Are you looking for a complement to your upcoming detox juice cleanse? Or do you want to find a natural way to boost your energy? Turmeric shots could be your answer.
Turmeric has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for over 3,500 years. Its fascinating properties make it good for your skin, heart, brain, and many other parts of your body. Some folks even swap their morning coffee for a turmeric shot, reporting a noticeable energy boost.
But what makes turmeric so powerful, and where can you get turmeric shots? We’ll explain everything, including the full range of turmeric shot benefits.
What Is Turmeric?
Turmeric is a golden-hued spice from an herb (Curcuma longa) in the ginger family. This plant is native to Southeast Asia and is particularly abundant in India. People have used it for more than 3,500 years in Ayurvedic medicine, a holistic healing system. Today, people still use it for medicinal purposes and in their everyday cooking, where it adds a hint of earthy flavor and a bright yellow color to dishes.
What Makes Turmeric Good for You?
Turmeric has always been more than just a spice. Fundamentally, the magic of turmeric derives from a bioactive compound called curcumin. Studies point to curcumin's ability to provide benefits like managing cholesterol levels, protecting against heart health issues, and enhancing brain health. The compound could also aid in weight loss and joint health, further accentuating the advantages of this magic spice.
Curcumin works in your body by:
- Inhibiting inflammation: Curcumin helps reduce inflammation by blocking the NF-kB pathway, which plays a crucial role in your body's inflammatory response.
- Protecting cells from damage: Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant that scavenges free radicals and neutralizes oxidative stress.
- Modulating signaling pathways: Curcumin can regulate multiple signaling pathways involved in cell growth, proliferation, and apoptosis (cell death).
- Enhancing detoxification enzymes: Curcumin upregulates glutathione S-transferases and quinone reductases, which help eliminate harmful toxins and carcinogens.
- Maintaining or improving heart health: Curcumin may help your body control blood flow, develop new blood vessels, and strengthen your platelets’ ability to adhere to one another — a necessity for successful wound healing.
- Exerting neuroprotective effects: Curcumin crosses the blood-brain barrier to modulate neurotransmitter levels, potentially reducing neuroinflammation and promoting the production of neurotrophic factors. This may help protect you against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
What Are Turmeric Shots?
Turmeric shots are concentrated beverages that contain a potent blend of turmeric. People take turmeric shots (often on an empty stomach for maximum effect) to boost their immunity, improve their digestive health, alleviate inflammation, and for many other reasons.
Sometimes, people combine turmeric with other ingredients for an improved taste or additional health benefits. Typical additional ingredients include various combinations of ginger, citrus, honey, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, apple cider vinegar, and even mint. Ginger offers many health benefits, and ginger shots are another popular health beverage.
Turmeric Shot Health Benefits
Turmeric shots deliver a concentrated serving of this golden spice, providing potent health benefits thanks to curcumin, the spice’s principal active ingredient. Below are some potential advantages of incorporating a turmeric shot into your diet.
Detoxification
Curcumin enhances the activity of detoxification enzymes such as glutathione S-transferases and quinone reductases. These enzymes play crucial roles in neutralizing and eliminating harmful toxins and carcinogens from your body and supporting healthy liver function. The curcumin in turmeric is what powers Raw Juicery’s hot and fruity Master Cleanse and spicy-citrusy Boss Tonic. Prefer something sweet? Try the turmeric orange juice: Sun Worship.
Boosted Energy
Taking a turmeric supplement may increase your energy levels by promoting healthy blood circulation, enhancing your mood through neurotransmitter regulation, supporting mitochondrial function for increased energy production within your cells, and modulating your body's stress response to manage the energy-draining effects of chronic stress.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Curcumin in turmeric modulates the activity of enzymes involved in inflammation, such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and lipoxygenase (LOX). By combating inflammation at the molecular level, turmeric becomes a powerful ally in protecting against certain health conditions, including heart disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's.
Improved Immunity
Turmeric is rich in vitamin C, which is known for boosting immunity. It also enhances your body's defense mechanisms by scavenging free radicals, reducing inflammation, and inhibiting the growth of harmful microorganisms. By modulating your immune cell activity, promoting the production of immune-boosting cytokines, and enhancing the activity of white blood cells, the spice helps protect you from infections and diseases.
Supported Digestive Health
Turmeric can help improve gut health, relieving digestive issues such as bloating, gas, and indigestion by promoting the secretion of digestive enzymes and enhancing bile flow. This aids in the breakdown of fats and supports your body’s nutrient absorption. Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties also help to reduce inflammation in your gastrointestinal tract, alleviating the symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.
