Why a ginger shot is good for your health

More and more people are using plants and herbs to stay healthy. For example, ginger has become increasingly popular in recent years. Many cafes have ginger tea on the menu, and ordering ginger juice or a ginger shot is also becoming more common. But is a ginger shot really healthy? And does consuming ginger carry any risks? In this article, we describe what scientists know about the health effects of ginger anno 2020.

In this article you can read more about:

• Scientific research on the health effects of ginger
• Is ginger safe?
• Ginger for your energy metabolism
• Ginger for your blood vessels and blood pressure
• Ginger for your joints and muscles
• Ginger against oxidative damage
• Ginger for your immune system
• More research
• How can you use ginger for your health?
• Recipe for ginger juice
• Recipe for ginger tea
• Recipe for ginger shot
• What should you pay attention to when preparing ginger?
• Conclusions
• Resources

Scientific research on the health effects of ginger

In recent years, more and more research has been conducted on the health effects of ginger. Among other things, the vitamins and minerals in Zingiber officinale, as ginger is officially called, are being studied. The compounds Gingerol and shogaol from ginger are also getting a lot of attention. However, less than 40% of the studies on ginger are of sufficient quality to draw sound conclusions[1]. The studies are often conducted with too few people. Moreover, a fixed dose of ginger is often not used when people take a ginger shot, ginger tea or ginger capsules. As a result, the absorption and effect of the active ingredients in the body cannot be reliably determined[1, 2].

Is ginger safe?

Many people think that herbs are harmless because they are natural products. This is not necessarily true. Fortunately, ginger seems to be generally safe. For example, in the elderly, ginger does not appear to have any effect on the medications they take[3]. However, some people do experience unpleasant abdominal symptoms such as heartburn, nausea and diarrhea when using ginger excessively[1]. You also notice when you take a ginger shot that it tingles a bit or if the concentration of ginger is even higher, it can even cause a burning sensation. So a ginger shot on an empty stomach is not a good idea if you know you are sensitive to it.

Sometimes there are rumors that pregnant women should be careful with ginger. In large studies, ginger during pregnancy did not increase the risk of pregnancy problems and birth defects in the child[4-7]. However, there are some small studies in which babies had lower birth weight and a slightly increased risk of congenital anomalies or stillbirth if the mother had used a lot of ginger during pregnancy[6]. However, the quality of these studies was poor.

Ginger for your energy metabolism

Drinking ginger shots not only provides a nice spicy taste, it also helps your body release energy from your meals. This is because the mineral copper in the shots plays a role in the activity of various enzymes involved in your metabolism. In this way, by having a nice shot, you can also directly boost your energy metabolism.

Ginger shots and the effect on your joints and muscles

Copper from a shot of ginger helps maintain cartilage in your body. Cartilage is an important part of your joints. For the movement of your body, of course, your muscles are also incredibly important. In the muscles, it is precisely the mineral potassium from ginger that can benefit you. In fact, potassium plays a role in maintaining supple and strong muscles.

Ginger shots against oxidative damage

The antioxidant copper from the shot helps trap free radicals. Free radicals are substances that can cause damage to your cells and tissues. You do not want too many of these free radicals in your body. By getting enough antioxidants through your diet, you ensure that your body is better protected against this damage. Drinking a shot of ginger regularly is one way to do this.

Ginger for your immune system

Last, but certainly not least, we want to talk about the positive influence on your immune system. This is because copper from ginger shots supports your body’s defenses and therefore helps to ensure a good resistance.

More research

So ginger shots have all sorts of positive health effects, with generally minimal side effects. Much research continues to be done on the benefits of ginger. We will therefore update this blog regularly as new insights emerge.

How can you use ginger for your health?

The recommended dosage is about 1 gram of fresh ginger per day. You can, of course, incorporate this into your food. For example, there are all kinds of delicious Oriental dishes that use ginger. Do you prefer to drink ginger? Below are tasty recipes for ginger juice and ginger tea. Want to give your health an extra boost without too much fuss? Then try a ginger shot.

Recipe for ginger juice

Ginger juice can be drunk with water or fruit juice, but is also very suitable as a sauce in Oriental dishes or as a salad dressing. For half a liter of ginger juice, mix 6 cm of peeled and chopped fresh ginger root with the lemon juice of 1 or 2 lemons. Mix the ginger and lemon with 1 teaspoon turmeric and half a liter of water in the slow juicer or blender. The more ginger you use the sharper the ginger juice becomes. You can also order ginger juice with turmeric, lemon and black pepper from us. We also wrote an article with several recipes on how to make ginger juice yourself.

Recipe for ginger tea

Making ginger tea is very simple. Put some thin slices of ginger in your teacup and pour hot water on top. Or dissolve ginger powder in hot water. Add lemon and/or honey to taste. Easy to make and super healthy for you.

Recipe for ginger shot

A ginger shot has many benefits. Of course, you can order your ginger shot, but did you know that making your own ginger shot is also very easy? The ingredients for a ginger shot are ginger root (2-3 cm) and half a lemon. Cut the peeled lemon and ginger root into small pieces or slices and blend them in a juicer or slow juicer until you have a cloudy ginger juice. You can also use a blender or hand blender. Optionally, you can add a little maple syrup or honey. Drink the ginger shot in one sitting. Of course, you can also vary: replace the lemon with tangerine, orange, pineapple and/or apple. And add turmeric, cayenne pepper or cinnamon to taste: just what you like in your ginger shot.

What should you pay attention to when preparing ginger?

You can store ginger shots in the refrigerator for up to three days. You can also freeze them by the serving, such as in an ice cube mold. That way you only have the work of the ginger shot once while the effect remains. Dry ginger is best stored at room temperature in a shady area. Then you can certainly enjoy it for several weeks.

Conclusions

In short, although it has not yet been conclusively proven, ginger seems to be good for your health and you can use it safely. With our recipes for ginger juice, ginger shots and ginger tea, you can easily and tastefully add a healthy ginger shot to your diet. Enjoy!

Resources

1. Ahn NH, et al. Ginger on human health: a comprehensive systematic review of 109 randomized controlled trials. Nutrients 2020;12:157. PubMed ID: 31935866. Article
2. Vázquez-Fresno A, et al. Herbs and Spices- Biomarkers of Intake Based on Human Intervention Studies – A Systematic Review. Genes & Nutrition 2019;14:18. PubMed ID: 31143299. Article
3. Agbabiaka TB, et al. Concurrent use of prescription drugs and herbal medicinal products in older adults: a systematic review. Drugs Aging 2017;34:891-905. PubMed ID: 29196903. Article
4. Ahmed M, et al. Safety classification of herbal medicines used among pregnant women in Asian countries: a systematic review. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2017;17:489. PubMed ID: 29137614. Article
5. Stanisiere J, et al. How safe is ginger rhizome for decreasing nausea and vomiting in women during early pregnancy? Foods 2018;7:50. PubMed ID: 29614764. Article
6. Lindblad AJ, et al. Ginger for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Canadian Family Physician 2016;62:145. PubMed ID: 26884528. Article
7. Viljoen E, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect and safety of ginger in the treatment of pregnancy-associated nausea and vomiting. Nutrition Journal 2014;13:20. PubMed ID: 24642205. Article