Best Juice to Drink When Sick: 7 Recipes You Need

When illness strikes, boosting your immune system is key to a speedy recovery. Juices can help do just that!

Juicing offers a convenient and efficient way to deliver a concentrated dose of essential vitamins and antioxidants from fruits and vegetables, precisely when your body needs them most. In fact, certain fruits and vegetables may alleviate specific symptoms. 

But first, you need to understand the science behind these juices. That way, you can select the ones that provide optimal support for your body's natural healing processes.

Let’s dive in.

What to Drink When Sick? Can Fresh Juice Help?

Fresh fruit, vegetable, and herb juices can boost immunity and fight illnesses by providing you with the necessary nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants. 

But drinking juices is also extremely convenient. When you’re sick, your appetite may also be impacted, and you might not feel like eating. 

Juicing fresh fruits and vegetables is an easy way to consume them. You can combine different healthy ingredients according to your symptoms, and benefit from all. 

Also, juices get absorbed quickly, which means quick action and an instant energy boost. 

Cold-pressed juice, in particular, has many health benefits. That’s simply because it doesn’t oxidize the crucial vitamins, antioxidants, and enzymes in fruits and vegetables like centrifugal juicers do. And all those micronutrients are essential for fighting common illnesses like colds and flu.

Just watch the video below to see the difference with your own eyes:

Remember: Juices are helpful when sick, but you may need additional treatment, especially for serious illnesses requiring medical intervention. 

It’s always a good idea to see a doctor, especially if you’ve been sick for several days and don’t seem to be getting better. 

You can target common illnesses with both diet and medication, so discuss your options with your healthcare provider. 

7 Best Juices To Drink When Sick

All juices provide nutritional benefits, but some are particularly good at treating certain symptoms. Here’s the best juice to drink when sick (labeled by the condition to make things easy):

1. Orange and Other Citrus Juices: Best for Cold and Flu

The good old OJ and other citrus juices are chock full of vitamin C, which is important for your immune health. 

A vitamin C deficiency may lead to weak immunity, making you an easy victim of infections like the common cold or flu. 

However, vitamin C may also help fight infections after you catch them. It proliferates T- and B-cells—the good guys that fight infections. 

Vitamin C also helps prevent and treat respiratory infections, as confirmed by several studies.

You can easily get your daily recommended vitamin C intake from a glass of orange juice. 

Try Hurom’s Apple Orange juice recipe for your vitamin C fix! You need just one apple and one orange.

Key nutrients: 

• Vitamin C

• Vitamin A

• Vitamin B6

• Folate

• Potassium

Calories:

110-112 kcal per serving (8-ounce cup)

2. Ginger and Lemon Juice (with Honey): Best for Sore Throat

You don’t fully understand the gift of health until you get a sore throat. Having a sore throat can essentially impact your entire body – and even your mood. 

Ginger and lemon have been the natural remedy for throat infections for ages, and rightly so. 

Lemon, of course, has vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant. Ginger, on the other hand, has gingerol, which is another potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. Compounds like gingerol may reduce the swelling and irritation in the throat caused by the infection. 

Adding honey to ginger and lemon juice amplifies the benefits. Honey has natural antimicrobial properties, meaning it fights germs and viruses. The flavonoids and polyphenols (antioxidants) in honey also help fight inflammation. 

Although these juices and honey may not cure the sore throat, they will relieve the pain and irritation. You may still need antibiotics to treat the underlying infection if your doctor determines that’s the case. 

Also, ginger and lemon juice can be strong, so you might want to dilute it with lukewarm water.

Ingredients:

• 5–6 medium lemons → yields about ¾ cup (180 ml) of lemon juice

• 1-inch piece of fresh ginger (about 10g), peeled and juiced

• 1 tsp honey (adjust to taste)

• Optional: A pinch of cayenne pepper for extra throat relief

Key nutrients:

• Vitamin C

• Gingerol

• Shogaols

• B vitamins

Calories:

• 20-50 kcal from ginger

• 3 kcal per tablespoon of lemon juice 

• 21 kcal in one teaspoon of honey

3. Tomato Juice: Best for Inflammation

If you suffer from an illness that causes inflammation, you may want to add tomato juice to your diet. 

Tomatoes contain several such nutrients that have well-researched anti-inflammatory effects. That includes vitamin B9 (folate) and magnesium, which help fight inflammation.

But the star of tomato juice is a compound called lycopene. It’s a powerful antioxidant that reduces the risk of life-threatening illnesses like heart disease and cancer. It has been studied extensively for its various health impacts and benefits. 

Tomato juice will also improve your overall immunity with its various minerals and vitamins. 

Inflammation is your body’s response to injury and infection, but it can also occur without an infection or injury when you have an auto-immune condition. Regardless of the source of inflammation, tomato juice may help treat it. 

