Quick Scoop

• With the right ingredients, you can support your immune health with delicious mocktails made from nutritious ingredients.
• Delight the taste buds and uplift the senses with the addition of spices and other flavorful ingredients.

Stay healthy this holiday season by supporting your immune health with good nutrition. These alternatives to holiday-season favorites will lift the spirits at any festive event this season. With a tiki drink, a spritz, mulled punch, and even a warm beverage, this list is sure to have something for all palates! Pour yourself a glass of nutritious ingredients and welcome everything the holiday season brings!

How to help support your immune health? Vitamin C! It’s an essential nutrient and antioxidant that supports the immune system and helps neutralize free radicals in the body. One cup (8 oz) of orange juice has approximately 124 mg of Vitamin C—that’s above the recommended daily amount for adults, which is 90 mg/day.[1] Even just 1/4 cup of OJ will provide about 30 mg of Vitamin C, which is still a good source of this essential nutrient! So grab some OJ and try one (or all) of these tasty drinks this holiday season!

Spirulina OJ Zombie

Please everybody’s sensibilities at this year’s Halloween mixer with spirulina’s green color and orange juice’s immune-supporting ingredient (Vitamin C). The traditional Zombie is a tiki drink with a boozy reputation. Since alcohol is well-known for its negative effect on the immune system, this alternative gives a zombie color as well as a healthy addition to the drink! [2]

Spirulina is a type of edible blue-green algae. It is often used as a vegan source of iron and provides a variety of other nutrients and plant-based antioxidants. The citrus in this drink helps balance out the tartness of the lemon, lime and pineapple juices.

This drink does double duty in fall and winter: if you need a little reminder of the tropics through the winter, this mocktail tiki drink will feel like putting your toes in the sand wherever your winter boots land.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 8 oz Pineapple juice
• 8 oz Orange juice
• 4 oz Lime juice
• 4 oz Lemon juice
• 2 tsp Spirulina powder
• 1 tbsp Agave syrup
• 1/4 tsp Aromatic bitters
• mint leaves for garnish

Directions: Mix all ingredients in a large serving container. Chill and pour over ice.

Elderberry OJ Spritz

The sweetness of orange juice blends perfectly with the tart, floral flavor of elderberry, and the lime and bitters add depth to this brunch-time favorite.

Like other berries, Elderberries contain anthocyanins, known to have antioxidant properties. Among the berries, Elderberries have approximately 3 times the amount of anthocyanins as compared to red raspberries and 6 times the amount of anthocyanins as compared to strawberries.[3]

Try this nonalcoholic spritz at your next cozy gathering!

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 24 oz Lime-flavored sparkling water
• 8 oz Elderberry juice
• 8 oz Orange juice
• 1/4 tsp Floral bitters (optional)
• Sliced lime and pomegranate kernels for garnish

Directions: Mix all ingredients in a large serving container. Chill and pour over ice.

Mulled Cranberry Hibiscus Punch

This recipe adapts a Jamaican hibiscus punch into a non-alcoholic version of mulled wine. The orange juice in this recipe contains Vitamin C to help support your immune system and hibiscus tea contains polyphenol antioxidants.[4]. Adding cinnamon, cloves, allspice and star anise provides enough of a spicy punch that you won’t even miss the wine.

Enjoy this mulled beverage at your next gift exchange!

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 quart water
• 8 oz Orange juice
• 8 oz Cranberry juice
• 1 cup Hibiscus leaves (dried)
• 2 Cinnamon Sticks
• 3 Whole Cloves
• 2 Star Anise
• 4 Allspice Berries
• 1 tbsp Maple syrup (or sweetener alternative)

Directions: On a stovetop or in a crockpot, bring 1 quart of water to a simmer. Add all other ingredients and allow to simmer for one hour. 

Orange Cinnamon Mock Toddy

Ready to stir the senses? This non-alcoholic take on a hot toddy will do just the trick. Start with a base of orange juice for a serving of Vitamin C, then add in apple cider and cinnamon to awaken your spirits during a long winter’s night.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Orange juice
• 2 cups Apple cider
• 1/2 cup Cranberry juice
• 2 tbsp Cinnamon spice
• Dried blood orange slices for garnish

Directions: On a stovetop, add all ingredients to a sauce pan and heat on medium-high for 10 minutes or until warm.

Pumpkin Spice Mocktail

When you want a PSL pick-me-up without the alcohol, or coffee, this recipe will hit the spot. Orange juice provides some Vitamin C, while the pumpkin adds a creaminess and then it comes alive with everyone’s favorite, pumpkin spice!

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 8 oz Orange juice
• 1/2 cup Pumpkin puree
• 2 tsp Pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp Vanilla extract
• 1/2 tbsp Maple syrup (or alternative sweetener)
• 24 oz Sparkling water

Directions: In blender, mix all ingredients except for the sparkling water. Pour into a glass, then fill to the rim with sparkling water. Top with orange slices or a cinnamon stick and enjoy.

Holiday mocktails are a great alternative to traditional cocktails. With the right recipes, you can celebrate the festive season while supporting your body's natural defenses. Cheers to a healthier holiday!

Learn more about supporting your immune health:

• How Does The Immune System Work?: A Guide
• Vitamin C Immune System Benefits: How Does It Help Support Your Immune System? †
• Top Five Nutrients That Support Your Immune System†
• Our Favorite Winter Superfoods For Immune Health

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to serve as medical advice or a recommendation for any specific product. Consult your health care provider for more information. 

References

1. FoodData Central Database. Orange Juice (raw). U.S. Department of Agriculture. Apr 1 2019. Accessed on Oct 11 2023: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169098/nutrients.
2. Sarkar D, Jung MK, Wang HJ. Alcohol and the Immune System. Alcohol Res. 2015;37(2):153-155.
3. Clifford, M. Review Anthocyanins – Nature, Occurrence and Dietary Burden. J Sci Food Agric 80:1063±1072 (2000).
4. Rodríguez-Medina IC, Beltrán-Debón R, Molina VM, et al. Direct characterization of aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa using HPLC with diode array detection coupled to ESI and ion trap MS. J Sep Sci. 2009;32(20):3441-3448. doi:10.1002/jssc.200900298