If you think ginger root is just a spice, then think again.
For so many years, many people have been using ginger for its potent medicinal properties. It has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that enable it to treat a number of health issues.
From back pain, arthritis, indigestion to improving brain function, ginger has a lot to offer.
Health Benefits of Ginger Juice
If you are still on the fence about trying a ginger juice shot, this list of health benefits should be enough to help you make your mind.
1. Boosts The Immune System
As an antioxidant, ginger root has this unique ability to fight the toxins and free radicals in your body. They are largely responsible for damaging your healthy cells and making your body weaker and more vulnerable to diseases.
Taking a ginger shot can cleanse your lymphatic system to make sure it functions well all the time. By doing that, there are fewer chances for toxins to build up and make you sick.
2. Fights Infection
Now, aside from making you more resistant to diseases, ginger root can also kill bacteria.
With its natural antimicrobial properties, it’s able to kill two of the most dangerous and common bacteria – Streptococcus Pyogenes and Staphylococcus Aureus. It can also get rid of any fungus in your system.
3. Eases Menstrual Cramps
Ginger shots can solve one of the most painful problems women experience with their monthly menstrual period – cramps.
They can reduce the severity as well as the duration of pain so you won’t have to worry about dysmenorrhea affecting your productivity and daily activities.
4. Enhances Your Metabolism
One of the most popular benefits of ginger shots is its ability to wake up and speed up a person’s metabolism. If you are struggling to lose weight and shed off those unwanted fats, adding it to your diet can help you smash your weight loss goals.
In addition to speeding up metabolism, ginger can also suppress appetite. One good reason for that is the spice’s ability to regulate the concentration of serotonin in the body.
This reflects the results from a pilot study which was published in Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental in 2012.
Now, this doesn’t mean that you’ll lose all the extra weight just by taking a ginger shot. Remember that it can only help rev up your metabolism and that you still need to watch what you eat and head to the gym regularly.
5. May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease
While there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, ginger was found to have protective effects against it. That’s what the research done at the College of Public Hygiene of Guangxi Medical University in Guangxi, China found.
Now, while we’re at the topic, ginger can also protect the brain against toxicity against one of the most common flavor enhancers people use these days – MSG. While this ingredient is generally considered safe, it has adverse effects to the body, particularly the brain.
6. Keeps Your Blood Sugar Within Normal Range
If you are frequently experiencing anxiety attacks, it’s probably the right time to recheck your diet. You see, anxiety attacks can be due to a spike and dip in blood sugar which can cause you to have dizzy spells, crave for unhealthy food and experience energy crashes.
Daily ginger shots can help prevent those spikes and dips. They can keep your sugar level within the normal range, essentially eliminating all the unwanted symptoms that go with it.
7. Soothes The Stomach
If you are pregnant or you got too drunk last night that you’re left hungover and with a bad stomach, a ginger shot can help calm your stomach.
It relaxes the smooth muscles in your digestive tract so food can move through it easier. It can also ease bloating and relieve constipation.
8. Helps Cures Acne
Believe it or not, ginger makes a great acne remedy too.
As mentioned, it has potent anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce the size, pain and redness of your zits. It can also remove the toxins that are affecting your skin’s natural glow and health.
In addition to drinking ginger shots, you can also apply a small amount of the juice on your target areas. You can leave it on your skin for about 5 minutes and then rinse it off with cool water.
Ginger Shot Recipes
By now, you’re probably wondering how you can add ginger shots to your daily routine. As a way to help you out, here are three of the easiest recipes you can try at home.
1. Ginger And Lemon Shot
This is probably one of the most popular and easiest to prepare among the recipes in this article.Â
To create it, you’ll need:
- Half a lemon
- A 3-inch piece of ginger
To do:
Start by peeling the skin of the ginger and cutting the lemon in half. Depending on your preference, you can retain the lemon seeds and skin intact if you want to add a bitter flavor to your juice.
Otherwise, remove them and start juicing the peeled ginger and lemon in your juicer.
2. Ginger, Lemon And Cayenne Shot
If you want to take things up a notch, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to your drink. This extra ingredient can add to your ginger’s anti-inflammatory property.
It also possesses vitamins that can keep your skin, vision, and mental health in great condition.
As a guide, prepare the following ingredients:
- Half a lemon (juice)
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- A large knob of ginger
To do:
- Peel the ginger and start processing it in your blender.
- Add your juice and cayenne.
- Once all ingredients are properly blended, transfer to a glass and enjoy the shot.
3. Ginger Cherry Shot
In case you’re looking for an exciting ginger shot recipe, this one’s it. The addition of cherries to the drink boosts its overall flavor and color.
Prepare the following:
- A cup of cherries
- A small piece of ginger
To do:
Start by juicing the pitted cherries and then process the ginger next. Enjoy right after processing.
Bonus Recipe: Kale Spice
We all know how good kale is to the body. In fact, it’s hailed as one of the superfoods everyone should include in their diet.
Combining it with ginger can really give you a powerful and healthy drink.
How To Take Ginger Shots
Consuming a ginger shot should be easy. After all, it’s just a shot, right?
Well, to make sure you get all of its benefits, there are things you have to remember and stick with during preparation and when you’re about to consume it.
For one, make sure to adjust its taste. If it’s too intense, you can add a bit of water to dilute it. In case the taste is still off, don’t add any sugar. Use Stevia instead as it’s a natural herb that doesn’t possess any calories.
Drink the shot right away. If you really need to store it, keep it in an air-tight container and be sure to consume within 24 hours. Also, avoid making it with fruit juices that are high in sugar, like orange juice.
As to how often you take the shots, you can take them every day. However, if you have existing ulcers and gallstones, you might want to talk to your doctor first. Ginger can cause problems with people with gallstones as it can promote bile production.
The same applies if you have bleeding issues. Ginger can stimulate circulation and boost blood flow while preventing the blood from clotting.
So, if you are scheduled to undergo surgery, make sure not to take your ginger shots a week or two before your surgery day.
Ginger shots should also be reconsidered if you are taking certain drugs. This is to make sure you don’t end up decreasing or enhancing their effects which can harm your body.
For example, ginger doesn’t go well with blood-thinning medications which are often prescribed to people with high blood pressure and diabetes. The spice can react negatively with drugs for weight loss, cancer and antihistamines too.
Conclusion
Ginger shots can work wonders when it comes to improving and maintaining your health in top shape. With its potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, it can help shield you from certain health issues.
However, although great for health, it’s still not for everyone. It’s contraindicated for some people so be sure to check with your doctor first if you have existing health issues that might get worse if you take ginger shots.
Also, remember that ginger shots aren’t miracle workers. You can’t expect them to treat your diseases or lessen your discomfort right away.
You need to incorporate them into your daily routine and be consistent in taking them if you really want to get all of the benefits listed above.
