thoroughly; remove the stems, and cut them in half, then quarter them. Blend the tomatoes and strain through a sieve to extract the juice; add salt, sugar to taste, and ice to enjoy.

Apples are packed with fiber, antioxidants, vitamin C, and low in calories, making them incredibly beneficial for both health and skin. The vitamin E in apples helps strengthen the immune system, especially for children, the elderly, and those with weak health. Additionally, apples help prevent diseases such as joint issues, heart disease, and asthma.

How to prepare: Wash the apples, peel them, remove the seeds, and cut them into small cubes. Add a spoonful of lemon juice and peeled ginger. Blend the mixture with ice until smooth, then strain it through a sieve. Pour into a glass, add a few ice cubes, and enjoy!

Pineapple is not only a highly nutritious fruit but is also rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. It is the only fruit that contains bromelain, a plant compound with remarkable health benefits. Bromelain boosts immune function, helps prevent cancer, accelerates wound healing, and promotes better digestion.

How to prepare: Peel the pineapple, remove the eyes, and cut it into small chunks. Place the chunks into a juicer; add cold water to the pineapple juice to adjust the flavor. Add sugar if desired, chill in the fridge, and it's ready to enjoy.

With its high nutritional content, pennywort is often used during the summer to help cool the body down. Not only is it a refreshing summer drink, but this herb can also be used in various natural remedies for health benefits such as reducing fever, improving memory, and supporting heart health.

How to prepare: Remove the tough stems of the pennywort and wash it thoroughly. Blend it until smooth, adding some water to make blending easier. Strain the mixture to remove the pulp, then pour into a glass and add some sugar to taste.

With its essential nutrients, pumpkin not only strengthens the immune system but also helps prevent urinary tract infections. Pumpkin is perfect for making a nutritious juice that has positive effects on heart and liver health, as well as reducing the risk of diabetes.

How to make: Peel the pumpkin, remove the seeds, and wash it thoroughly. Cut it into small chunks, then place them in a blender or juicer. Add around 180ml of fresh milk and pumpkin juice, and finish by adding some ice. Your refreshing drink is ready!

Pomegranate is rich in vitamin A and antioxidants that help prevent heart disease. It supports the immune system, boosts resistance, and helps prevent anemia. Pomegranate juice contains over 100 phytochemicals that may aid in cancer prevention, boost immunity, and improve fertility.

How to make: Wash and cut the pomegranate in half to remove the seeds. Place all the seeds into a juicer to extract the juice. Alternatively, you can blend the seeds, but this method may result in a less appealing color and a slightly bitter taste. Add about 20ml of sugar water and ice, and it's ready to enjoy.

Grapes are packed with nutrients like essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which are highly beneficial for health. Grape juice can also help maintain heart health, soothe headaches, lower 'bad' cholesterol, boost metabolism, and assist in weight loss.

How to make: Wash the grapes, remove the stems, and cut them in half to discard the seeds. Blend the grapes thoroughly, then strain to remove the pulp. Add sugar to taste and some ice, then it's ready to enjoy.

Black beans are a popular legume, especially during the hot summer months. Rich in protein, essential vitamins like A, B, B1, and minerals, black beans are packed with antioxidants that support overall health. They also contain compounds that help prevent conditions like cancer, high cholesterol, heart disease, and improve brain function. Consuming roasted black bean juice daily helps to cool the body and boost immunity effectively.

How to make: Select smooth, shiny black beans that are free from damage. Toast the beans in a pan over low heat until they release a pleasant aroma and the skins slightly crack. Then, steep the beans in hot water for 15 minutes until the water turns red. Strain the beans, and the juice is ready to drink. If there's leftover juice, store it in the fridge for up to 2 days. Alternatively, you can make black bean soup by boiling the beans with water for about 30 minutes until soft, adding some tapioca starch for thickness, and adjusting sugar to taste. Serve with ice for a refreshing treat.

Mung beans are packed with essential vitamins and minerals that contribute to overall health. They contain a wide range of nutrients such as calories, fats, protein, magnesium, vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, iron, potassium, and zinc, which help improve physical health, support smooth bodily functions, and enhance heart health. Mung beans are known to lower blood sugar, support digestion, fight oxidation, promote healthy skin, and prevent sunstroke effectively.

