We’ve all been there before.
The late-night tingling sensation felt near the base of the tonsils. A feeling that gradually manifests into a full-on sore throat, followed by coughing and all the familiar traits which are symptomatic of the common cold. This was a problem I only experienced occasionally but was irritating enough to shut down any intended plans for the day, supplemented by prolonged bed rest and lots of fluids. Then I tried ginger shots.
Recurring ailments have become a thing of the past ever since. But the benefits of ginger shots do not stop here, which is why I’ve compiled together numerous advantages that the naturally-produced concentrate can give to your body, endorsed by loads of reputable sources and references. All the steps necessary for you to make the beverage at home will follow, so you’ll know how to incorporate ginger shots into your diet.
Ginger Shot Benefits
#1 Ginger Shots Can Eliminate Sore Throat
The common cold is one of the most prevalent illnesses in the world. The primary culprit is the Rhinovirus, an agent that’s associated with irritating symptoms such as a runny nose; itchy, watery eyes; and sore throat.
The last time you had a cold, one of the initial symptoms could have been a slight soreness near the top of your esophagus. Gradually, that area will manifest into pain that’s accompanied by coughing and sneezing. While there are loads of medications — both over-the-counter and prescription — to help with these ailments, ginger has been shown to effectively ease sinusitis and pharyngitis, giving the areas most sensitive to Rhinovirus — time to heal without becoming inflamed. Another common infection you’re probably familiar with is strep throat.
Although antibiotics are definitely recommended to be taken if you or your child are showing signs of strep throat, a ginger juice shot could turn a two-week period of sickness into something that lasts just a few days. In fact, ginger has even been found useful in eliminating pathogens when used with a cotton swab and rubbed in the back of the throat. It’s safe to say that shots of ginger would surely produce the same effects. And it’ll be a lot less irritating than putting cotton in your mouth!
#2 Ginger Shots Can Reduce Inflammation
Did you know that inflammation has been cited as one of the leading causes of death in the world? Most diseases can trace their origins to inflammation. And if it’s not caused by the body’s natural defense mechanism, it certainly advances lots of serious health problems. From arthritis, cancers, heart disease (more information later in the article), and even Alzheimer’s, many health professionals have begun to label inflammation as a serious candidate for understanding how the same responses that aid us can eventually damage vital organs, as shown in a Harvard University publication.
However, the same group of pathologists researching these claims have also found that ginger can help fight off, and in some cases, prevent the spread of inflammation. Ginger has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that lower the threshold of acquiring a large number of debilitating illnesses and infections found among humans. From a dietary standpoint, this could probably be one of the greatest health benefits of ginger shots. You could be doing your body better than you know simply by consuming the drink every day over an extended time period.
#3 During Exercise, Ginger Shots Can Lower Muscle Soreness
Going to the gym is great for your health in its own right. You’ll tone up, become stronger, and boost your body’s defenses in combating obesity that’s brought about by having too many fat cells in the blood. It’s common knowledge that gym activity can lead to muscle soreness. This is caused by the muscle cells’ effort to adjust to the strain being placed on them, whereby they may perform as expected without damaging other organs in the body. While these little tears are soon filled with newer muscle cells, the recurring pain will develop — which can cause muscle spasms long after the workout is completed.
What are ginger shots good for in this predicament? It helps in two ways. First, there’s a little ingredient called Leucine found in the plant. If you’re a gym enthusiast, you’re probably familiar with Branched-Chain Amino Acids, of which Leucine is associated with. As you consume foods/beverages that contain Leucine, the compound aids the body in muscle protein synthesis, or helping them to grow in strength and tone. It’s also an essential amino acid; so our bodies cannot naturally produce Leucine, making it an important tool in maintaining the body’s strength, particularly for active individuals. The amount of Leucine in ginger shots recipes can vary, so you’ll want to measure off the amount the size of the ginger root you’re using to get an accurate reading of how many essential amino acids are being consumed with a DIY ginger shot.
The second benefit for the muscles is in the pain itself. While not a complete cure for discomfort brought about by exercise, ginger is a good way to gradually lower the effects of soreness over time. Yet for those who love doing high-intensity workouts, ginger could be a way to overcome pain to a significant degree. Overall, it’s clear that ginger, including ginger juice, could be a useful way to at least soothe the irritation that’s symptomatic of delayed onset muscle soreness (a fancy way of saying that your muscles hurt).
