If you’re pinched for time in the morning (and who isn’t), you can forget about whipping up an elaborate breakfast before dashing out the door. But your saving grace can come in a very tiny glass. Like fancy juices, health-boosting power shots deliver a quick dose of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals — but in a more concentrated dose.
You can prepare these wellness shots in a juicer the night before and store them in a pitcher in the fridge. So all you have to do when you wake up is take a quick shot. Think of these mini elixirs as a multivitamin of sorts (just remember, they’re not meant to be a meal replacement). Mix up a batch for gut health, an energy boost or a hit of immunity. Who knew that shooting one back would be so good for you?
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8 Immune-Boosting Wellness Shots to Improve Your Health
1. Immune Boosting Ginger Shots
If you’ve got the sniffles, try this natural remedy to boost your immunity and stop a cold in its tracks. Green apples are low in sugar and a delicious way to round out the tangy ginger and turmeric in this recipe. Two lemons add a burst of bold citrus flavor that’s loaded with vitamin C. Ginger helps clear your airways and soothes a sore throat, while turmeric helps fight inflammation.
Recipe: Iosune Robles / Simple Vegan Blog
2. Pineapple-Turmeric Gut Shots
Fresh pineapple juice, apple cider vinegar, ginger, turmeric and sea salt make a sweet, tongue-twisting shot. Apple cider vinegar is a good source of B vitamins and vitamin C, and contains acetic acid, which is known for boosting the absorption of minerals from foods. These shots are so sour that you can make an extra big batch as brine for preparing sauerkraut.
Recipe: Danielle Ramirez / Fermented Food Lab
3. Spinach, Lemon, Green Apple Shots
Eating green is easy when you’ve this super quick recipe, which calls for three large handfuls of spinach, a quarter of a lemon and one green apple. In just one gulp, you can have more than a daily dose vitamin K, which can help with keeping your bones healthy.
Recipe: Sheena Jibson / The Little Red House
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4. Apple Pie Vinegar Elixir
If you need a morning pick-me-up, this apple pie vinegar shot will wake you right up. That’s right, pie. We know how difficult it might be to take a quick hit of apple cider vinegar. But in this recipe, the tartness of the vinegar is tamed by fresh apple juice, honey, ginger and cinnamon. Top with a splash of sparkling water for a bubbly sip.
Recipe: Tina Jeffers / Scaling Back
5. Skin Glow Wellness Shot
Kick your health up a notch in one swift swig with this power shot. Brimming with vitamins from green apples, cayenne, lemon, ginger and celery, this elixir will help your skin glow from the inside out and boost your immunity. To balance out the sour and sweet flavors, a dash of cayenne pepper heats things up and gives this shot a little kick.
Recipe: Alexa / Flo & Grace
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6. Wheatgrass Shot
Don’t be afraid of a little grass. Wheatgrass is a good source of a variety of antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, and flavonoids, which help lower your risk for chronic diseases. Instead of drinking wheatgrass juice whole, this recipe calls for a little coconut water, which adds a touch of sweet, nutty flavor to the bitter greens.
Recipe: Little Green Dot
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7. Immune-Boosting Grapefruit Juice
This ruby red juice will put a smile on any grump’s face. Juicy grapefruit, fresh strawberries, ginger and mint leaves make a refreshing power shot that packs vitamin C and quenches your thirst. To get more flavor out of the mint, try muddling some leaves at the bottom of the glass.
Recipe: David and Luise Frankiel / Green Kitchen Stories
8. The Early Riser: Beet, Pineapple, Carrot and Lemon Juice
Squeezing in a morning workout? This early riser beet shot is what you need to get your body into gear before your workout. Studies have shown that beets can help improve your sports performance during high-intensity exercise. Beets, carrots and pineapple are sweeter than other vegetables and fruits, which make them great for whipping back a shot like this one. Lemon adds a touch of sour citrus flavor without being too overpowering.
Recipe: Kristina LaRue / Love & Zest
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Originally published on June 14, 2017. Updated on October 14, 2021.
All images via Shutterstock