Like a lot of people, I spent most of my younger years thinking I was invincible, only to hit my 30s and suddenly find myself having to think about things like cholesterol and blood pressure. With 2025 heralding the start of my fourth decade on Earth, I’m prepared to give anything that’ll help keep my decaying body from falling apart for a few more days a try.
There are an awful lot of wonder-products out there claiming to make you into some kind of bulletproof superhuman. I can’t look at social media without seeing someone with impossibly-sculpted abs and very white teeth trying to sell me some kind of potion, pill, or powder that’ll apparently make me feel two decades younger. It’s difficult to know which of these will actually do what they say on the tin – and with some costing a small fortune, you could end up shelling out a lot of money for zero reward.
The health benefits of ginger and turmeric are well-documented, and you can buy ready-made bottled shots from most supermarkets and health stores, but for at least £2 a go, the cost can soon add up. On the other hand, it’s simple to make your own at home with a pre-mixed powder, and a lot cheaper.
I opted for a 100g Nutrazen pack available on Amazon. At £9.99 – down from its usual price of £12.99 – the financial barrier was much lower.
It contains ginger, turmeric, orange, and cayenne pepper and the packet contains 100 servings, which, assuming you have one per day, is enough for more than three months.
All you have to do is add a scoop to a small glass of water, give it a vigorous stir, and down the hatch. Slightly annoyingly the suggested measurement is one third of a teaspoon – if you can get a measuring spoon that size, I’ve certainly never seen one.
I compromised by using a half-teaspoon measuring spoon and not filling it all the way. After a couple of days I eventually settled on just having half a teaspoon – so slightly more than the package suggested.
The suggested measurement of water is 100ml, and for the first couple of days I used a measuring jug to get the amount right, but once I’d got the hang of roughly how much that was I just did it by eye. I eventually found I preferred to use a little less water as 100ml diluted the taste and kick of the powder a little too much for my liking.
The taste of the shot is pretty pleasing – the taste of the ginger and turmeric are there, but far less pronounced than I expected, and the cayenne pepper gives it a nice warming kick, just the ticket to give you a bit of pep first thing in the morning. It was easy to incorporate into my morning routine, the whole process takes less than a minute.
The packet suggests mixing it into other drinks like tea, juices, or smoothies, which I did try, but the problem is the powder settles pretty quickly once it’s stirred in, so you need to drink it right away, which isn’t usually a great idea with a steaming hot cup of coffee. Although it was quite nice in green tea and fresh black coffee, ultimately I found just having it as a shot first thing in the morning was the easiest way to do things.
As for the health benefits – well, after a month I haven’t developed superpowers, but I do feel a bit brighter and bushy-tailed first thing in the morning. I’m anything but a morning person, so the extra pep to get up and about first thing is welcome.
As for other benefits, it’s difficult to say – but perhaps the fact that my partner got a cold during the month which I managed to avoid is an indicator of the difference it was making.
The fact is, it’s easy, quick, and cheap, so what have you got to lose? I’ll keep having a ginger and turmeric shot every morning, and who knows, this time next year maybe I’ll have the strongest immune system ever seen (or at least in my house).
What are the health benefits of ginger and turmeric?
According to health.com, ginger and turmeric both come from the same plant family, Zingiberaceae, and have long been used in herbal medicine. Here are some of the health benefits of the spices.
- Antioxidant – Ginger and turmeric both contain compounds with strong antioxidant properties, and studies have shown this is boosted when they are combined.
- Inflammation – The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger and turmeric can help prevent a range of health issues such as autoimmune diseases, type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, high blood pressure, and heart disease, gastrointestinal problems, breathing problems, and some types of cancer.
- Immunity – Both ginger and the main compound found in turmeric – curcumin – can help prevent bacteria from growing, and so are effective for fighting colds. Studies have also suggested curcumin can help white blood cell production, boosting the immune system.
- Chronic pain – Anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce pain caused by inflammation.
- Nausea and digestive health – Ginger has long been used in anti-nausea treatments. It is believed to help your stomach empty faster and aid digestion. Studies have also suggested turmeric can help prevent acid reflux. However, other studies have warned consuming too much turmeric can make nausea worse.
- Heart health – Inflammation is also associated with heart disease. Research has also suggested turmeric can help prevent or slow down the build up of plaque in the arteries, one of the most common causes of heart attacks.
- Weight loss – Limited studies have been carried out into this, but some recent research has found ginger may help with weight loss. However, the studies found two grams of ginger was needed to see benefits – far more than the shots I took contained.