#4 Ginger Shots Can Lower Cholesterol and Reduce Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
High cholesterol can be caused by many self-inflicted habits such as smoking, poor diet, and a high consumption of fatty foods. Others sometimes naturally take on high blood pressure over time due to stress and worry. In any case, these issues are common vectors for later problems that can lead to cardiovascular disease. Millions of people throughout the world suffer from a sudden Heart attack or stroke every day. It’s a serious problem but the likelihood of it happening to you can be reduced by making important lifestyle changes. Ginger happens to be a small solution to add to this change.
Ginger shots are often lauded for their effective treatment in lowering cholesterol — a precursor to heart disease. Just remember that having juice bar shots every once in a while, won’t do anything for you. You’ll have to incorporate ginger into your diet and avoid eating foods that are bad for your central nervous system to achieve the results of this. Essentially, you won’t get any heart improvements unless you eliminate things you know are damaging your body. As such, blood pressure will be lowered exponentially when you take control of your body. In short, when you’re already healthy, ginger shots will work better for you.
#5 Ginger Acts as a Natural Digestive Cleanser
Although it was already covered on how ginger shots can decrease prolonged inflammation in the body, one benefit to this, in particular, is in the digestive system. If you visit any health food store, there’s a good chance that many of the multi-vitamins specified for cleansing the intestines will list ginger as an ingredient. Make no mistake, this is for a good reason. Ginger has been used for centuries in central and East Asia to reduce the likelihood of gastrointestinal illnesses. Today, ailments such as heartburn, bloating, and gas can be eliminated easily by consuming ginger-rich foods/beverage, including ginger juice.
It’s widely known today that the people who consumed ginger in ancient times were well suited to do so. Medicines were sold that specifically treated indigestion, or dyspepsia. If you consume ginger juice, you’ll be taking part in a health ritual that’s been passed down through hundreds of generations, with the most desirable effects available when you produce the juice yourself (discussed later).
#6 Ginger can Ease Vertigo and Motion Sickness
Motion Sickness is extremely irritating and doesn’t discriminate with age. There’s both the young and the elderly who experience such instances of dizziness and nausea. Vertigo can happen spontaneously in those who do suffer from it. While there are great medications that can be taken to circumvent these problems, ginger is a great natural alternative to combatting the bouts of disorientation. When studied with a placebo, it was found that ginger root (the main ingredient in ginger shots) reduced vertigo by a significant level that it was noticeable by the patients.
As pointed out in an archived Washington Post article, ginger has been known for years for reducing dizziness, with people throughout history relying on these properties to prevent seasickness when exploring the world’s oceans. If you’ve ever been out to sea before, you know how easy it is for some people to become severely ill from the brain attempting to adjust to the fluid motion caused by floating on water. If it can work in these instances, it can definitely provide relief for anyone on the ground that are experiencing the same conditions.
#7 Ginger Gets Rid of Migraines
Did you know that migraines are one of the most widespread diseases in the world? Millions of people every day suffer from this painful disorder that’s known for inducing vomiting and throbbing in specific areas of the head. Not to be confused with milder tension headaches, migraines generally bring about symptoms that make it difficult to function normally, such as blurred vision or light sensitivity. Fortunately, all this can be a thing of the past when you take ginger for migraines.
Both migraines and headaches are listed as diseases that affect the nervous system. But even before knowing this, humans have used the drug as a system of medicine for many ailments, including pain in the head, for centuries. While analyzing these findings, researchers have concluded that the ginger root acts as a remedy to intermittent and continuous pain during a migraine.
This is noteworthy when one considers how expensive medications are for treating the disease. One study compared the migraine drug Sumatriptan, also called Imitrex, to ginger. The result was a significant degree of pain relief equal to the effects of the drug. In fact, it also did better by having no irritable side effects. So, not only can you save money by using ginger for headaches and migraines, you’ll also reap the same benefits as some prescriptions and OTC drugs.
#8 Ginger Relieves Menstrual Cramps
Menstrual Cramps, officially known as dysmenorrhea, have symptoms that are most associated with pain in the lower abdomen and spine. For some women, the discomfort is mild and can be managed without buying over-the-counter or prescription medication. Yet, for others, the cramps and nausea can become so severe that the only way to have slight relief involves lying in bed with a heating pad for several hours. If you’re looking for a natural way to alleviate period cramps, ginger shots will serve as a quick solution.
