8 Energy-Boosting Wellness Shots

wellness shots

While I’ve always been a big fan of making juices and smoothies I’ve never tried making my own wellness shots, so I decided to do some experimenting!

Not familiar with wellness shots?  No problem!

You can listen to our discussion here…

…or read on for a quick summary of what we discuss.

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Disclaimer: Information on this site is presented for educational purposes only. Always speak to your doctor before beginning any new diets or supplements. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

 

What Are Wellness Shots?

Wellness shots are essentially small servings of cold-pressed juices of fruits and vegetables. These shots are meant to provide your body with a quick burst of nutrients. Most wellness shots come in 2-3 oz bottles (or glasses).

Like anything else these days you can buy them, but they can be pricey. I’ve tried some from Splendid Spoon and they were really good, so if you want to have some ready-to-go and don’t mind paying for that convenience, you should definitely check them out.

If you’d like to make your own, you’re in luck, because there are plenty of great recipes you can make at home. What I really like about making them at home is that I can customize them to my own taste. Also, the freshness factor is unbeatable! 

 

Are Wellness Shots Good for You?

Yes, wellness shots are good for you! The benefits of wellness shots are very similar to the benefits you receive from drinking juices and smoothies. They are concentrated shots of nutrients that are absorbed much more quickly than when you eat the ingredients in their whole forms.

While they aren’t cure-alls, they certainly can help when added to a healthy diet and exercise regime.

Back in episode 321 of the podcast, we talked to Dr. Brooke Goldner about how she cured her own lupus through a whole food plant-based diet which included lots of juicing and green smoothies.

I get a boost of energy when I take a wellness shot, which keeps me from reaching for a caffeinated or sugary drink. Feeling more alert and energized also helps prevent my tendency to snack. 

green liquid in clear drinking glass

 

Are There Any Risks with Taking Wellness Shots?

As with anything, moderation is really important. You really want to pay attention to your body, particularly if you’re trying any ingredients that are new to you. Obviously, if you have allergies you should avoid certain ingredients that may trigger those allergies (for example, you should avoid wheatgrass if you are gluten-intolerant).

Additionally, certain ingredients such as apple cider vinegar and turmeric may cause stomach upset and nausea if you’re sensitive.

Pro Tip: Be sure to try out any new recipes during a time when you’ll be at home for a while just in case your body doesn’t agree with your drink.

 

Do I Need a Juicer to Make My Own?

No! By definition, wellness shots are condensed cold-pressed juices, but don’t let the fact that you don’t own a juicer keep you from trying some recipes in a blender. There are definitely some differences in what nutritional value you get from juicing and blending that you can learn about more extensively in episode 4 of our podcast, Juice it Up!  In this episode, we also share some tips for what to look for when buying a juicer, so be sure to check it out if you’re ready to make a purchase.

Our juicer is the Omega Masticating Juicer and we LOVE it!  You can read our review of the Omega here.

Omega Vertical Low Speed Juicer, 150-Watt
  • The patented screw design of the auger squeezes your fruits and veggies to help make sure you get the most out of them.
  • The hopper is conveniently located at the top of the juicer.
  • The VRT comes with a pusher to make it easy to push ingredients into the juicer.
  • Very easy to assemble!
Buy on Amazon! Read Our Review

If you’re not ready to buy a juicer, a good high-powered blender will be fine as well. We use a blender here.

In our review of the Vitamix, we include a video from Dr. Michael Greger of  Nutrition Facts about why investing in a quality high-powered blender can make a huge difference in how much nutritional value you get for your buck. 

A good time to use the blender for creating wellness shots is when you are using powders (ex. ginger powder instead of root), since these can’t go in a juicer.  

Note: If you’re using a blender, you’ll want to add a bit of water also (typically about 1/2 cup). I’ve included that in the recipes below.

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Some Common Ingredients and Their Benefits

While there are plenty of ingredients that can be used in these healthy wellness shot recipes, the following is a list of some common ingredients based on their nutritional value.

 

  • Ginger – Ginger is very common in healthy drinks because it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It also helps to lower blood sugar and ease stomach issues like nausea and indigestion. 

ginger

 

  • Wheatgrass – Wheatgrass can help boost your immune system, boost your metabolism, and eliminate toxins. It contains vitamins A, C, E, K, and B complex along with 17 amino acids (8 of which are considered essential amino acids). You can see why this ingredient gets included quite a bit in healthy drinks. Obviously, if you have celiac or any type of gluten intolerance, this added ingredient isn’t for you. 

 

  • Turmeric – The key compounds in turmeric are called curcuminoids.  They are great for inflammation and can help people with Type 2 diabetes manage blood sugar levels. Turmeric can also help people with arthritis manage joint pain. 
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  • Lemon – Lemon is great for detoxification and helps boost the immune system. It also has a ton of vitamin C and helps alkalize your body. 

 

  • Cayenne PepperCayenne pepper is a great source of vitamins A, E, C, and K, as well as manganese and potassium. The capsaicin in cayenne peppers has metabolism-boosting properties and can help relieve pain. 
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  • Black Pepper (especially when combined with Turmeric) – Black pepper is high in antioxidants and may help improve the body’s ability to absorb other nutrients and increase the beneficial properties of each ingredient. This is particularly true for turmeric. You can read more about black pepper and turmeric in episode 281: Powerful Food Combining Tips That Actually Boost Your Health!

 

8 Wellness Shot Recipes

Here are some recipes to help inspire your own creations. These instructions are for a juicer, but you can add a little water if needed if you’re using a high-powered blender instead.

  1. What’s Up Doc Wellness Shot

whats up doc wellness shot

 

  1. La Jalapina

la jalapina wellness shot

 

  1. Drink Your Wheaties Wheatgrass shot

drink your wheaties wellness shot

 

  1. Apple of my Eye

apple of my eye wellness drink

 

  1. Turn it Up Turmeric Shot

turn it up turmeric wellness drink

 

  1. Watermelon Wellness 

watermelon wellness shot

 

  1. Lemon Drop 

lemon drop wellness shot

 

  1. Sweet As Apple Pie

sweet as apple pie wellness shot

 

How to Store Your Wellness Shots

Making several shots at once will save you some time and mess if you’ll be using them throughout the day. If you do this, be sure to keep your juice in an airtight container in the fridge. Your juices will stay fresh for about 24-48 hours.

From personal experience, I don’t like keeping them past 24 hours. In my opinion, the taste is noticeably diminished after a day.

Happy juicing!

 

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Thanks for listening!

Peace and Veggies,

Vickie and Larissa

 

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