Immune Boosting Elixir Recipe

The Ultimate Low-Glycemic, Vegan Drink for the Microbiome and Hormones

As we step into a new year, there's no better time to prioritize a healthy immune system for vibrant health. Just sipping a warming nutrient-packed elixir is so comforting. The one I’m sharing today not only nourishes the body but also helps balance your hormones and promotes a thriving microbiome. 

This delicious drink is great for fighting off seasonal bugs, giving a boost to the mood, and starting the year with a healthy habit. This Immune Support Elixir delivers everything your body needs for a fresh start. It's also a great go-to drink any time of year but especially during cold and flu season.

Packed with superfoods, adaptogens, and herbs like astragalus, tulsi, and reishi, this recipe is a blend of ancient wisdom and modern wellness. It’s creamy, warming, and filled with carefully selected ingredients to keep your energy steady and your immune system strong. It’s perfect for anyone on a low-carb, keto, or vegan lifestyle seeking the best in plant-based nourishment.

What Is an Immune Support Elixir Made Of?

This healthy immune system elixir combines a base of soothing teas with an impressive lineup of immune-boosting ingredients. Adaptogenic herbs like reishi, chaga, and fo-ti support stress resilience and vitality, while broccoli sprout powder and chlorella deliver potent antioxidants to support detoxification. 

Sesame tahini, coconut oil, and hemp seeds add creamy texture and healthy fats to create a satiating drink. Essential oils like lemon, peppermint, and Young Living’s “Thieves” bring bright, invigorating flavors with additional antimicrobial benefits.

Looking for Immune Boosting Broths and Soups?  Check out these.

How Do You Make This Immune Support Elixir?

Making this elixir is an experience in itself. Start by brewing licorice root tea and holy basil tea, it’s a wonderful form of aromatherapy in your kitchen. While the teas steep, gather your dry ingredients and add them to a blender along with creamy tahini, nutty hemp seeds, and vibrant greens like arugula and sunflower sprouts. Blend with the strained tea to create a velvety, nutrient-rich base.

To finish, add a touch of sweetness with stevia and Jerusalem artichoke syrup, then infuse with essential oils for a flavor-packed immune boost. The result? A steaming, silky elixir that feels like a hug for your immune system.

How Do You Customize This Recipe?

This recipe is incredibly versatile! 

Swap out licorice root tea if you have high blood pressure—nut milk, vegetable broth, or even a green juice can work as a base. 

Want a thicker elixir? Add extra coconut or toss in pumpkin seeds for a twist. For a chai-inspired version, sprinkle in warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom.

Prefer a chilled drink? Let the mixture cool and serve over ice for a refreshing immune boost on warmer days. 

The possibilities are endless, making this elixir a go-to for anyone seeking nutrient-packed variety.

How Do These Ingredients Help With Blood Sugar Balancing, Heart Health, and Hormonal Health?

This elixir is packed with nutrients that boost the immune system naturally. Reishi and chaga mushrooms are adaptogens that help your body handle stress and promote overall balance. Tulsi, or holy basil smells amazing and is celebrated for its calming effects and ability to support the immune system during stressful times. Licorice root brings soothing support for the respiratory system while offering immune-enhancing properties. Broccoli sprout powder delivers sulforaphane, a detoxifying compound that aids the liver and supports hormonal health.

Hemp seeds and tahini provide healthy, plant-based fats to keep blood sugar steady and your heart happy. Jerusalem artichoke syrup feeds your microbiome with prebiotics, fostering robust gut health. Chlorella’s antioxidants, along with the immune-boosting qualities of astragalus and fo-ti, shield your cells from oxidative stress and promote resilience. Each sip of this elixir is a step toward feeling energized, balanced, and well-supported.

Licorice Root Tea*

Licorice root contains glycyrrhizin and flavonoids that modulate the immune system by enhancing T-helper cell activity and reducing inflammation. Its an adaptogen that helps balance overactive immune responses. Licorice also supports respiratory health by acting as an expectorant and soothes digestive issues like acid reflux and ulcers.

*Licorice root’s flavonoids may aid hormonal balance, but it should be avoided by people with a hostory of high blood pressure or glaucoma.

Holy Basil (Tulsi)

Holy basil is an adaptogen that supports stress management and hormonal balance by regulating the HPA axis, hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal axis. Rich in antioxidants like eugenol, it reduces oxidative stress, boosts immune function, and improves gut health. Tulsi also helps regulate blood sugar, protects the liver, and may improve mental clarity and cardiovascular health.

Astragalus

Astragalus strengthens the immune system through its polysaccharides, which stimulate macrophage and T-cell activity. It also supports gut health by acting as a prebiotic, reduces inflammation, and promotes cardiovascular and kidney health. Astragalus may help with chronic fatigue and autoimmune conditions and supports blood sugar regulation.