In one study, ginger was found to lower aches when taken at the onset of a woman’s menstrual cycle. Acute dizziness and vomiting also subsided or were eliminated over a margin of two months — the span in which the observations mentioned were done. But that’s not all. If you’ve taken Ibuprofen to keep the cramps in check, you’ll find that using ginger for menstrual cramps is equally as effective as a substitute for menstrual pain.
Women should remember to regularly take ginger shots at least three-to-four times a day, for three days, right before their scheduled cycle begins. Doing so will allow the user to get the most aid from the juice. After a few days have passed, go back to your normal routine if you typically drink less than three. To sum it up, consuming ginger for cramps is a good way to keep you out of bed during that time of the month.
How to Make Ginger Shots
Next, let’s discuss the steps required to make a ginger shot. It’s pretty straightforward. So without further ado, here’s the first step:
- Using one or two ginger roots, cut up pieces into small parts. If you’re using a blender, you won’t have to chop them up too fine, just slice until everything is small enough to cover the base of the blender’s pitcher.
- Add the chopped ginger pieces to the blender, along with some water. For two gingers, you’ll need anywhere from eight to 16 fluid ounces of water. The more ginger you use, the more water you’ll need to add. Just be careful to not overdo it.
- Get a bowl and a clean cloth which you can use for straining the juice. A cheesecloth works best but you should have no problems using a fabric towel if need be.
- Turn on your blender (you can also do this easier with a juicer if you have one in your possession) and let the ginger/water mixture blend for at least one minute. Time will vary depending on the size and strength of your device, so if you see large chunks of ginger that aren’t blended properly, let the machine work for a little longer.
- Once blending is completed, take the strainer you prepared before and dump all contents on top of it from the blender. (keep in mind that this step isn’t necessary with a juicer).
- Now it’s time to squeeze. Wrap the towel or cheesecloth around the mixture and hold it firmly over the bowl. Apply pressure so that liquid transfers from the cloth, pouring into the bowl when squeezed harder. You’ll want to make sure that it is wrung out well, so you end up with as much juice as possible.
- Take a lemon and squeeze its juices into a separate cup or glass, then pour them into your ginger juice.
- If you wish, add a bit of honey into the juice to sweeten things up a bit. One tablespoon should be good enough. Mix everything together for a few seconds so the honey won’t settle.
And that’s it! You can enjoy your ginger shot alone or make more for your family and friends. But you’ll probably want to consume this quickly without refrigeration. Just make enough for the number of people you anticipate serving, and nothing more.
How To Make A Ginger Shot Without A Juicer
Here’s an additional recipe for anyone that wants to try something different. You won’t need a juicer for this, but a blender would work best. Stone and steel handheld mincers are also capable; the choice is entirely up to you.
The “Cold Elimination Ginger Shot Recipe”
Ingredients:
- Two or Three Ginger Roots
- Honey (preferably raw honey)
- Two Lemons
- Small sealable container (mason jar preferred)
Directions:
- Chop up the ginger and lemons. You can do this separately or together. Slice everything until it’s nearly minced.
- Place the chopped ginger/lemons into a separate container or jar. Just be sure it’s sealable.
- Using the honey, pour it in the ginger/lemon mixture. Wait for the honey to coat all pieces of the ginger and lemons. You can add as much honey as you like (if on a low sugar diet, you don’t have to add honey). Seal the container up tightly and place it in the center area of your refrigerator.
- Alternatively, you can simply add hot water to the container and allow it to sit for about 5–10 minutes. The ginger and lemon will begin to dissolve at the bottom of the cup. Once completed, sip and enjoy!
Conclusion
Did you gain any new insight into the benefits of ginger shots? If so, I’d be delighted if you would share the information provided so that we can raise awareness of the wonderful health advantages made possible with the ginger root.
For me, natural health benefits should be backed up with facts that prove how good they are — instead of relying on a snake-oil pitch to get you trying something that won’t result in noticeable improvements in a short amount of time. Ginger shots are demonstrably a healthful way of keeping yourself looking good, both inside and out.
