Turmeric Shots

These Turmeric Shots are one of my favorite drinks to boost immune system.  This  lemon ginger turmeric shot (also called wellness shot) is made with fresh turmeric root, ginger root, lemon juice, unfiltered apple cider vinegar and black pepper.  There’s a lot of health benefits of turmeric making it worthy of adding to your daily wellness plan.

This turmeric wellness shot can boost immunity, reduce inflammation and stimulate the body’s natural detoxifying process.  No juicer?  No problem!  They can easily be made in a blender if you don’t own a juicer.  

Turmeric Shot Recipe

This wellness shot recipe is a simple blend of 4 immune-boosting ingredients. It might become one of your favorite drinks to boost immune system.

• Fresh turmeric
• Fresh ginger
• Lemons
• Raw apple cider vinegar (I use Bragg organic apple cider vinegar with mother)
• Black pepper

Turmeric (curcumin) isn’t absorbed well without consuming black pepper with it.  Black pepper contains piperine, a substance that enhances the absorption of turmeric (curcumin) by 2,000. (1)

How to Make Turmeric Shots

This wellness shot takes about 12-15 minutes start-to-finish.  

1. Prepare Turmeric, ginger and fruit  – peel and chop fresh turmeric and ginger and juice two lemons.
2. Blend –  Add the peeled turmeric and ginger root in a blender and blend.  Add about 1/4 cup water as it processes to help it break down into a paste.
3. Strain:  Strain though a fine mesh sieve over a bowl or put the contents in a nut bag and squeeze the juice over a bowl.  Discard remaining turmeric and ginger.  
4. Lemon juice:  Mix lemon juice with turmeric ginger juice.
5. Pour – pour about 1/3 cup for each shot (I purchased these little shot containers at Smart and Final)
6. Apple cider vinegar:  Stir in 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to each shot.

TIP:  The turmeric will discolor your hands and kitchen tools.  Use food handling gloves if you have them. 

Turmeric Shot Benefits

These Turmeric Shots are a great addition to your daily wellness plan.  You’ve likely seen a wellness shot at your local health food store (and they aren’t cheap), so why not make a batch of your own at home so you can take them routinely to reap the benefits.

• Rich with antioxidants
• Powerful anti-inflammatory
• Aids digestion
• Improves blood circulation
• Detoxifying

If drinking a lemon ginger turmeric shot straight-up is too potent for you, just pour a shot into a glass of water and drink it.  Drinking wellness shots is definitely an acquired taste, but the health benefits make them so worth drinking.

Benefits of Turmeric

Turmeric is the spice that gives curry its yellow color (that’s why this olive oil salad dressing has a vibrant yellow color).  Here’s a few of the benefits of consuming turmeric.

• Powerful anti-inflammatory benefits (2) (3) 
• Rich with antioxidants that neutralizes free radicals
• It increases activity of our body’s antioxidant enzymes
• Increases level of a brain hormone known as BDNF, which may increase the production of new neurons and combats degenerative disease in the brain
• Powerful anti-inflammatory that is more effective to some with rheumatoid arthritis than anti-inflammatory drugs
• May help combat depression

Benefits of Ginger 

Ginger is part of the plant family that includes turmeric and cardamom.  Its spiciness comes from components known as ketones and gingerols found in ginger.  And it’s been used for ages for the treatment of the common cold, nausea, arthritis and high blood pressure and more. It’s rich with antioxidants, being surpassed only by pomegranate and some berries.  (4)  Ginger is a potent anti-inflammatory and it stimulates digestion and aids in proper absorption of nutrients from foods. (5)

Benefits of Lemon

Lemons are rich with vitamin C, which helps prevent buildup of plaque and the progression of atherosclerosis and heart disease. The citric acid, bioflavonoids, vitamin C, calcium, pectin and limonene found in lemons are powerful nutrients which give a boost to the immune system, helping to ward off infections and disease. Lemons are considered one of the most alkalizing foods you can eat. Lemons have a high concentration of negatively charged ions which may increase oxygen flow to the brain.    

Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a potent antimicrobial and antioxidant.  It may promote weight loss, lower blood sugar levels and lower blood pressure.   Some studies suggest that apple cider vinegar may also help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. (1)

Apple Cider Vinegar Recipes

• Cranberry Juice Detox
• Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing
• Ginger Shot
• Apple Cider Vinegar Drink

Drinks to Boost Immune System 

• Lemon Water
• Ginger Shot
• Pineapple Ginger Cleansing Juice
• Immune Boosting Carrot Juice
• Beet Ginger Detox Juice
• Lemon Ginger Morning Detox Drink
• Iced Orange Ginger Green Tea
• Anti-Inflammatory Ginger Ice Cubes