Ginger shots, which are drinks made from concentrated amounts of ginger root (Zingiber officinale), are claimed to help ward off illness and boost your immune system.

Although ginger shots have only recently become popular in the wellness community, ginger elixirs have been used since ancient times to treat a variety of ailments (1Trusted Source).

While ginger offers impressive health attributes, you may wonder whether taking ginger shots is truly beneficial.

This article reviews ginger shots, including their potential benefits, downsides, and ingredients.

Ginger shots are concentrated beverages made with fresh ginger. The ingredients vary depending on the recipe.

Some shots contain only fresh ginger juice, while others include lemon juice, orange juice, turmeric, cayenne pepper, and/or manuka honey.

They’re made by juicing fresh ginger root or combining fresh, grated ginger with other juices, such as lemon or orange.

Ginger shots are available pre-made or made to order at juiceries or specialty health food stores.

You can also whip them up at home by using a juicer, adding freshly grated ginger to citrus juice, or mixing a knob of ginger with other ingredients in a high-powered blender.

Due to their high concentration of this powerful root, ginger shots can be spicy and unpleasant to drink. Thus, they’re made in small quantities and typically consumed in one or two swigs.

Potential health benefits of ginger shots

Ginger may boost your health in many ways.

Although robust evidence supports its benefits, research on the shots themselves is limited.

As most of the following research is based on high-dose ginger supplements, it’s unclear whether ginger shots have the same effects.

Powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties

Ginger boasts many potent anti-inflammatory compounds, including a variety of antioxidants, which are substances that protect your body from damage by unstable molecules called free radicals.

For example, ginger is packed with gingerols, paradols, sesquiterpenes, shogaols, and zingerone, all of which have powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

May soothe nausea and digestive issues

Ginger is a common natural treatment for stomach issues, such as bloating and indigestion.

Studies demonstrate that supplementing with ginger can help increase the movement of food through your stomach, improve indigestion, decrease bloating, and reduce intestinal cramping.

Ginger is also used to help treat nausea and often taken by pregnant women seeking a natural and effective nausea remedy that is safe for both them and their baby.

Ginger may also help relieve nausea and vomiting related to chemotherapy and surgery.

Additionally, animal studies suggest that ginger may protect against and treat stomach ulcers.

May benefit immune health

Due to its strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, ginger may boost immune health.

Although acute inflammation is an important part of normal immune response, chronic inflammation can harm your immune system, potentially increasing your chances of illness.

Upping your intake of antioxidant-rich foods and beverages like ginger shots may combat inflammation and keep your immune system healthy.

Plus, many common ginger shot ingredients, such as honey and lemon juice, may also improve immune health. For example, both honey and lemon have been shown to have antibacterial and antiviral effects.

Additionally, honey may safeguard your immune system and enhance immune response.

Other benefits

Aside from the above benefits, ginger shots may:

Benefit blood sugar control. Several studies note that ginger supplements can reduce blood sugar levels and improve hemoglobin A1c, a marker of long-term blood sugar control (25Trusted Source).

Boost weight loss. Ginger has been shown to significantly reduce body weight, decrease hunger, and increase the thermic effect of food, or the calories you burn during digestion (26Trusted Source, 27Trusted Source).

Exhibit anticancer properties. Research indicates that ginger may help protect against certain types of cancer, including pancreatic cancer, possibly due to its antioxidant content (28Trusted Source, 29Trusted Source).

Depending on additional ingredients, such as spinach and apple, ginger shots may offer other health benefits, too.