Ingredients: Apple, orange, mango (7.5%), lemon, ginger root (4.5%), turmeric root (1.5%), acerola cherry powder, cayenne pepper powder, zinc lactate, seaweed-derived vitamin D3, antioxidant (ascorbic acid) )
Verdict: There’s plenty of vitamin C and D here, as well as ginger and turmeric, but again in such small amounts that it’s up for debate as to what benefits they offer. There’s room. It’s cheaper to buy fresh orange juice, which costs about a quarter of the price and has about the same amount of carbohydrates (10g/100ml), and take a daily vitamin D supplement.
Expected benefits
The benefits of each shot vary depending on the blend of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices.
“Many of the ingredients used are highly nutritious and, as a result, have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that reduce the risk of many common diseases, including infections, heart disease, cancer, and a variety of other conditions. “Inflammation, such as arthritis,” says Dr. Avery.
For example, beetroot shots have been shown to improve athletic performance and lower blood pressure. This is thought to be due to the high levels of nitrates in vegetables, which have anti-inflammatory properties and help dilate blood vessels, Dr. Avery says.
Research suggests that turmeric, one of the most commonly used ingredients in juice shots, may kill virus particles and help treat indigestion symptoms such as abdominal pain and bloating.
Ginger, another popular juice shot flavor, has anti-inflammatory properties and contains antioxidants that help manage levels of free radicals (compounds that damage cells when present in large amounts), which helps to improve immunity. It is believed to enhance the system.
Because the serving size is smaller, they contain less sugar than smoothies. For example, Waitrose Gut Health Juice Shots contain 9.4g per 100ml bottle, while high street smoothies can contain more than 40g.
A big problem is that blending or juicing fruits and vegetables reduces their nutritional value. This process destroys cell walls and converts naturally occurring sugars into “free” sugars. This sugar is absorbed more quickly by the body, so you should limit your intake. “This includes juice shots that contain sugar and other unhealthy additives, so it’s important to read the label carefully,” says Dr. Avery.
Also, crushing fruits and vegetables significantly reduces their fiber content, but some shots try to compensate for this by adding the fiber back. “Most people in the UK currently don’t get enough fibre, but dietary fiber is really important for gut health. Whole vegetables and fruit are a good source of nutrients,” she says.
“It’s always healthier to consume ingredients in their ‘regular’ form,” says Dr. Avery, but notes that frozen and canned options can also be part of a healthy diet.
Additionally, some juice shots use fruit juice concentrate (the sticky substance left behind when water is extracted from fruit juice), which may contain additives and sugar.
Others pack 10 times more vitamins than you actually need, even in small amounts. “[This] is not appropriate and overusing the product can have negative health effects,” says Dr. Avery.
Also, claims that they significantly strengthen our immune, gut, and brain health are difficult to substantiate. “Most of these products lack scientific evidence of beneficial effects,” says Dr. Berry.
“If these products have clinical trials to support their health benefits, they may lend a ‘helping hand’, but without evidence to support this, overall poor eating habits cannot be defeated.”
Furthermore, it comes at an eye-watering cost. “Juice shots are very expensive and prohibitive for many people,” Dr. Avery says. For example, Pret’s Ginger Shot 110ml costs £2.90.
Even people who care about their health enough to spend money on it may not get much out of it, she points out. “They’re being marketed to the ‘concerned population’, rather than the small group of people who might probably get some benefit but can’t afford the product,” Dr. Avery says.
“We’re almost overwhelmed by these random ingredients that are suggested to have health benefits. Wellness is more than spirulina.”
what to do instead
“You’re much better off nutritionally if you try to include at least five servings of fresh, frozen, canned, dried, and preferably non-juice vegetables and fruits in your daily diet,” Dr. Avery says.
“This provides you with a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are essential for good health and can also reduce the risk of inflammation.”
Frozen and canned foods are just as nutritious and more affordable. Baked beans also count toward your “5-a-day” total.
To boost your intake, include at least one or two vegetables with lunch or dinner, make leftovers into soups, add fruit to your breakfast cereal, and mix spices like ginger or turmeric into stir-fries and curries, says Avery. The doctor suggests.
“All of these ideas probably take a little more time and may not seem as convenient as juice shots, but we really need to think about our meals as a whole,” she added.
Written by Sam Rice
timing
Preparation time: 10 minutes
make
75ml shot x 3
Jamu is a traditional Indonesian juice drink highly valued for its medicinal properties. In fact, turmeric’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties are well-documented, and the gingerols found in ginger aid digestion. Add some citrus juice for flavor as well as a boost of immune-supporting vitamin C, and a little honey for sweetness. A pinch of salt adds electrolytes to help keep you hydrated, and a final grind of black pepper helps your body absorb curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric).
The recipe provided costs £1.45 (based on prices on the Tesco website – half of this is raw turmeric, which is quite expensive, but worth it!) and makes 3 shots, so 48p per shot – Much cheaper than buying at the store. thing.
