Kadhas For Immunity Boost: Age Old Secrets For A Healthy Body

Kadha strikes the mental image of the age-old traditional drinks simmering in warm water, with the striking flavours of healing herbs and spices. These herbal concoctions have been popular for thousands of years and have even been mentioned in several ancient texts and scriptures including Ayurveda. While some of these medleys are illness-specific, others help in boosting immunity levels and prepare the body to fight off future infections easily. Find below some time-tested kadha recipes that have been traditionally drunk for bolstered immunity.

Kadhas Recipes For Immunity

1. Spicy Kadha Recipe

Ingredients:

1 medium-sized cinnamon stick

2 teaspoon cloves

1 tablespoon dry ginger powder

2 teaspoon black pepper seeds

1 teaspoon cardamom pods

1 small garlic piece, crushed

3 teaspoon honey

1 ½ cups water

Steps:

• Add water, cinnamon, cloves, dry ginger powder, black pepper, cardamom and garlic to a teapot/ kettle, or deep pan. 

• Steep the mixture on a medium flame and then boil on it on high for five to seven minutes, until all the spices and flavours have completely soaked in. By this point the water should turned woody in colour. 

• Switch off the stove, sieve the concoction, and add honey to it, as per taste.

• Drink after it has cooled down a bit. 

Nutritive Value:

This spicy medley brims with nutritive values and brings the medicinal benefits of some of the finest spices in each sip. For instance, cinnamon is rich in polyphenol, anthocyanin antioxidants; all of which boost immunity and also lower inflammations. Similarly, the addition of ginger and garlic makes this concoction effective against cold, cough, flu, and fevers, too. Not only are they natural decongestants, but also help in relieving other symptoms. Same stands true for the other spices.

2. Mint Kadha Recipe

Ingredients:

10 -12 neem leaves

A small bunch of fresh mint leaves

7 - 9 methi leaves

2-inch raw turmeric

1 teaspoon cumin powder

2 teaspoon jaggery powder

2 cups of water

Steps: 

• Take two cups of water in a pan and steep the neem leaves, mint leaves, methi leaves, raw turmeric, cumin powder in it, on medium flame.

• Let the concoction cook for about 10 minutes, such that the quantity reduces to half.

• Strain the mixture, blend in the jaggery powder and consume warm.

Nutritive Value:

Mint leaves are a treasure trove of nutritive benefits, ranging from improved digestion and decongestion to stress alleviation. Besides, it also brings swirls of freshness, making this concoction more desirable in summers. Neem, the other notable ingredient doesn't fail to impress either. It purifies the body, detoxifies the blood and protects against microbial infections. 

3. Tulsi Kadha Recipe

Ingredients:

4-5 Tulsi leaves

1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon powder

1/4 teaspoon Black pepper powder

1 inch Ginger

3-4 Munakka (Raisin)

Steps:

• Add two glasses of water in deep water and put it on flame. Now

• Start adding tulsi, cinnamon powder, black pepper, ginger and raisins.

• Stir the mixture and let it boil properly for nearly 15 minutes.

• Strain the mixture and add a small piece of jaggery or lemon juice, as per taste. 

Nutritive Value:

This impressive kadha helps particularly with digestion, detoxification, and immunity boost. Tulsi, the main ingredient of this medley is especially effective against cough, cold, congestion, fever, and respiratory ailments. While black pepper acts as an expectorant ginger and cinnamon exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. Have this mixture two times a day for best results. You can also take this kadha when down with cold or flu.

4. Turmeric Kadha Recipe

Ingredients:

2 cups of water

1/4 teaspoon black pepper powder

Honey (as per taste)

Raw grated turmeric or 1-2 tablespoons of turmeric powder

Steps:

• To a pan of billing water, add about one to two tablespoons of turmeric powder or grated raw turmeric.

• Add approximately one-fourth of a tablespoon of black pepper powder to it.

• Let the concoction brew for five to six minutes. 

• Strain the mixture and add honey or coconut oil to it, as per taste. 

Nutritive Value:

Turmeric is one of the most widely used condiments in immunity drinks. It is known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and cholesterol-lowering properties. Some studies even suggest that turmeric eases the symptoms of arthritis and helps in preventing cancerous developments. Drink this kadha regularly for a strong immune system. 

Shop for some of the readymade kadhas below-

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