When temperatures drop, it seems like everyone starts getting sick.

Give yourself the best fighting chance you can this cold and flu season by strengthening your immune system. 

What does that look like? Get out in the daylight as much as possible, bundle up when it's breezy out, and try adding vitamin-packed ingredients to your diet. One of our favourite ways to do that is with a ginger shot. While you can buy tons of pre-made ones at the grocery store (we love these ones when we're short on time), it's much cheaper to make your own at home—and no, you don't need a juicer. 

ThrivingOnPlants posted a video to TikTok that went viral for her quick ad easy immunity shots:

@thrivingonplants GINGER SHOTS ✨🍋 Let’s save money AND make immune boosting shots!! These babies are sold at cafes for $7+ PER shot… so let’s spend the money on a bunch of produce to make more than a weeks worth of shots instead. Let’s gooooo !!! Ingredients: 2 oranges 2 lemons 100g fresh ginger (more or less depending on how strong you want it to be) 1/2 tsp ground turmeric 1/8 tsp black pepper 2 cups water * (OR coconut water if you want to add natural sweetness) Optional: 1-2 tbsp liquid sweetener of choice Method: 1. Peel your oranges and lemon and cut into smaller wedges. 2. Wash your ginger well and cut into chunks. 3. Add all of the ingredients into your blender. Pop the lid on and blend on high until smooth. 4. Pour through a sieve and into a large bowl. Use a spoon to help filter the juice through. Alternately you can also strain it through cheesecloth/a nut milk bag instead for a smoother juice. 5. Place the funnel on top of your glasses and carefully pour in the juice. Repeat until you’ve used it all up. Pop the lid on all of them and place into the fridge to chill. Enjoy! 👏 NOTE: They will last in the fridge up to 1 week, but ideally are best consumed within 3-5 days. You can also freeze them and thaw out as needed so they last longer (just don’t fill up the bottles too high up). #vegan #plantbased #easyrecipe #healthyrecipe #ginger #gingershot #juice #juicerecipe #lemon #health #juicing #healthyfood #gingerlemonshot #wellnessshot #juiceshot #gingerjuice ♬ How`s Your Day - aAp Vision

Ingredients to help you avoid getting sick

These ginger shots are really an ally against winter viruses. Each ingredient helps to strengthen your immune defenses by providing a concentrate of essential vitamins and minerals.

• Orange: rich in vitamin C, fights infections and helps cells to regenerate
• Lemon: rich in vitamin C, protects cells from damage
• Ginger: anti-inflammatory, soothes sore throats and prevents colds
• Turmeric: anti-inflammatory, soothes respiratory tract
• Black pepper: helps body's ability to absorb turmeric, boosts white blood cells

Feel free to add cayenne (a natural pain reliever that stimulates blood circulation) if you like it extra spicy, or some banana to soften it out.

Happy juicing!

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