These turmeric ginger and lemon health shots are a great way to kickstart your day. Loaded with zesty lemon and punchy ginger root, these delicious homemade drinks are perfect to make in a batch.
I’ve written in great length about the health benefits of turmeric in drink form, but today I’m bringing you one of my favorite ways to enjoy it: In shots!
Often these type of shot recipes become popular in winter as each of us has our own struggles with colds, coughs, and viruses. I first got turned on to having a regular dose of turmeric while struggling with a cold a few years ago, but I have to say that I actually enjoy these year-round!
In my other post on turmeric, I specifically talked about how lemon and ginger turmeric tea is loaded with health benefits, which involves ground turmeric mixed with coconut milk, black pepper, and honey.
Well we’re stripping most of that way and having these in the form of powerful 2-ounce shots. These little beauties are highly concentrated in turmeric, and pack in a bit of a punch. Definitely follow them with quick glass of water.
They’re guaranteed to wake you up first thing in the morning, but also I can vouch for their effectiveness at fending off viruses and ominous cold symptoms.
In my other post on turmeric I wrote about the health benefits associated with turmeric. But for a quick recap, here are a few of them.
The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin.
- Detoxifies the body and liver
- Boosts immunity by improving liver function and protects liver tissue
- Cleanses and purifies the blood
- Eases symptoms of coughs and colds
- Improves skin complexion
- Reduces bad cholesterol
- Reduces inflammation
This recipe couldn’t be any simpler to make. It only requires a few ingredients and couple of kitchen tools.
The main ingredients are just turmeric root, ginger, and lemon. No added flavor or sugars. Just healthy ingredients in their purest form. We also added a little black pepper when served, which helps your body absorb it faster. I also like the kick that the black pepper provides… talk about a wake-up call.
As for equipment, all you need is a blender or slow juicer, and a sieve with some kitchen paper. As for the method, you just chuck all the ingredients in a blender, then strain it in your sieve before portioning it up.
You can portion it into a large mason jar for storage, or you can serve it into a small shot bottle right away. If you don’t have any then you can find some here on Amazon.
Finally, if you’d like to freeze them then you can simply pour them in an ice tray, then enjoy them as ice cubes later.
What is turmeric?
Turmeric is a root powder derived from the root of Curcuma longa from India. It is a spice that gives curries and even gives the rice a natural and bright yellow color. It has culinary uses and can be used in stews, rice, and medicinal purposes to bring down swelling or help close a wound. You can also use it as an ingredient in a face mask, as its properties can help reduce swelling and act as a skin toner.
What are the benefits of turmeric and ginger health shots?
Turmeric and ginger shots have many health benefits. Here are some of those benefits.
- They have anti-inflammatory properties.
- They help relieve colds and cases of flu.
- Ginger helps aid digestion.
- Turmeric contains curcumin, which helps boost your immunity.
- They are an energy booster.
Turmeric benefits
Turmeric has numerous benefits. It’s a spice that is well known for its versatility around the home. Its uses range from health and beauty to culinary and even fashion fixes. Try tye and dye using turmeric for long-lasting yellow color. The most significant advantage of using turmeric as a form of treatment is that there aren’t any side effects as you would expect with other medicinal options. Here are some of the benefits that you can expect from turmeric;
- It has antioxidant properties – some of these antioxidants help prevent the onset of diseases like Alzheimer’s.
- It is anti-inflammatory
- It gives food a bright color
- It May help ease arthritis symptoms- it can help reduce pain for people with osteoarthritis.
- It may help prevent cancer.
- It can help maintain the remission of ulcerative colitis.
Turmeric also helps to lower bad cholesterol, which leads to heart issues and other heart complications. It can be used as a treatment for Uveitis, in place of corticosteroids,
Ginger benefits
Ginger is another root that has so many health benefits. It is part of the Zingiberaceae family. You can either use it in powder form, root form, or even oil, juice, or spice. Here are some of the health benefits of ginger;
- It can help reduce nausea, such as after surgery nausea and pregnancy-related morning sickness. However health experts, advise against pregnant women taking ginger, who’ve miscarried before or are close to labor,
- It helps ease flu symptoms.
