Say the word ‘shots’ and you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t associate it with empty calories, hangovers, and poor decisions. But with these health shot recipes, created by the Dr. Axe team, you can swig a potent dose of nutrition and body-benefiting ingredients—with no morning-after regrets. All you need are a few simple ingredients, a shot glass or two, and a desire to feel good.
Meet your new drinking habit:
Balance Shot
We use apple cider vinegar for just about everything—in salad dressing and as a clarifying hair rinse—so it’s no surprise it’s the star player in this balance-promoting shot. After all, ACV has been shown to support heart and immune health, as well as healthy blood sugar levels. (Research published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association even found that ACV modulated the effect of a high-carb meal on blood sugar levels.)
Related: I Tested 7 Different Health And Beauty Uses For Apple Cider Vinegar
Meanwhile, coconut water and Himalayan pink salt provide electrolytes sodium, potassium, and magnesium, which help your muscles and blood (among other things) function properly, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Last but not least, cayenne, which contains capsaicin, supports immune health by mediating the production of pro-inflammatory molecules called cytokines, according to a paper published in Cellular Signaling.
Gut Shot
This concoction contains a number of gut-friendly ingredients to keep you moving and grooving. Ancient Nutrition’s Turmeric Bone Broth Protein provides a dose of the golden spice that’s trending for its immune-supporting powers. Plus, a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that daily turmeric consumption helped participants with digestive health issues.
Ginger is another big shot in the world of natural gut aids. This warm, spicy-flavored root has been used throughout history to soothe the stomach—especially when dealing with nausea.
We’re willing to bet flaxseed oil is the ingredient that caught you off guard here. Here’s the deal: Flaxseed oil contains a fat called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) that the body converts into the omega-3s EPA and DHA. The theory: These fatty acids can support gut health and digestion because they contribute to the structure of cell membranes, potentially helping the gut act as a barrier between what we consume and our bloodstream, according to research published in World Journal of Clinical Cases. (These fatty acids also interact with immune cells and play a role in our immune function.)
Related: All The Things You Didn’t Know Omega-3s Could Do For Your Health
Immune-Support Shot
You’ll see a few familiar ingredients here, like immune-supporting cayenne and ginger. In addition to its stomach-soothing abilities, ginger also acts as an antioxidant in the body, fighting stress-inducing free radicals and mediating the production of those pro-inflammatory molecules, according to a review published in International Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Lemon provides a zippy flavor, and one of the best-known antioxidants out there: vitamin C.
Weight-Support Shot
If weight management is top priority for you, this is just the shot you need. We don’t need to sell you on the importance of protein; you probably already know that protein helps you feel full and supports metabolism-revving muscle mass. Ancient Nutrition Greens Bone Broth Protein provides an extra boost of nutrition by adding alfalfa and oat grass into the mix.
Grapefruit juice is perhaps one of the most weight loss-friendly fruits out there. Not only is grapefruit lower in sugar than many other fruits—half a fruit comes in around eight grams—it also contains a compound called nootkatone that may wield some weight-management power. This compound activates an enzyme called AMPK that controls energy metabolism a.k.a how many calories the body burns through.
Get this: A study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that obese participants who ate half a grapefruit before meals for 12 weeks lost a significant amount of weight and improved their insulin sensitivity.
And then there’s peppermint oil. You probably associate peppermint with toothpaste or tummy-soothing tea, but research out of Wheeling Jesuit University suggests it may help tackle cravings. The study found that when people smelled peppermint oil every two hours for five days, they ate fewer total calories—specifically, fewer calories from fat and sugar—than those who did not. Plus, it makes this shot taste like a yummy cocktail!
Related: Shop a number of superfoods to increase your daily intake of the good stuff.