The Citrus Cocktail

January, severe flu, bedridden with a 39°C fever. I dragged myself to the kitchen, peeled a grapefruit, a lemon and two oranges, and ran everything through the Hurom. The citrus trio: that grandmother’s remedy elevated to the rank of therapeutic formula.

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Bioactive molecules

The grapefruit-lemon-orange trio concentrates approximately 300 mg of vitamin C in a large glass, or more than 3 times the RDI¹. The bioflavonoids from each citrus fruit strengthen capillary walls and reduce winter vascular fragility². Citric acid improves the absorption of dietary iron and calcium³. It’s winter’s emergency juice, the one you pull out when flu strikes⁴.

The winter citrus trio is a vitamin C bomb (300 mg in a large glass). Bioflavonoids strengthen capillary walls and reduce winter vascular fragility. Drink this juice fresh, never preserved: vitamin C oxidizes within hours.

Table of key micronutrients

Micronutrient	Main role
Vitamin C	Immunity, white blood cell production, major antioxidant
Naringin	Anti-inflammatory bioflavonoid, reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines
Hesperidin	Strengthens capillary wall, vitamin C cofactor
Limonene	Mucolytic monoterpene, fluidifies bronchial mucus
Potassium	Major alkalizing mineral, tissue pH regulation
Citric acid	Alkalizing once metabolized, buffers tissue acidity

Want to know if you’re lacking vitamins? I’ve created 44 free deficiency questionnaires for you to self-assess in 2 minutes.

Preparation with a cold-press extractor

Ingredients:

• 1 pink grapefruit, peeled
• 2 oranges, peeled
• 1 lemon, peeled
• 2 mandarins, peeled

Contrary to a stubborn misconception, citrus fruits are not the best sources of vitamin C. By weight, kale contains twice as much vitamin C as an orange, red pepper 3 times more, and parsley 4 times more. Green cabbage, curly kale, Brussels sprouts are all excellent sources of vitamin C, with the added benefit of being available throughout winter in France, locally, without air transport. A kale-carrot-lemon juice in January provides as much vitamin C as 3 oranges, plus calcium, vitamin K, anticancer glucosinolates and soluble fiber. Science didn’t know about kale (little cultivated in the USA in the 1930s), but it would have loved it.

My recommended extractor

For this recipe, I use the Hurom H310A. Cold pressing preserves all the enzymes, vitamins and phytonutrients that the heat from a centrifuge would destroy.

Promo code: francoisbenavente20 for -20% off everything on Hurom.

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To go further

Related articles

• Immunity and inflammation
• Vitamin C and immunity
• Vitamin D

Test yourself

• Questionnaire: Vitality
• Questionnaire: Vitamin C deficiency
• Questionnaire: Vitamin D deficiency
• Questionnaire: Folate deficiency

Complementary recipes

• The Aniseed
• The Refreshing
• The Anti-aging
• The C Bomb
• The Morning-after Juice

Go further

• All my health questionnaires
• My naturopathy shop
• Naturopathy video consultation
• My Living Juices ebook