Lemon Ginger Turmeric Shots

5-ingredient lemon ginger turmeric shots are simple to prepare in a blender or juicer and loaded with nutrients, antioxidants, and immune-boosting benefits for flu season! Plus, it’s ready in just 15 minutes!

5 Ingredient Wellness Shots Worth the Hype

Although we’re inching our way towards Spring, there seem to be so many germs around right now. Following the past few years we’ve had as a planet (yes, I’m talking about you 2020 – and 2021, and some of 2022), we’ve done the research to learn how to adapt our diet to support our immune system and enhance our overall well-being – like these small but mighty, potent lemon ginger turmeric shots.

These vitamin-c-rich, immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory shots are made with 5 inexpensive ingredients that pack some serious healthful punch. The combination of ingredients makes a bright, punchy, spicy, earthy, tangy flavor to wake your taste buds and it’s so easy to add to your morning ritual. Best of all, this potent elixir is simple to make, with no juicer required, and it works out SO much cheaper than buying pre-made versions from a store.

Looking for more simple ways to soothe and boost health? Check out our recipes for lemon cinnamon ginger tea and turmeric golden milk.

The Turmeric Lemon Ginger Shots Benefits

• Lemon juice: Is a natural detoxifier that boasts plenty of immune-boosting vitamin C with antiviral and antibacterial benefits (source).
• Orange juice: Is loaded with vitamin C along with moderate levels of potassium, folate, and many antioxidants to boost these ginger and turmeric shots (source).
• Ginger: Is a popular ‘medicinal’ ingredient and a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant with the ability to aid digestion, glucose metabolism, relieve nausea, and benefit brain and heart health (source).
• Turmeric: This popular ingredient has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years and is packed with potential benefits, such as increasing antioxidant capacity in the body, improving blood pressure, heart, and brain health, benefiting joint pain, glucose metabolism, decreasing insulin resistance, and more (source).

The Ingredients

• Lemons: Any thin-skinned lemon work. Use Meyer lemons for the sweetest taste.
• Oranges: Navel oranges, Valencia oranges, and blood oranges are particularly good for juicing. Tangerine works, too, or try grapefruit for a different flavor.
• Ginger: Use ginger root with thin yet firm, unwrinkled skin. Use organic; otherwise, peel it.
• Turmeric: Select fresh, firm turmeric root with no wrinkles/soft spots. If you can’t find fresh turmeric, use fresh turmeric powder (refer to FAQs).
• Black pepper: Freshly cracked black pepper is needed to increase the absorption of curcumin from turmeric (by up to 2000%!).
• Water: This is only required when blending. For more flavor, use coconut water.

What Could I Add to These Wellness Shots?

• Cayenne pepper: Adding fresh/powdered cayenne pepper adds heat and provides several benefits, including anti-inflammation, improved circulation, and metabolism.
• Cinnamon: This not only tastes great but contains lots of antioxidants and other beneficial compounds with anti-inflammatory, blood sugar, and heart health benefits.
• Zinc: Just ½ tsp of liquid zinc adds more immune support and fight viruses/bacteria. Zinc is also beneficial for DNA and cell growth and healing damaged tissue.
• Sweetener: A small amount of unrefined agave or maple syrup may help make the turmeric ginger lemon shots more palatable. A sugar-free sweetener could also work.
• Oil: Healthy fats, like coconut oil, improve turmeric absorption while providing other benefits to the ginger lemon turmeric shots.

How to Make Lemon Ginger Turmeric Shots in a Blender

There’s no need to purchase an expensive juicer to make this lemon ginger turmeric shot recipe. A blender works, too, but requires water to help blend, meaning the juice is slightly diluted.

• First, wash and roughly chop the ginger and turmeric and peel the lemons and oranges, removing the bitter white pith and any seeds.

• Transfer them to a blender along with the remaining ingredients.
• Blend on high for 1 minute, leave it to rest for a minute, then blend for another minute. This properly blends the ingredients without overheating the juice/damaging nutrients.

• Allow the juice to sit in the blender for 5 minutes for the fiber to settle at the bottom of the blender.

This makes the straining process easier, as it won’t block the juice from straining. Skip this step if you plan to use a nut milk bag for straining.

• Then, strain the mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl, trying not to shake the blender too much (so the fiber remains settled).

We first pour in half, using a spoon to move the pulp so it strains quickly. Repeat with the rest – optionally leaving it to naturally strain for at least 30 minutes (or several hours/overnight in the fridge) OR pressing the pulp with a spoon to extract as much juice as possible.

• Finally, pour the liquid into a jar and enjoy in 1-2 oz shot portions.

Juicer Method

1. First, wash all the produce well and slice them into sizes that will fit your juicer chute.

Depending on the juicer, you may be required to peel the orange/lemon first.

2. Feed all the ingredients through your juicer chute.
3. Mix well and serve.

FAQs

Pro Recipe Tips

• Use organic ingredients: This is important when juicing, as you’ll be consuming high quantities of ingredients sprayed with pesticides.
• To reduce bitterness: Juice the lemon and orange separately and add the juice to the blender (to avoid bitter pith affecting the taste).
• Dilute or sweeten if needed: This turmeric shot recipe has a pungent, spicy flavor. While it should be drinkable in just 1-2 gulps, optionally improve the flavor with sweetener or dilute it for a drink you can sip.
• To avoid staining: Turmeric stains skin, clothing, and your surfaces – so wear gloves, be careful, and rinse everything immediately. Nut milk bags will be permanently stained but fine to keep using.

Storage Instructions

For maximum nutrient absorption, consume a turmeric lemon ginger shot immediately and freeze leftovers in an ice cube tray for up to 2 months. Allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight, or you can also store leftovers in airtight jars in the fridge for 2-3 days, but note that the nutrients will deteriorate over time. Shake well between servings.

Serving Suggestions

Even if you aren’t a fan of tossing it back like shots, there are several ways to incorporate lemon turmeric ginger shots into your diet to boost your health.

• Dilute it with water/sparkling, coconut water, or iced tea
• Dilute a shot/ice cubes with hot water for a soothing tea
• To boost smoothies, like this delicious citrus mango smoothie
• Add it to salad dressings and marinades

More Drink Recipes

• Mango avocado smoothie
• Kale pineapple smoothie
• Ginger fruit smoothie
• Banana beet smoothie
• Citrus mango smoothie
• Cucumber lemonade
• Watermelon cooler