Immunity-building drinks for those who catch every passing cold.
Food Remedies
Main remedy
Because much of immunity lives in the gut, probiotic drinks like kombucha, amla kanji, turmeric tonic and ginger soda strengthen the body’s defences, especially through the changing seasons.
Amla fermented with mustard and salt — vitamin C plus probiotics, one of the best winter immunity drinks.
Traditional
नारियल केफ़िर · Coconut kefir
Coconut water fermented with kefir grains — a light, dairy-free probiotic fizz for the gut.
Traditional
अदरक सोडा · Ginger bug soda
A naturally fizzy drink from a fermented ginger “bug” — warming, aids digestion and the immune system.
Traditional
CautionNot in large amounts alongside blood-thinning medicine. Stop before surgery.
हल्दी टॉनिक · Fermented turmeric tonic
Turmeric and ginger fermented into a tangy tonic — anti-inflammatory and immunity-building.
Traditional
CautionThe amount used in cooking is safe. In tablet or extract form it does not go with blood-thinning medicines. Avoid larger amounts if you have gallstones. Stop before surgery.
काली चाय कोम्बुचा · Black-tea kombucha
Sweet black tea fermented with a SCOBY into a tangy, fizzy probiotic drink for gut and immunity.
Traditional
हरी चाय कोम्बुचा · Green-tea kombucha
Green-tea kombucha — lighter, antioxidant-rich and probiotic.
Traditional
अनानास टेपाचे · Pineapple tepache
Pineapple peel fermented with jaggery — a lightly fizzy, tangy probiotic drink rich in enzymes.
Traditional
संतरा फ़िज़ · Orange probiotic fizz
Orange juice fermented briefly into a gentle fizz — vitamin C plus probiotics.
Traditional
On this page Documented — There are human studies behind this ingredient for this particular complaint. Traditional — Carried by tradition and experience; modern evidence for this particular complaint is limited.
All of this is what others have found — tradition, shared experience and the studies done so far. It is not advice given to any one person. Before changing your diet, and especially if you take any medicine, ask your dietician or doctor.
Naturopathy
Ferment kombucha and kanji 3-5 days in mild warmth; taste until pleasantly tangy.
Amla and citrus add vitamin C that works with the probiotics.
Bhojanveda
Read in 30+ languages