People have been searching for ways to boost their immune systems forever. Researchers continue to investigate supplements, nutrients, and diet modifications that can encourage healthy immune function. The good news is that the lack of scientific evidence hasn’t stopped new products from emerging, usually with creative delivery systems.
One of the more recent and popular items for healthier immune function is wellness shots. These are not alcoholic shots, nor are they the kind administered via a needle, just to be clear. These little shots claim to deliver immune-boosting nutrients via one gulp of liquid. They are readily available in grocery stores, health food stores, and juice bars. And because people want quick and efficient ways to make it through cold and flu season unscathed, these little shots are very popular.
What Are Wellness Shots?
These little one- or two-ounce bottles contain a mixture of fruit or vegetable juices, apple cider vinegar, and herbs and spices. Some of the herbs and spices in these wellness shots have been used in traditional and folk medicine for hundreds of years. A 2022 report on the beverage industry found that these beverages have become a preferred way to obtain vitamins, more so than pills or gummies. You can down them quickly, making them more attractive than smoothies or juices.
What Health Claims Do These Shots Make?
Lots of juices are advertised as “immune-boosting” or “germ-fighting,” but how valid are these claims? Like most foods, immunity and wellness shots can be marketed with similar vague health claims. Because they are not subject to the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), wellness shots can use these types of phrases. Marketing language, therefore, is often exaggerated.
A few common phrases that are associated with wellness shots can include “boost immunity” or “strengthen your immune system.” That means that these wellness shots imply that they will help you not get sick, or recover faster if you are already sick. In reality, the immune system is a lot more complicated than that.
According to dietary research, adequate vitamins, minerals, macronutrients, and calories play a role in how your immune system functions. Some nutrients do have more of an impact on the growth and function of immune cells. Getting “mega doses” of those nutrients doesn’t supercharge your immune system, according to health experts. That is because the body can only use a certain percentage of those nutrients.
What Does The Research Say?
Research shows that diet will not prevent you from catching a cold, flu, or COVID-19. That said, there is some evidence that a wellness or immunity shot can help ease cold or flu symptoms if they contain certain nutrients. Research states that both vitamin C and zinc can help shorten the duration of a cold, provided you supplement with them before getting sick. Unfortunately, the dosages of those nutrients that have been studied are not the same as the amount in immunity shots.
Some wellness shots claim to boost energy levels or improve mental clarity, but they don’t define what that means. We need not discount the positive effects of a balanced diet, though. Diet does help improve the way the immune system functions, but it’s not the end-all, be-all. The unfortunate reality is that no food or special diet can prevent all sickness and disease. Too many other factors are out of an individual’s control.
What To Look For In A Wellness Shot
If you want to know if a wellness shot is worth the hype, you have to check the ingredient list. Focus on the first one listed because ingredients are listed by weight. The first ingredient is the bulk of the wellness shot, according to health experts. Researchers note that several ingredients have undergone lots of scientific studies and are great additions to wellness shots. Those ingredients are as follows:
The Takeaway
If you are a healthy individual, wellness shots are not going to harm your routine, unless you’re allergic to the ingredients in the shots. Unfortunately, there is no proof that taking these shots will improve your overall health or shorten the duration of illness. That said, a well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables will contribute to vibrant overall health.