Research has explored the effects of tomato juice on inflammation. For instance, a 2013 study found that tomato juice reduced the markers of inflammation in obese women. 

Ingredients:

• 1 kg of tomatoes for 800 ml of juice 

Key nutrients:

• Vitamin A

• Vitamin B6

• Vitamin B9

• Magnesium

• Potassium

• Lycopene

Calories:

42 kcal per cup 

4. Carrot Juice: Best for Immune Support

Carrot juice is a powerhouse of health benefits. For instance, carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which, when ingested, converts into vitamin A. Vitamin A helps maintain healthy vision and improves immune function.

Research suggests that carrots can modulate the immune system by regulating key disease-fighting white blood cells such as leukocytes. To quote the review: 

“The immunomodulatory activity makes carrots a functional food source that has the potential to prevent and treat various diseases.” (Gemala Anjani, Fitriyono Ayustaningwarno, Rafika Eviana, Critical review on the immunomodulatory activities of carrot’s β-carotene and other bioactive compounds)

If you’re someone with weak immunity and you get sick frequently, adding carrot juice to your diet may help boost immunity. It may also help when you’re down with a sickness. 

Regular consumption of carrot juice may promote eye health, boost immunity, improve skin complexion, and contribute to your cardiovascular well-being. 

Additionally, the soluble fiber content, though less than in whole carrots, can aid digestion.

You can also combine apples, carrots, and cabbage to give the juice a vitamin C boost. Star NFL player Nick Bosa drinks this same recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 head cabbage

• 2 large carrots

• 2 apples

Key nutrients:

• Vitamin A

• B vitamins

• Vitamin K

• Magnesium

• Potassium

Calories:

93 kcal per cup

5. Watermelon Mint: Best for Dehydration

Watermelons have a heavy water content. Plus, they’re delicious. If you’re feeling dehydrated due to sickness, drink a glass of watermelon juice with a pinch of mint for freshness. 

This juice won’t just make you feel refreshed and hydrated; it may also boost immunity. Watermelons contain arginine, which positively impacts your body’s immune system. 

Mint has a positive effect on brain function as it may increase alertness. So, if you’re facing brain fog when you’re sick, this juice with the punch of mint may just help your brain be more present. 

Watermelons are also rich in lycopene. If you don’t like tomato juice, watermelon juice is a great alternative. 

You can add other fruits or herbs to your watermelon mint juice, especially if you’re using a slow juicer. Consider adding apples or oranges to boost vitamin C. 

Ingredients (for one glass - 250 ml / 8 oz)

• 350g fresh watermelon (yields ~280g juice, close to 250 ml)

• 5-6 fresh mint leaves

• Optional: ¼ lime, juiced (for a zesty kick)

Key nutrients:

• Vitamin C

• Potassium

• Vitamin A

• Vitamin B5

Calories:

80 kcal per cup

6. Kale, Celery, Green Apple, and Spinach (Green Juice): Quick Immunity Boost

Green juices aren’t just great for detox and weight loss—they can also boost immunity with many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. 

This green juice with kale, celery, spinach, and green apples leans heavily on leafy green vegetables. These vegetables contain vitamins A, C, and K.

More importantly, leafy vegetables are rich in antioxidants that help fight free radicals, which cause cellular damage. 

The high chlorophyll concentration in green juices also supports detoxification. The reason is that they help remove toxins that can weaken the immune system. 

Regularly consuming green juice may increase the body's ability to fight off infections, reduce inflammation, and promote overall well-being. 

Slow-juicing green veggies is the best way to get the most nutrients, especially vitamins. With just a cup or two of this green juice, you can get the nutritional benefits of several different vegetables. 

Ingredients (for one glass - 250 ml / 8 oz)

• 1 medium green apple (200g) → yields ~160g juice

• 2 celery stalks (100g) → yields ~80g juice

• 1 cup fresh spinach (30g) → yields ~20g juice

• 1 cup kale leaves (50g) → yields ~40g juice

Key nutrients:

• Vitamin A

• Vitamin K

• Vitamin C

• Vitamin B6

• Calcium

• Magnesium

Calories:

• Kale (1 cup, chopped): 8 calories

• Celery (2 stalks): 10 calories

• Spinach (1 cup, raw): 7 calories

• Green apple (1 medium, 200g): 95 calories

• Total:120 calories

7. Beetroot Juice: Energy Booster

Sickness typically comes with fatigue, which can hamper your productivity and mood. Try beetroot juice if you’re feeling fatigued and want an instant kick of energy. 

Beetroot juice is a natural energy source, primarily due to its high nitrate content. These nitrates are converted into nitric oxide in the body, which helps dilate blood vessels, improving blood flow and oxygen delivery to muscles. And better oxygenation translates to more endurance and less tiredness. 

