1. Turmeric
Turmeric is the talk of the town because it contains curcumin, a potent compound known for its ability to reduce inflammation. Turmeric has been well-studied as an anti-inflammatory for muscular and connective tissue repair and can help alleviate gastrointestinal inflammation.
Okay, but will talking a daily shot of turmeric fight inflammation in the body? Don’t have any expectations. One important thing to note about turmeric is, in order for it to become activated, the spice needs to be consumed with black pepper. So if you’re looking to turmeric as an anti-inflammatory, make sure your wellness shot and/or food contains black pepper as well. You may also want to reconsider those pricey turmeric lattes (unless of course you just enjoy the taste — then by all means drink up!).
2. Ginger
Known for its ability to ease nausea, bloating and vomiting, ginger is an anti-inflammatory that may help alleviate muscle cramping and menstrual pain. It also contains strong antioxidants that can benefit overall skin health. But while eating some ginger or drinking a shot with ginger as a primary ingredient may offer fast help for that nauseous feeling, it’s not totally clear just how much ginger you would need to eat regularly to reap skin benefits, for instance.
In general, ginger doesn’t have any contraindications, but it might not feel good in your body if you have reflux. A shot of ginger is unlikely to cause any harm, but since it’s super spicy, it’s often diluted with water, coconut water or sugary orange juice. Nobody needs to drink orange juice, so consider [the fact that] you’re paying for a shot of sugar with some spicy extract.
3. Apple cider vinegar
Can a shot of apple cider vinegar a day really help keep weight gain at bay? FAKE news. ACV can have very mild effects on blood sugars and satiety, but it’s not significant enough to [warrant taking] shots of it. What’s more, drinking it straight up is ill-advised because it can corrode your oesophagus.
4. Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass is loaded with vitamins A, C and E and is rich in iron, magnesium, calcium and amino acids.
But at the end of the day, it’s just another plant, and all plants have vitamins, minerals, fibre and phytochemicals.
The bottom line: Wellness shots are really just mini green juices. You can get enough vitamins and antioxidants from food if you’re eating lots of produce in a well-balanced diet, so you don’t need to spend money on wellness shots. But if they taste delicious to you and just make you feel good, by all means.
