Lemon Ginger Wellness Shots

Jump to health benefits and notes

It seems like there is always a new fad trend going around the diet/health world, and while I do not believe in fad diets, I do believe that consuming the best quality ingredients has the best impact on our health. We live in a world that is so hyper focused on consuming the least amount of calories possible that we deplete ourselves of essential nutrients (micro and macro), which leads to sluggishness, tiredness, and hunger. Rather, fueling your body with good quality vitamin and nutrient rich foods allows your body to remain healthy so that you can perform your best.

I have seen lemon ginger "immunity shots" in the grocery store and wonder if the people buying these things at $3 a pop think one shot is going to boost their health and completely revamp their immune system. The truth is, it won't. There is no miracle shot you can take to make you healthy. Being healthy requires a complete diet and mind change. These "immunity shots"should really be called wellness shots, because they support your well-being as a supplement dose of vitamins and minerals. In order to reap the benefits of them, they should be taken on a regular basis alongside a diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Lemon Ginger Wellness Shots

Servings 16

Serving size: 2 oz

Prep time: 15 minutes

Assembly 5 minutes

Total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients: (see note)

• 12 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 2 pounds of lemons)

• 12 oz ginger root (scrubbed clean under running water)

• 1 tsp honey (optional)

• 1/4 tsp cayenne

• Filtered water

Special equipment:

• High speed blender

• 16 2oz jars (I like these glass ones from Amazon) NOTE: If you will be freezing these shots, do not use glass bottles!

• fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth

Instructions:

1. Juice lemons and put the juice into a blender. Make sure to remove any seeds that may have fallen in the juice.

2. Chop up clean ginger into one inch cubes and plop them into the blender. (No need to peel ginger, as we will be straining the juice after blending. Ginger skin is actually edible, by the way!)

3. Add honey and cayenne, if using. 1/4 tsp cayenne with this amount of juice and ginger will produce a medium level of spice.

4. Place the lid on the blender and blend on high until completely smooth, 30 seconds to one minute.

5. Place a strainer over bowl (preferably one with a pour spout) and strain the liquid. You will need to use a spoon to press all of the liquid out of the pulp. The final product will have some pulp in it. If you do not like much pulp, you will have to use cheese cloth.

6. Fill jars half way with the juice.

7. Add enough water to fill jars leaving 1/4 inch of space at the top. Place lids on jars. Wellness shots will last 2-3 days in the refrigerator. Freeze what you will not consume within 2-3 days. Shake before consuming.

Note:

You can easily scale this recipe up or down, depending on how much you want to make, since this recipe uses a 1:1 ratio of lemon juice to ginger root (in ounces). For example, if you only have 10oz. lemon juice, use 10oz. ginger and adjust cayenne to your preference.

Benefits of Lemon and Ginger

Alongside containing essential vitamins and minerals, the health benefits of lemon and ginger are long and well known.

• Lemon juice is rich in vitamin C and is proven to reduce risk factors of heart disease and stroke, and also lowers cholesterol. Lemon juice may assist in weight loss, as it is a natural appetite suppressant. Other qualities include kidney stone prevention, being a good source of fiber (from the pulp) and it improves iron absorption from plant sources. (Source)

• Ginger has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and assists in reducing free radicals in your body. It reduces nausea, heart disease risk factors, blood sugar, PMS symptoms, cholesterol, BMI, and blood insulin levels by potentially reducing inflammation and increasing caloric burn. (Source)

Benefits of Cayenne Pepper

• Cayenne pepper contains carotenoids and flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. (Source) It also contains antibacterial properties, and may assist in weight loss by burning additional calories by increasing core temperature. Finally, cayenne pepper is rich in vitamins C, E, A, choline, lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta carotene. (Source)

Price Comparison

One wellness shot will cost you about $3. All of the ingredients above, minus the honey since that is optional, cost me about $14, which evens out to $0.88 each! (That is $48 if you were to buy 16 of them.) Talk about money savings!

How to drink wellness shots

Knock it back! Get it over with. Test it first, if it is too spicy then pour it into a glass and add some water.

Shake before consuming.

When to drink wellness shots

In the morning on an empty stomach. This ensures full absorption of nutrients.

How to store wellness shots

Wellness shots will last in the refrigerator for three days. Place whatever you will not consume within the next three days into the freezer. To thaw, place them in the refrigerator overnight. NOTE: if you intend to freeze these shots, do not use glass bottles!

As mentioned above, wellness shots are not a cure-all. They contain vitamins, nutrients, and minerals that will supplement a healthy, balanced, high quality diet. My favorite thing about wellness shots are the anti-inflamatory and antioxident properties they provide. I find they also help make me feel fuller, longer.

I wish you give these a try, and if you do let me know how you like them!

See you next Monday,

Mary