That’s also the reason why beetroot juice is considered a great pre-workout. 

The natural sugars in beetroot also provide a quick and sustained energy source, especially if you’re consuming fresh homemade beetroot juice. 

Beetroots are also rich in antioxidants and essential nutrients like iron and folate. These nutrients support overall cellular function and red blood cell production. 

Ingredients:

• 1kg of beetroot for simple beetroot juice

Key nutrients:

• Vitamin B9

• Manganese

• Iron

• Potassium

• Vitamin C

Calories:

100 kcal per cup

Should You Drink Store-Bought or Fresh Juice When Sick?

Fresh juice is decidedly better than store-bought juice, whether you’re sick or not. That’s because fresh juice doesn’t contain added sugars and preservatives. 

When you’re sick, you may think that drinking packaged juice is the more convenient option. You might not have the energy or mood to prepare the ingredients and produce the juice at home.

However, Hurom juicers make everything incredibly easy, and you’ll know exactly what goes into your juice. See for yourself:

So, if you want to get the most nutrients from the fruits and vegetables for immunity and relief from your symptoms, consider slow juicing it. 

Hurom juicers make it incredibly easy to make cold-pressed juice with minimal to no preparation. The large chute capacity and intake on most Hurom slow juicers means you can put in the fruits and vegetables whole without needing to cut them. That reduces the prep time and effort. You can do it even if you’re under the weather. 

Besides, Hurom juicers are all easy to clean.

As such, you avoid consuming store-bought juice with lots of added sugars and possibly other dangerous ingredients. 

Tips to Improve Immunity with Fresh Juices

Fruits, vegetables, and herbs are helpful defenses against common illnesses. Here’s how you can juice them to improve your immunity and live a healthy life: 

• Use fresh ingredients: Fresh produce is healthier and better. They taste great and provide all the necessary nutrients, especially when cold-pressed. 

• Add immunity-boosting superfoods like honey, turmeric, and chia seeds: Get more health and immunity benefits from your fresh juice with superfoods. Honey and turmeric, for example, are particularly good against inflammation. 

• Balance sugar intake by adding some veggies: Don’t just stick to fruits for juice, as the sugar content can be high. Add some veggies and herbs to balance the natural sugars, especially if you have high blood sugar levels. 

• Incorporate probiotic ingredients (i.e., kefir, yogurt) for digestive problems: If you’re experiencing digestive stress and issues with your gut, try adding probiotics to your juices. 

• Make juice in batches: One cup won’t do the trick when you’re sick. You’ll need to keep drinking the juice regularly to get the benefits. Consider batch juicing to save time. 

Feel Better with a Cold-Pressed Juice

The best juice to drink when sick depends on your symptoms. While they may not cure you completely, they will help you regain your strength, boost your immunity, and improve your mood. 

The whole point of juicing when sick is getting the right nutrients from the right ingredients. And the best immunity juice is a cold-pressed juice. The nutrients don’t get lost during juicing, so you get the optimal amount with every sip. 

Hurom makes slow juicing convenient with its innovative yet simple design. You can make cold-pressed juice right at home to help you feel better and fight your symptoms. 

Explore Hurom's slow juicers today!

FAQs

Is orange juice good to drink when sick?

Orange juice is highly recommended to drink when sick because of its high concentration of vitamin C. This vitamin can boost the body’s immune cells, which helps fight infections. 

100% pure orange juice can be helpful when you have the flu or cold symptoms. 

Can you drink apple juice when sick?

You can drink apple juice when you’re sick, especially if you’re dehydrated. Apple juice also has disease prevention and fighting properties, thanks to its nutritional profile. Besides, it can provide quick energy thanks to its natural sugars. 

However, avoid store-bought varieties with added sugars. Since apple juice is a bit acidic, you may want to dilute it if you have an upset stomach. 

What not to drink when sick?

When sick, avoid caffeinated beverages, such as coffee and energy drinks, as they can dehydrate you. 

Sugary sodas and artificially sweetened beverages can weaken your immune system and cause inflammation. 

Also, avoid any and all alcohol. It can suppress immune function and lead to dehydration.

Instead, opt for water, herbal teas, or natural juices with no added sugars.

Which juice is best for fever?

Citrus fruits like orange or grapefruit juice can help with fever due to their vitamin C content and hydration benefits. 

Coconut water or diluted pomegranate juice are also great because they replenish electrolytes lost through sweating. 

Watermelon juice is another good option. It’s refreshing, hydrating, and easy on the stomach. 

Which juice gives instant energy?

Most fruit juices provide instant energy because of their natural sugars, but beetroot juice, in particular, is best for getting an energy kick. That’s because it’s high in nitrates, which increase blood circulation and oxygenation.