The Best Home-Made Immunity Shot Recipe You Should Try Today
February 07, 2024
Immunity shots aren’t backed by peer-reviewed double-blind controlled studies, but there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence to prove they work.
And you’re on the right page to find the best immunity shot recipe for your needs.
You’ll find:
- 5 step-by-step recipes for immunity shots – including the absolute best
- 7 pro tips to get the most out of these immunity shot recipes
- Science-backed benefits for all ingredients
Keep reading below.
5 Best Immunity Shot Recipes
We know what you’re here for, so let’s dive in with the recipes.
1. The Immune Booster: Best Overall for Quick Immunity Boost
The ingredients below can help you banish common colds or the flu, but there’s a catch:
You should drink this shot in the early stages of your flu or common cold.
And though this potent mixture is arguably better than over-the-counter medicine, you should still take that flu medicine according to your doctor’s instructions.
Ingredients:
- 1-2 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 dash cinnamon
- 1 dash of cayenne pepper
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions:
- Use a fruit juicer to squeeze these ingredients.
- Drink immediately for a maximum immune boost.
Alternatively:
- Use a garlic press to squeeze the garlic cloves and let them sit for ten minutes. If you don’t have a garlic press, use a sharp knife to grate the garlic cloves as finely as possible.
- Mix thoroughly with the honey, water, and turmeric on top of the garlic.
- Pour the lemon and orange juices and mix well.
- Add the cinnamon and cayenne pepper.
- Mix in the apple cider vinegar and ginger.
2. Turmeric Ginger Shot: Best Immunity Shot Recipe for Digestion
Grandmas everywhere can attest to the benefits of ginger, a tried-and-tested ingredient against nausea, vomiting, period pains, and diarrhea. That's why ginger shot recipes are so widespread.
Turmeric also has proven anti-inflammatory properties, so mixing these ingredients helps your immune system tackle inflammation and free radicals like a pro.
We’ll dive more into the benefits of all these ingredients later.
For now, here’s this immunity shot recipe:
Ingredients:
- Fresh turmeric root (thumb-sized piece)
- Fresh ginger root (thumb-sized part)
- Pinch of black pepper
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions:
- Juice the turmeric and ginger roots using a juicer.
- Mix in the black pepper and apple cider vinegar.
- Consume the shot immediately.
3. Cayenne Lemon Ginger Shot: Best for Long-Term Immunity
Jugging an immune booster shot during peak flu season might not do much if you have an overall weak immune system. This immunity shot recipe helps solve that problem with its healthy boost of vitamins and anti-inflammatory ingredients.
It would also help to eat healthily, try stress-reduction techniques, and stay active throughout the day. No pressure.
Ingredients:
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1-inch piece of fresh ginger (grated)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
Instructions:
- Mix all the ingredients until well combined.
- Drink one shot first thing in the morning.
4. Pineapple Mint Ginger Shot: Best for Long-Term Digestive Health
Recent studies have proven that healthy gut bacteria are essential to maintaining a high overall level of immunity.
And pineapple, mint, and ginger all support your gut health.
Plus, this shot is even more mouth-watering than its cousins above.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz pineapple chunks
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
- A few sprigs of fresh mint
Instructions:
- Place all these ingredients in a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Strain the mixture to remove any pulp or solids.
- Serve immediately.
5. Green Leaves Shot: Best Energy Shot for Heart Health
Your immune system requires a healthy heart to pump oxygen-rich blood throughout your body and help you manage stress better.
Not to mention that heart health is closely linked to inflammation regulation.
And these recipe's ingredients have several heart health benefits:
- Support proper heart function
- Prevent the buildup of plaque in arteries
- Reduce blood pressure
- Decrease oxidative stress and inflammation
Source
Ingredients:
- 1 handful of spinach
- 1 handful of kale
- 1/2 cucumber
- A few sprigs of parsley
- 1 teaspoon of matcha powder
- Water (as needed)
Instructions:
- Wash the spinach, kale, cucumber, and parsley thoroughly.
- Chop the cucumber into smaller pieces for easier blending.
- Add the spinach, kale, cucumber, parsley, and matcha powder in a blender.
- Blend on high speed until the ingredients are well combined and smooth.
- If the mixture is too thick, add water gradually until you achieve your desired consistency.
- Once blended, pour the mixture into a shot glass or small glasses.
