I rarely get sick, thankfully. But this last flu season got to me, and when I was out sick for almost two weeks, I was willing to try everything (and the kitchen sink) in order to quickly end the cold and breathe through my nose again. I tried something I never had before: ginger turmeric vitamin C juices. They came in these cute little bottles, but were wildly expensive, almost at $2 a bottle. Hello?! For a shot- without alcohol? Nope. So, when I convalesced and my head finally rose above the murky water of my flu-state, I set out making my own immune boosting shots. And they work great!
The Ingredients
I love a classic: most of the ingredients are in the name. This juice is super fast and easy to prep for the week, with a lot of ingredients you probably have on hand.
- Ginger. I use a whole “hand,” shave it of its skin, and chop into chunks. Into the blender they go!
- 3 oranges, the sweeter the better. I also add a lemon for funsies. This is great vitamin C, and can be replaced with a ton of strawberries which have even more vitamin C than oranges, though you would lose out on that crisp orange color. That is, if you didn’t add the next ingredient…
- Turmeric. This is the culprit responsible for jaundiced dyed hands and permanently stained clothing, but this powder (or fresh root!) holds SO many benefits.
- Black pepper! Without it, turmeric is not as effective. Listen, this shot is already spicy with the fresh ginger, so black pepper hardly makes a difference. Now, let’s kick the spice up a notch with…
- Cayenne pepper! Yowza!
- Honey. Good, local honey not only supports the bees and local businesses, but it also contains benefits that prevent you from feeling allergies and essentially inoculate you from pollen-induced allergies. Look, I don’t understand the science behind it all (clearly), but it is an old wives’ tale, and I have found this to actually work against my allergies, placebo or no. Plus, it makes these shots taste way better, which is a very welcome bonus when you’re trying to build a morning routine you actually look forward to.
How does it work?
Ginger has been used for centuries for its warming, stimulating qualities. It supports digestion, wakes up your metabolism, and brings a burst of natural antioxidants.
According to John Hopkins Medicine, turmeric contains curcumin which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Additionally, black pepper (piperine) when combined with turmeric (curcumin) helps the body absorb the good properties, and “has been shown to increase bioavailability by 2000%.”
All of these ingredients helps to improve gut health and boost the immune system, which is perfect for the upcoming cold and flu season!
In progress
Ginger Shots
Equipment
- 1 blender
- 1 fine mesh strainer or a cheesecloth
Ingredients
- 1 whole hand of ginger peeled and chopped
- 3 sweet oranges
- 1 lemon optional but fun
- 1 tsp turmeric or a knob of fresh root
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp cayenne
- 2 tbsp local honey
- 1 cup coconut or regular water optional to thin it out
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend!
- Strain using a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth
I hope you like it!
How to Enjoy It
Take one shot each morning on an empty stomach, or sip it before a workout if you want to feel like the pleasant zing of warming up. It’s also a fantastic afternoon pick-me-up when you’re trying to avoid extra caffeine. Don’t overdo it- all of these ingredients are perfect digestive and immune supports, but best in small doses (hence the shot). No need to chug a whole glass of this.
Wishing you a healthy and sickness-free holiday season!