Enhanced Skin Health
The antioxidants in turmeric can help protect you against free radical damage, promoting youthful skin and preventing premature aging. Turmeric's wound-healing properties aid in the recovery of skin injuries, and its antibacterial effects may combat acne-causing bacteria, leading to clearer skin. Finally, taking turmeric as a supplement could enhance your skin’s health by reducing the inflammation associated with acne, eczema, and psoriasis.
Antioxidant Properties
Turmeric’s antioxidant properties help protect cells from oxidative stress, which scientists have linked to aging and chronic diseases. By scavenging free radicals and enhancing antioxidant defenses, turmeric helps maintain cellular health, supports immune function, and reduces the risk of various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and potentially even cancer.
Healthy Brain Function
Turmeric promotes the production of neurotrophic factors, including a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which supports the growth and survival of neurons. Additionally, curcumin may inhibit the development of amyloid plaques (a buildup of protein between your nerve cells) and tau tangles (abnormal accumulations of a protein called tau in your neurons), which are hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Cardiovascular Health
Curcumin helps maintain heart health by reducing inflammation and inhibiting the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. It can also improve the function of endothelium (the lining of blood vessels), which enhances the ability to regulate blood pressure. Its antioxidant properties also help protect against oxidative stress, which might reduce the risk of certain cardiovascular diseases.
Where to Buy Turmeric Shots
Your first thought might be to check your local health food stores for turmeric shots. Thanks to the rising trend of organic foods and an increased interest in detoxifying turmeric drinks, you will likely find turmeric shots on their shelves.
If you're all about convenience, check out the Mini Boss and Shine Time, our flavorful turmeric shots loaded with other cleansing ingredients like ginger, black pepper, sea salt, and citrus juices.
What to Look for in Turmeric Shots
Keep these factors in mind as you shop for the perfect turmeric shot:
- A reputable retailer with positive customer reviews
- Raw, natural, and organic ingredients
- A high potency of curcumin, turmeric’s main bioactive compound
- Added black pepper, which can increase curcumin absorption by 200%.
How to Make a Turmeric Shot
If you’re feeling adventurous or want to save money on turmeric shots, try making your own at home.
To make a turmeric shot, you'll need the following ingredients:
- Fresh turmeric root or ground turmeric
- Fresh ginger root
- Lemon or lime
- Black pepper
- Water or coconut water (optional for dilution)
Follow this basic recipe:
- Peel and chop a small piece of fresh turmeric root (about 1-2 inches), or use 1-2 teaspoons of ground turmeric.
- Peel and chop a small piece of fresh ginger root (about 1 inch).
- Juice half a lemon or lime.
- Optional: Add a pinch of black pepper. Black pepper contains piperine, which can enhance the absorption of curcumin, the active compound in turmeric.
- Combine the chopped turmeric and ginger, lemon or lime juice, and black pepper in a blender or food processor until smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add a little coconut water to thin it out.
- Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove pulp. Pour the strained liquid into a shot glass or small container.
- Store any leftover turmeric shot in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a few days.
You can adjust the ingredients and proportions to suit your taste preferences. Some variations include adding honey or maple syrup for sweetness or other ingredients like cayenne pepper or apple cider vinegar for additional health benefits. Just shake or stir the mixture well before taking a shot, as the ingredients may settle over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy turmeric shots?
Turmeric shots are available at local health food stores and online, including right here at Raw Juicery. Shop our signature turmeric shots, the Mini Boss and Shine Time.
What makes turmeric shots effective?
Turmeric shots are rich in curcumin, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Their effectiveness increases when turmeric is combined with black pepper, which enhances curcumin's absorption.
Are there specific turmeric shots for different health issues?
Yes, there are. By combining different ingredients with turmeric, brands can make turmeric shots to deliver specific health benefits, such as liver detoxification or joint health.
Can turmeric shots stain my teeth?
Yes, turmeric's bright yellow pigment can stain your teeth. If you have veneers, the staining could be more noticeable. Try drinking your shot through a straw to minimize the staining.
How quickly do turmeric shots start to work?
Generally, you can expect to see the benefits of daily turmeric shots within 4-8 weeks. However, the effects and time frames will vary from person to person.
Can turmeric help with weight loss?
The curcumin in turmeric may suppress fat tissue growth, regulate sugar levels, and prevent insulin resistance, resulting in your body retaining less excess fat. Additionally, combining turmeric and ginger with other herbs like green tea, chili pepper, and cumin—such as in a juicing plan for weight loss—may help burn belly fat. Keep in mind that taking turmeric shots alone is not a realistic weight loss strategy, but turmeric shots can complement a comprehensive weight loss plan.