Stay Hydrated With This Immune-Boosting Summer Drink Recipe

It’s summertime, and unfortunately, the sweating is easy: It’s the time of year when we find ourselves perspiring just walking around (let alone exercising or enjoying outdoor activities), and all that fluid loss can be tough on our bodies. Not to worry, though, because hydration is just a cold beverage away!

Read on for a seasonal Summer drink that will not only help you stay hydrated but can help boost your immune system as well! And the best part about this beverage? You can enjoy it fresh from the blender or frozen into Popsicle molds for a healthy summer treat.

Stay Hydrated (and Healthy) With Chocolate and Cherries

While it’s important to drink lots of water during the summer, adding a smoothie to your day can also help boost your body’s immune system, especially if you pack it with seasonal fruits that have nutritional value. “My go-to smoothie recipe for the summer is my Chocolate Cherry Tart Smoothie,” says Laura Hallissey, MS, RD, LDN. Cherries are not only packed with phytochemicals that boost your immune system, says Hallissey, they’re also high in vitamin C, fiber, and potassium. There is also research to suggest that cherries may help lower inflammation.

Fresh cherries are in season and will give you the best taste, and the little bit of lemon in the recipe brings out their tartness, says Hallissey. But frozen cherries will work too.

Beyond her recipe’s featured fruit, Hallissey says you can add even more nutritional benefits by mixing in cocoa powder. “Cacao, which is used to make chocolate, is packed with antioxidants that can fight free radicals that come from toxins from the environment,” says Hallissey.

While maintaining a healthy immune system is a good goal for everyone, those of us who deal with cold sores may want to be extra focused on it, as a healthy immune system is an important factor in keeping breakouts at bay. But if you still feel a tingle or notice a red, itchy, swollen area forming on your lip despite your healthiest efforts, know that Abreva has your back! Abreva cream can get rid of your cold sore in two and a half days¹, when used at the first sign.

Chocolate Cherry Target Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup cherries (fresh or frozen)
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 1 tablespoon cacao powder
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 scoop chocolate protein powder (optional)

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a blender, blend, and serve cold. Optional: pour into Popsicle molds and let sit overnight.

¹ Median healing time 4.1 days. 25% of users healed in 2.5 days