Wellness Shot (Immunity and Digestion Boost)

  3 Cheers for wellness shots! Wellness shots are becoming more and more popular (well popular again, just now more mainstream). In fact, you can now find them in a lot of grocery stores and at Target. Just look right in the produce refrigerated section. But, what are they? Think of it this way; when you're sick or feel a cold coming on, or are feeling aches and pains, do you sometimes reach for a specific vitamin/supplement? What if you could get those vitamins in their natural form through a fresh cold pressed juice. I'm not talking about juicing although it's very similar. Wellness shots are a little more concentrated and like a shot, you can feel them going down, some way smoother than others. Each shot boasts of a different health boost, some helping to support your immune system and others giving you a great digestion boost for if you've had a weekend of unhealthy eating and drinking (#greens). There are quite a lot of options out there, so be sure to do your research on what your choosing (aka there is such a thing as too much). Especially, if you make them a regular habit or addition to your diet. One thing they are not, is a meal replacement, or a continual replacement for fruit and vegetables in your diet. They make a great addition to a healthy lifestyle and actually aid in thinking more about the choices you make with what you're putting into your body. Who wants to cancel out doing something healthy for yourself? Certainly not me. 
   You might think: "Whoa, Sarah, this is a lot to think about when I just want to grab something quick at the store! Plus it even smells healthy!" I'm just over here trying to tell you that although I highly endorse wellness shots, I think just like with every other food/wellness choice, it should be researched. Balance is the key.  
   Enough of the caution and info about wellness shots in general. I started buying these at the store when I first noticed them (Sol-Ti is my favorite brand of store bought thus far, and I'm not sponsored). Ask my life long friends and they'll tell you I've always liked different and healthy tasting drinks. I favor ones with ginger because I love the taste and health benefits of ginger. Ginger is said to be great at helping take the edge off nausea and settle stomachs. It's said it may be an anti-inflammatory, and contain anti-oxidants. I like to think of it as a gut and immunity boost. Not to mention it makes a good post late night out, partying, pat on the back. I enjoy drinking it mid-day as a happy I'm trying to stay on the health track power up. I can almost hear Super Mario World power up music in my head. That's definitely the imagery I experience when I think about health and wellness shots truth be told. I did include the recipe for this type of wellness shot at the bottom. I have also included it on Instagram on my account @RosemaryandGrace It makes about 5-6 1 oz shots. It's all you need for a small daily weekday dose. 
   *I will give you one more word of caution: to allow your body to get used to it if it isn't already. They can start out as a diuretic and leave you feeling a bit tied to the restroom for a short period of time. It doesn't affect me as much as it does my husband, so just be warned to settle into them. 
   *This recipe style is for those who are like me and don't have a juicer. If you do have one you can use the same recipe and just juice the ginger, celery, and the apple...then blend it all with the rest of the ingredients. You will also probably need a little less water. So just use 3/4 cup of water instead. 

Ingredients:

• 3 T fresh ginger or a good size 2 inch chunk of fresh ginger
• 1 lemon with the zest and pith removed and only the flesh remaining
• 1 T ground Ceylon Cinnamon 
• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 peeled and de-seeded apple
• 1 large stick of celery
• 1 T raw honey
• 1 cup filtered water evenly divided

Directions:

1. In a food processor or good quality blender, place all your ingredients and half of the water. 
2. Pulse or blend till you see everything evenly mushed and incorporated. 
3. Add the other half of the water and blend together again. There shouldn't be any large chunks left. 
4. In a fine mesh strainer over a bowl or cup, pour entire contents of juice, and allow the strained liquid to separate through to the bottom. You can also use cheesecloth to squeeze out and strain the liquid. Either works pretty well. 
5. Using a spoon, smash down the mushed ingredients over the mesh, getting out the last of the liquid possible. If using a cheese cloth, just squeeze, squeeze, squeeze. 
6. You'll only be saving the liquid part, that has been strained, to bottle into your wellness shots. However, that leftover mush is great to add to your compost, instead of just tossing. 
7. They can last for up to 2 weeks and need to be refrigerated. 
8. They will separate in the bottle so be sure to just shake it up before enjoying. 

*The cuter the bottles you put them in, the more exciting they will be. I purposefully buy the glass ones in the store to wash and save for making my own. 

 *Use on the regular or just during cold/flu season. I wouldn't recommend more than 1 oz a day. 

*Also if pregnant or nursing, just be sure to check and double check with your Dr. about the safety of these. Every body is different and experiences them differently so talking through it with your specific Dr is needed. 

Happy Wellness Shot-ting ;) 

-For easier printer friendly printing, click on this Wellness shot print and hold control P once there.