Cordyceps Mushrooms

Cordyceps mushrooms modulate the immune system and boost energy by enhancing ATP production through cordycepin. Their beta-glucans support gut health while their antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties improve heart health and stabilize blood sugar. Cordyceps may enhance athletic performance, support kidney health, and provide anti-cancer properties.

Oregon Grape

Oregon grape is a powerful herb rich in berberine and is known for its immune-supporting properties. Berberine helps stimulate white blood cell activity, enhancing the body’s defense against infections. It also plays a key role in balancing gut flora, essential for maintaining a strong immune system. Oregon grape supports digestion by activating the liver and gallbladder. Its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties further support overall health by reducing inflammation and fighting harmful pathogens.

Reishi Mushrooms

Reishi mushrooms enhance immune balance with beta-glucans and triterpenoids that modulate inflammation and support gut health. They may lower blood pressure, improve blood sugar control, and support liver and kidney function. Reishi is traditionally used to combat fatigue, improve sleep, and manage stress as a versatile adaptogen.

Broccoli Sprout Powder

Broccoli sprouts are rich in sulforaphane, which activates the Nrf2 pathway to reduce inflammation, boost antioxidant production, and detoxify the body. Sulforaphane also enhances gut health and the immune system, helping to protect against chronic diseases and maintain overall resilience.

Fo-Ti (He Shou Wu)

Fo-Ti is an adaptogenic herb in traditional Chinese medicine known for supporting vitality, longevity, and hormonal balance. It enhances liver and kidney function, promotes detoxification, and supports hair and skin health through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. Fo-Ti helps improve blood sugar regulation and reduces stress benefitting the adrenals.

Tahini

Tahini, made from ground sesame seeds, is a nutrient-dense food rich in calcium, magnesium, and healthy fats that support bone health, hormone production, and cardiovascular health. Its lignans, such as sesamin, act as antioxidants, reducing inflammation and promoting gut microbiome diversity. Tahini also helps stabilize blood sugar and provides plant-based protein.

Milk Thistle Seed Extract

Milk thistle is best known for its liver-supporting properties, but it also plays a role in immune health. Silymarin, the active compound in milk thistle, has been shown to enhance immune responses by increasing the production of certain immune cells. It also reduces inflammation, particularly in the liver, which is key for the whole immune system.

Chaga Mushroom

Chaga mushrooms are packed with antioxidants that help protect the body from free radical damage which weakens the immune system. They stimulate the production of cytokines, signaling proteins that regulate the immune response, and enhance the activity of natural killer cells. Chaga is particularly beneficial for people looking to boost immunity in the face of chronic stress or illness.

Shredded Coconut

Coconut contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) that support the immune system by providing a quick source of energy to the body. MCTs also have antimicrobial properties which help in fighting infections. Coconut’s high fiber content also supports gut health, and since much of the immune system is housed in the gut, this indirectly supports the immune system.

Hemp Seeds

Hemp seeds are balanced in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that support healthy inflammatory responses crucial for immune function. Their zinc content is essential for immune cell activity while antioxidants like vitamin E protect cells from oxidative stress.

Arugula

Arugula is rich in vitamin C and glucosinolates which support immune defense by enhancing detoxification and reducing inflammation. Antioxidants like flavonoids protect immune cells from damage, boosting overall immune resilience.

Sunflower Sprouts

Sunflower sprouts are packed with vitamins A and C which are necessary for a robust immune response. Their antioxidant compounds shield immune cells from oxidative stress, while zinc promotes an effective immune system, aiding the body’s ability to fight infections.

Chlorella

Chlorella is rich in chlorophyll, antioxidants, and immune-boosting nutrients. These support immune function by enhancing natural killer cell activity, increasing antibody production, and promoting gut health through detoxification and prebiotic properties.

Essential Oils

• Lemon Essential Oil contains limonene, which supports immune function and liver function by neutralizing free radicals, enhancing detoxification,  and offering antimicrobial benefits.

• Peppermint Essential Oil has antimicrobial properties that combat infections while supporting gut and respiratory health.

• Thieves Essential Oil is a blend with potent antimicrobial compounds like eugenol and limonene. It helps reduce pathogenic load and fortifies the immune system.

Stevia

Stevia provides a natural sweetening alternative that supports blood sugar balance without spiking insulin levels. Its antioxidants help reduce oxidative stress, indirectly benefiting immune function.

Jerusalem Artichoke Syrup

Jerusalem artichoke syrup is rich in inulin, a prebiotic fiber, that nourishes beneficial gut bacteria promoting a healthy microbiome essential for strong immune defense.

Where Can You Find This and Other Nutritious and Delicious Recipes Like It?

You’ll find this Immune Support Elixir and more recipes in Healing Elixirs and Teas with Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, available through the Hormone Harmony Marketplace. For exclusive content, check out the Body Freedom Nutrition Lab—your ultimate resource for nutrient-dense, hormone-supporting recipes that make healthy living delicious.