- Serve immediately and consume as an immunity-boosting shot.
7 Pro Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Immunity Shots
The immunity shot recipes above are all effective for different purposes.
But you can always make them better.
Here are 7 tips for doing that:
- Use a professional juicer: A cold-press, slow juicer squeezes the ingredients thoroughly, maximizing your nutrient intake. Plus, you avoid the chore of chopping and mixing different ingredients by hand. And while using a blender is another fast option, you’d have to add water and/or sieve the mixture to get a genuine shot.
- Use only fresh ingredients: Bottled juices are highly processed and packed with sugar. And old spices may be less effective.
- If you’re using garlic, let it sit for ten minutes: The healthy antioxidants in garlic form when you mince garlic if they get enough oxygen. So, letting the chopped garlic cloves sit allows them to oxidize thoroughly.
- Use raw apple cider vinegar: Pasteurized apple cider vinegar has fewer immune-boosting properties.
- Use full-sized lemons: These give you the most juice and have the fewest kernels.
- Drink your shot fresh: That’s how you get the most health benefits because the nutrients are intact and at their peak potency.
- Store immunity shots wisely in airtight containers: Using larger quantities of all these ingredients helps you avoid the chore of making another immunity shot each day. However, these mixtures typically last in the fridge for two to three days.
Why These Immunity Shot Recipes Work
Now you know the instructions and the pro tips to get the most out of your immunity shot recipes. Why do they work, though?
Let’s review the science.
- Honey: Honey contains various antioxidants, including phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and organic acids. These beauties neutralize harmful free radicals, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation and promoting heart health. Plus, Manuka honey has natural antibacterial properties.
- Lemon juice: Lemons have high levels of vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that supports your immune system by accelerating the production and function of white blood cells. Vitamin C also helps protect cells from damaging free radicals, slapping oxidative stress and inflammation into nothingness.
- Orange juice: Orange juice has a concentrated dose of vitamin C and other antioxidants, including flavonoids and carotenoids like beta-carotene. These antioxidants help neutralize harmful free radicals, also decreasing oxidative stress and inflammation, just like lemon juice.
- Garlic: Garlic contains allicin, an unsung hero fighting against bacteria, viruses, and fungi and reducing the risk of infections. Plus, garlic has been shown to stimulate immune cells, such as macrophages and lymphocytes, which are involved in the body’s defense against pathogens.
- Ginger: Ginger supports immune health by gearing up immune cell activity, reducing inflammation, and protecting against infections. Ginger also aids digestion, which is closely linked to a healthy immune system.
- Cayenne: This spicy ingredient enhances circulation, promotes detoxification, and stimulates your immune system. Cayenne pepper has a high capsaicin content, a compound with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Capsaicin stimulates circulation and enhances blood flow, both of which support immune cell function.
- Turmeric powder: Contains curcumin, which helps modulate immune responses, enhances the activity of immune cells, and reduces inflammation.
- Black pepper: A dash of pepper enhances the bioavailability of nutrients in your immunity shot.
- Pineapple: Pineapple's active compound, called bromelain, reduces inflammation. Plus, it’s the sweetest ingredient on this list, making any immunity shot more delicious.
- Apple cider vinegar: This ingredient supports a healthy immune system by promoting digestion and alkalizing the body.
- Kale: Packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, kale contributes to overall health and tapers off inflammation that causes chronic health issues.
- Spinach: Rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene, and antioxidants, spinach fights oxidative stress. Plus, it’s a Popeye-approved ingredient that decreases your blood sugar levels.
- Parsley: Parsley abounds in vitamins C and K, essential for a healthy immune system. It also contains an antioxidant called apigenin, which regulates immune function and lessens inflammation.
- Matcha powder: Provides antioxidants that combat free radicals, which are connected to many chronic diseases.
- Cucumber: Hydrating and rich in nutrients like vitamin K and electrolytes, cucumber supports heart health and gut health.
Which Shot Will You Choose?
All five shots above have healthy ingredients with proven benefits to gear up your immune system.
But they all have different purposes, so you should choose according to your needs.
Also, listen to your taste buds; pick basic and optional ingredients you love, and you’ll be more likely to actually drink your immunity shots.
And don’t forget that a slow, cold-press juicer can help you maximize the nutritional benefits of all these immunity shots. Find out more about how these juicers work and unlock the full potential of your health journey.