Morning wellness rituals in Indian tradition often involve consuming potent foods on an empty stomach — when absorption is highest and the digestive system is freshest. This immunity shot combines two of the most powerful Indian medicinal foods: amla (600mg Vitamin C per 100g, the highest of any Indian food) and fresh aloe vera gel (acemannan, a polysaccharide that directly stimulates NK cell and macrophage activity, enhancing innate immunity). Together in a small 30 to 40ml shot, they deliver a concentrated burst of immunity-supporting compounds before the day's first meal.
Taken on an empty stomach, Vitamin C from amla absorbs at 70 to 80 percent — far higher than the 30 to 50 percent absorption typical when consumed with a meal. Aloe vera gel's acemannan modulates the gut immune system (70 percent of immune cells reside in the gut lining), directly enhancing innate immune response. This shot is not pleasant to drink — intensely sour and slightly bitter — but the benefits are worth the 10 seconds of grimacing.
Ingredients
How to Make It
Prepare aloe vera gel: Cut a thick, fresh aloe vera leaf. Wash it thoroughly. Cut off the thorny edges. Slice the leaf open lengthwise and scoop out the clear inner gel with a spoon. Use only the clear gel — avoid the yellow latex just under the skin, which is a strong laxative.
Core the amlas and remove seeds. Add amla pieces, aloe gel, ginger juice, and water to a small blender.
Blend for 30 seconds until smooth.
Strain through a fine mesh sieve, pressing firmly. The shot should be about 40 to 50ml of deep green liquid.
Add lemon juice and a tiny pinch of rock salt.
Drink immediately as a shot. Don't dilute with more water — the concentration is the point.
Wait 20 to 30 minutes before breakfast.
Nutrition per serving
* Approximate values per serving
Health Benefits
This shot delivers an immunity support package unlike any commercial supplement. Amla's 150 to 200mg Vitamin C per 2 to 3 fruit dose stimulates collagen synthesis in skin and mucous membranes — the body's first barrier against pathogens. Amla's emblicanins have stronger antioxidant activity than Vitamins C and E combined in laboratory assays. Aloe vera's acemannan is a beta-(1,4)-mannan polysaccharide that activates macrophages (the body's primary innate immune responders) and increases production of interferon, interleukin-1, and TNF-alpha — cytokines that coordinate immune responses against viruses and bacteria. Ginger's gingerols inhibit cytokine-mediated inflammatory over-response, preventing the dangerous "cytokine storm" over-reaction while supporting appropriate immune activation.
Pro Tips
- →Use fresh aloe vera from a home plant or a verified fresh source. Commercial aloe drinks and bottled gels have typically been heat-treated, greatly reducing acemannan content.
- →The yellow latex under the aloe skin (called aloin) is a potent laxative — be careful when extracting gel. You want only the inner, clear gel.
- →If fresh amla is out of season, 1 tsp amla powder in water provides a concentrated but slightly less bioavailable Vitamin C dose.
- →Drink on a completely empty stomach for maximum absorption — before any food or other drink, even before water.
Variations
- 1Add ½ tsp turmeric juice (squeezed from fresh turmeric) for combined anti-inflammatory and immunity benefit in a single shot.
- 2Tulsi amla shot: Add 5 to 6 freshly juiced tulsi (holy basil) leaves — tulsi has adaptogenic immunomodulatory properties that complement amla's direct antioxidant immunity support.
- 3Triphala shot: Add ½ tsp triphala powder for a broader digestive and immunity tonic with Ayurvedic rasayana (rejuvenation) properties.
