Shot of health
Did you pack up your shot glasses years ago after a regretful round of Squashed Frogs?
Time to dig them out of the back of the cupboard; the shooter is back in vogue — and this time, they are actually good for you.
Lynda Scantlebury, founder of boutique juicery Inner Ego, says people often drink juices with sweet fruits for enjoyment but wellness shooters of less- palatable ingredients (such as beetroot and lemongrass) are becoming popular with time- poor people who are conscious of what they put in their bodies.
“People are constantly on the move and are looking to top up their nutrition in a quick, easy and healthy way and I think wellness juice shots are the perfect way to do that,” she says.
“People are also turning to natural remedies for ailments. If they need a hit of energy they are looking to beetroot juice, rather than an energy drink.
“If they want to cure a cold they are reaching for turmeric, ginger and lemon over the cold and flu tablets.
“(Wellness shooters) are a very convenient way to consume a pure hit of vitamins, minerals and enzymes.
“Also, like a traditional shot, you can quickly consume spices and vegetables that are not necessarily that enjoyable to drink on their own — think pure ginger and lemon juice.”
But how much goodness can you get from such a small hit?
Accredited dietitian and spokesperson from the Dietitians Association of Australia, Maria Packard, says there is not currently any evidence about the nutritional value of wellness shooters but adds that a shooter fits into the Australian dietary guidelines of the recommended juice serving (of up to half a cup or 125ml of juice to occasionally substitute a fruit serve).
However, she says whole fruit and vegetables are better options so you get all the good fibre and pulp that is lost during the juicing process.
“Personally, I think food should taste good, so I think whole fruit or veg is so much nicer than shooting something down to get it over and done with,” she says.
“There is the whole idea that a wellness shot is a quick fix, but you still need your recommended daily serves of fruit and vegetables. A daily wellness shot will not cancel out a bad diet.
“The ingredients popular in wellness shooters are healthy but you do not get much from a small shot — and you can easily use things like ginger and lemongrass in your cooking, like in a stir-fry, to get the goodness — and it will also be tasty,” she adds.
“Or instead of a beetroot shooter, grate fresh beetroot as part of a salad or as part of your sandwich filling. Roasted beetroot is also delicious!”
Ms Scantlebury recommends adding these combinations to your juicer:
Beetroot + fresh ginger
Why? Beetroot is a great detoxifier.
Coconut water + fresh ginger + lemongrass
Why? “Lemongrass is effective in settling the stomach and easing bloating.” says Ms Scantlebury.
Turmeric + lemon + cayenne pepper
Why? “Turmeric is popular as a liver cleanser and to aid the treatment of skin conditions such as eczema,” she says.
Ginger + cucumber + mint
Why? Ms Scantlebury says ginger is a good choice when you feel a cold coming on.
Cold-pressed juice
Cold pressed is a term you are likely to hear at your local juicery, but what does it mean?' “' Traditional methods of juicing, which blend and grind the fruit and vegetables, expose it to heat and cause oxidation which in turn leads to degradation of vitamins enzymes and minerals,” Ms Scantlebury says. “Slow cold-pressing maintains the nutritional density of the juices. It also allows juices to last three days without additives or preservative.”
Activated charcoal
Ms Scantlebury says another ingredient gaining popularity as a wellness shooter is activated charcoal, for its effectiveness at removing toxins from the body.
“It is odourless, but looks quite daunting as it is completely black,” she says. “Activated charcoal is ideal as a wellness shooter because it must be mixed with liquid to be consumed.”
Activated charcoal (which Ms Scantlebury says is usually made from burnt coconut) is available from most health food stores.
Source: The West Australian, Brooke Evans-Butler, 30th September 2015
Originally published as: Shot of health