- It has anti-inflammatory properties thanks to some of its components, such as gingerol.
- It acts as an antioxidant.
- It may help reduce oxidative stress.
- It can help relieve symptoms of osteoarthritis, such as joint pain and stiffness.
- It could help lower blood sugar levels
- It may help alleviate heart issues.
- It can help with chronic indigestion.
- It could help relieve menstrual pain. This is also because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
- It can help fight various infections.
Turmeric root vs. turmeric powder
Turmeric root has a livelier taste and a fresher taste than the powder form of turmeric. One of the more obvious differences is the texture. The root is chunky and fresh, whereas the powder is exactly that, a powder. The fresh root has more active nutrients than the powder.
Raw turmeric also has a more distinctive aroma. The dried version has a much longer shelf life and, as such, is more widely used and readily available.
How often should you take turmeric shots?
Studies show that you need to take about 500 mg of curcumin a day to fully experience the benefits of turmeric. This translates to about two and a half teaspoons of powdered turmeric every day.
If you’re fighting a cold then I’d try to take one of these every day while your body does the hard work battling against the virus. Beyond that though, it’s probably best to limit these to every other day.
Does turmeric help with weight loss?
There is a possibility it could help with weight loss. For instance, drinking turmeric tea helps with emulsifying fat, and it is a digestive juice. According to studies carried out with obese people, those who took turmeric had a reduced BMI and lost some weight. Some research has found that weight loss has increased by about 3%.,
It also helps regulate sugar levels and also prevent insulin resistance. Also, the anti-inflammatory properties in turmeric help reduce the swelling that is a common factor in obesity. Curcumin can help reduce fat growth. Also, when you consume turmeric, it helps to increase bile growth. This acts as a digestive juice.
Ingredients
- Ginger root: It is livelier than the powdered version and more potent
- Turmeric root: Use fresh turmeric, as it is more flavorful than turmeric powder.
- Lemons: It is better to use fresh lemons, as they will help amp up the flavor in the drink and add a zing to it. Also, lemon juice helps alleviate flu symptoms. Lemons also help in weight loss, and they are good for the skin as well.
- Bblack pepper: It absorbs the curcumin in turmeric. It also helps digestion and enhances the taste.
Can you make these health shots in batch?
Yes, you can make a batch in advance. You will then need to store them in shot-sized containers and put them in the fridge. However, it is vital to keep in mind that the nutritional value may deplete slightly over time.
Storage
You can store them in the fridge. They need to be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Airtight glass containers are usually the best for this. It helps to mark the containers to know when you made a batch and need to use it.
You can keep turmeric and ginger shots in the fridge for about 3 to 5 days. While you can keep the shots for up to 1 week, it’s safe to use up to about five days. The sooner you use it, the better it will be, nutrition-wise and also taste-wise.
Turmeric & Ginger Health Shot
Ingredients
- 7 oz turmeric root
- 4 lemons rind removed
- 6 oz ginger root roughly chopped
- 1 apple quartered
- 1 pinch black pepper
Instructions
- Put all of the ingredients in either a blender or juicer. Blend until smooth and until all the ingredients have been incorporated as much as possible.
- Prepare a sieve with kitchen towel or paper lined in it. Place the sieve above a container. Pour the turmeric mix in the sieve, allowing it to strain through the paper and filter out any unwanted pulp.
- Pour the filtered mix into your choice of bottles or jars, or even put it in ice trays to enjoy later.
- When you do serve to enjoy, add a punch of black pepper. Drink in one go as a shot, follow with water.
Notes
- To get the full effect, these are best enjoyed first thing in the morning on an empty stomach
- Can be stored for up to 4 days in the fridge
