For centuries, people in various parts of the world have used ginger as a traditional herbal remedy for common health problems. According to research, preliminary studies indicate that it may have beneficial properties, but clinical trials are necessary to further investigate them.
It is worth noting that studies tend to use ginger extract rather than raw ginger or ginger juice. However, ginger juice likely offers benefits that are similar in type, if not in magnitude. These include:
- Reducing inflammation: The anti-inflammatory effects may help relieve the pain of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the wearing away of joint cartilage due to aging, while rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the joints.
- Relieving pain unrelated to arthritis: Ginger may help alleviate pain associated with the menstrual cycle and migraine headaches.
- Improving gastrointestinal function: This includes enhancing digestion.
- Decreasing nausea and vomiting: Ginger may help prevent and reduce nausea and vomiting that comes with chemotherapy and pregnancy.
- Improve blood sugar control: Ginger may lower blood sugar and improve factors related to the development of type 2 diabetes, such as insulin resistance.
- Reducing the risk of other chronic diseases: This includes obesity-related factors that increase the likelihood of cardiovascular disease. It may also decrease risk factors of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that raise the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
There are no rules for making ginger shots, so a person can include any fruit, vegetable, or seasoning they like. Below are a few ideas:
Lemon ginger shot
This recipe produces 2 servings.
Ingredients
- 1-inch (in) piece of fresh ginger root
- 1 lemon
- a pinch of powdered or raw turmeric
Instructions
- Slice off the lemon peel.
- Chop ginger, lemon, and raw turmeric into small pieces.
- Blitz in a blender or food processor.
- Divide into two shots and strain if desired.
- Drink immediately.
Ginger carrot recipe
This recipe produces 2 servings.
Ingredients
- 1-in piece of fresh ginger root
- 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon (tsp) raw, unfiltered honey
- 1 medium carrot
- a pinch of cinnamon
Instructions
- Slice off lemon peel.
- Chop ginger, lemon, and carrot into small pieces.
- Blitz in a blender or food processor.
- Divide into two shots and strain if desired.
- Drink immediately.
Orange-spinach ginger
This recipe produces 2 servings.
Ingredients
- 1-in piece of fresh ginger root
- 1 small orange
- 1 cup spinach leaves
- 1 tsp raw, unfiltered honey
- a pinch of cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Slice off the orange peel.
- Chop ginger, orange, and spinach leaves into small pieces.
- Blitz in a blender or food processor.
- Divide into two shots.
- Drink immediately.
A 2019 review of clinical trials looked into the effects of ginger shots on weight. It found that regular ginger consumption may reduce body weight and waist-to-hip ratio, an indicator of fat around the waist.
However, the findings did not show that ginger affects body mass index (BMI).
Additionally, a 2020 study involving rats tested the effects of ginger water on weight loss and the metabolism of certain nutrients.
Ginger water is not exactly ginger root juice, but it is similar. The authors obtained it as a byproduct of freezing ginger rhizomes, which are underground roots of the ginger plant.
Data analysis suggested that ginger may help reduce weight and prevent obesity and obesity-related conditions. However, because this study was done on rats, the results cannot be directly applied to humans.