How to make: Choose uniform mung beans and rinse them thoroughly. Heat a pan on the stove and toast the beans for 10 minutes, then turn off the heat. Add the beans and water to a pot and simmer until the water turns a light yellow and the beans expand. Strain out the solids and pour the water into a cup. The mung bean juice is ready in just about 20 minutes. You can add sugar, salt, or enjoy it unsweetened according to your preference.

Similar to many red fruits, papaya is highly regarded for its rich nutritional content, including essential nutrients for health like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, B2, and minerals such as iron, zinc, and calcium. During the hot summer months and amid the rising health concerns, papaya is often chosen by families to boost nutrition and strengthen the health of their loved ones.

Among various ways to prepare papaya into delicious dishes and drinks such as papaya with yogurt or smoothies, papaya juice is particularly popular for its incredible health benefits. Papaya helps: boost the immune system, enhance resistance, improve blood health, reduce inflammation, support cancer treatment, and promote eye health due to its high Vitamin A content, a feature of this brightly colored fruit.

How to make: Choose a ripe, soft, and sweet papaya. Peel it, remove the seeds, and strip away the inner white film. Cut it into pieces about the size of a matchbox. Place the papaya into a blender and blend until smooth. Strain the mixture to remove any pulp and collect the juice (if using a juicer, simply add the papaya and extract the juice). Pour the juice into a glass and add ice if you'd like a cold drink.

Cucumbers are instantly associated with their refreshing, cool qualities, thanks to their vibrant green color. This is one of the reasons why cucumbers are a popular fruit during summer. Known for their cooling properties and sweet taste, cucumbers are often featured in dishes like cucumber salad or stir-fried cucumber with beef.

Besides being a staple in meals, cucumbers are also a fantastic choice for making juice that you can carry around and drink whenever you're thirsty. Cucumbers are highly effective for summer hydration and boosting physical stamina because they are rich in potassium, which helps dilate blood vessels, reduce tension in them, and regulate blood pressure. The Vitamin K in cucumbers aids in stabilizing blood sugar levels and enhancing insulin sensitivity. Cucumbers are also packed with calcium and potassium, essential minerals for bone health. Furthermore, cucumbers are frequently used in beauty routines, especially for facial masks. It’s clear that cucumbers offer a wealth of health benefits!

How to make: Wash the cucumbers and keep the skin on; cut them into slices and place them in a blender. Add a little water and blend until smooth. Strain the mixture to remove the pulp and collect the juice in a glass. Sweeten with honey or salt, according to your taste. If you prefer a cool drink, refrigerate the juice for a while before serving.

With its many health benefits, green tea leaves are known to provide excellent hydration. Drinking green tea has a cooling effect on the body and refreshes you thoroughly. Regular consumption can help protect the body from conditions like cancer, memory loss, high blood pressure, diabetes, and digestive issues.

How to make: Wash the tea leaves thoroughly, then gently crush them to release the tea's beneficial compounds. Trim the stems to about 2-5 cm. Place all the leaves into a teapot, pour hot water over them to fully submerge, and let it steep for around 3 minutes. Discard this first infusion to remove excess bitterness and impurities. Pour more hot water into the teapot, cover it, and steep for an additional 10 minutes. Pour the tea into a cup and enjoy.

Orange juice is packed with up to 50% of the daily required intake of vitamin C. This vital vitamin helps boost white blood cell production, strengthening the immune system. Additionally, orange juice is excellent for hydration, replenishing energy for those with high activity levels, improving digestion, and fighting off diseases like cancer while providing a refreshing thirst-quenching experience.

How to make: Clean the oranges, then cut them in half horizontally. Squeeze the juice into a glass, then scoop out the pulp and mix it in. Add sugar and ice (if desired), stir well, and you’ll have a delicious and nutritious glass of fresh orange juice ready to enjoy.

Carrots are rich in vitamin A and beta-carotene, which help prevent cellular damage and strengthen the immune system to combat harmful viruses. They also contain lutein and zeaxanthin, which improve vision at any age. Furthermore, carrot juice aids in treating digestive issues and heart diseases, helping to prevent conditions such as arteriosclerosis and stroke.

How to make: Clean the carrots, peel if desired, and cut them into small chunks about 4-5 cm. Use a juicer to extract the juice, pour it into a glass, and optionally add sugar or milk for extra flavor.