Many people think of ginger shots as healthy and good for you. They are also increasingly on the menu in lunchrooms and juice bars. But what are the effects of a ginger shot?

In this article we look at whether ginger shots are healthy, what health benefits they have and we tell you how to make a ginger shot yourself!

What is a ginger shot?
A ginger shot is a drink made from pressed or grated ginger root. You drink it from a small glass (shot), usually in one or two sips. One shot is approximately 30 milliliters.

Ginger shots are made by squeezing fresh ginger root or by combining fresh, grated ginger with other juices, such as lemon or orange juice.

The ingredients of a ginger shot differ per recipe. It just depends on what you like.

Some shots contain only fresh ginger juice, but you can also add lemon juice, orange juice, turmeric, cayenne, or honey.

How does it taste?
A shot of ginger juice has a spicy, peppery flavor. Because the taste can be quite intense, (sweet) ingredients are often added to make it a bit fresher and less sharp.

When do you take a ginger shot?
Just before a meal is a popular moment, but you can also take a ginger shot in the morning.

Is it healthy?
Ginger shots have become popular as a health drink in recent years. Ginger is said to help ward off diseases and strengthen your immune system. More about this in a moment.

These ideas are not new. Even in ancient times, ginger elixirs were used to treat a variety of conditions (1).

So it is certainly interesting to see if a shot of ginger is really good for your health!

Possible health benefits and effects of ginger shots
There is not much research into the specific effects of ginger juice or grater shots. There is a lot of research that indicates that ginger can have positive health effects.

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
Ginger is packed with gingerols, paradols, sesquiterpenes, shogaols and zinger tones. These are all substances with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties (2,3).

Many studies show that ginger extract reduces inflammation in people with rheumatoid arthritis, gut inflammation, asthma and certain cancers (4, 5, 6, 7).

Lemon and turmeric (ingredients commonly found in ginger shots) also have strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties (8, 9).

Helps with nausea and digestive problems
Ginger is often used as a natural treatment for stomach problems, such as bloating and indigestion.

Studies show that ginger supplements make food move better through your stomach, improve indigestion, and reduce bloating and colic (10).

Ginger can also help with nausea. It is therefore used by pregnant women who are looking for a natural, safe and effective remedy for nausea.

A study of 120 pregnant women showed that the women who took 750 milligrams of ginger every day for 4 days experienced a significant reduction in nausea and vomiting compared to a control group. No adverse side effects were reported (11).

Good for your immune system
Ginger can boost immune system health due to its strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Chronic inflammation can harm your immune system, potentially increasing the risk of disease (12).

Consuming foods and drinks rich in antioxidants can help fight inflammation and keep your immune system healthy.

There are many studies that indicate that ginger can enhance the immune response. Plus, ginger has powerful antiviral and antibacterial properties (13, 14).

In addition, there are often other ingredients in a shot of ginger that also improve the immune system, such as honey and lemon. These have been shown to have antibacterial and antiviral effects (15, 16, 17).

Helps with weight loss
There are a number of effects of ginger that can help you lose weight:

Lowers Blood Sugar – Several studies indicate that ginger supplements may lower blood sugar (18).
Promotes Weight Loss – Ginger has been shown to reduce body weight, reduce hunger and burn more calories (19, 20).
Protects against certain types of cancer – ginger may help protect against pancreatic cancer, among other things, due to its high antioxidant content (21, 22).
Adding additional ingredients, such as spinach, honey or apple, can also contribute to the health benefits of a ginger shot.

Do you always want to be sure that the ingredients you have at home are good for you? Then use Jasper’s shopping list. It contains many products that fit in a natural and unprocessed diet.

Are there any drawbacks?
Ginger shots generally seem to have significant health benefits. However, there are a few things to keep in mind:

In large amounts, ginger appears to have blood-thinning effects. However, there are also studies showing that ginger has no effect on blood thinning (23). If you’re on blood thinners, you may want to avoid taking a ginger shot too often.
Ginger supplements can lower blood sugar (18). People with diabetes who use certain blood sugar medicines should therefore not take those supplements too much. It is not known whether ginger shots have the same effect as supplements.
If you are allergic to ginger, you should also avoid taking ginger shots (24).
Watch the sugars. Some recipes have something sweet to smooth out the spicy taste of ginger. Taking a lot of ginger shots with added sugars or fruit juices can lead to high calorie intake and blood sugar problems (25).

Where do you buy ginger shots?
You can buy ginger shots at health food stores, juice bars, or the supermarket. Be careful with it, because these ready-to-eat juices often contain a lot of added sugars and other additives.

Make a ginger shot yourself
You can also make a ginger shot yourself. It is best to use a slow juicer for this, but if you don’t have one, a blender will also work. You need this even more:

2-3 cm fresh (organic ginger) (24 grams)
1/2 organic lemon (peeled)
1 glass of water
Preparation:

Put the ginger in your slow juicer or blender along with the lemon
Add water (and possibly other ingredients)
Pour 30 ml of juice into a small drinking glass or shot glass
Store the rest in an airtight bottle in the refrigerator or freeze it
That was it! Enjoy your homemade ginger shot. Tip: drink a glass of water afterwards to wash away the strong taste.

You can vary a lot with all kinds of ingredients. For example, add cinnamon or cayenne pepper!

Conclusion
Ginger shots are a popular drink that can provide health benefits.

Ginger and other ingredients often found in ginger shots can help reduce inflammation, soothe digestive problems and boost your immune system.

Be careful with added sugars. Try to add as little sweet ingredients as possible if you are making them yourself.

Would you like such a health shot? Then the Smoothie Weight Loss Plan might also be something for you.

With this you get a lot of fiber, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in an instant. Smoothies also help if you want to lose weight, because they are low in calories. So double the benefit!