Health shots have evolved beyond the original simple ginger shot, with options such as collagen, sea moss and lion’s mane finding their way onto the market, supposedly offering a range of benefits from improved skin to increased focus.

Despite their popularity, supermarkets are charging as much as £4.50 for 1 single 100ml shot. For many, this makes drinking them regularly unrealistic, leading to a surge in people searching for ‘health shot recipes,’ with Google searches up 207% in the last quarter.

For optimal health benefits, wellness shots are typically recommended 2-3 times per week, and in some instances it’s recommended taking one shot per day for consistent benefits. At £4.50 per shot, taking them 3 times a week adds up to £54 a month and if you go all in with one daily, you’re looking at an eye-watering £126 a month, or £1,512 a year.

That’s practically a fortnight in the Algarve, just for a daily swig of ginger and turmeric.

Lily Keeling, Registered Nutritionist and Recipe Development Manager at Green Chef, the leading nutritionist-approved recipe box, is calling time on the overpriced supermarket health shot and sharing how to make these at home.

“Health shots are a fantastic way to support the gut, brain, immunity and skin, but they shouldn’t be a luxury expense,” Lily says. “By making them at home, you’re not just saving money; you’re ensuring the ingredients are fresh, potent and tailored to your needs.”

Ginger

“Ginger shots are great for their anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants, contributing towards overall immunity, especially across the winter season, but they’re actually really easy to make at home and could be more effective than supermarket bought ones,” says Lily.

Lily comments, “To make a ginger shot at home all you need is 50g of fresh ginger, 1 tsp turmeric, a pinch of black pepper and the juice of 1 lemon. Simply blend the ginger, lemon and spices, this keeps more of the fibre in it.”

The cost of these DIY ginger shots is roughly 45p per potion vs £3.50 (on average) for a supermarket one.

Sea Moss

“This is the one to take if you’re looking for thyroid support and improved digestion due to the iodine and fibre content,” she says.

She explains, “The ingredients are 1 tbsp gold sea moss gel, 50ml pure aloe vera juice, and a squeeze of lime. To make at home, soak raw sea moss overnight, then blend with fresh water to create a gel. Take 1 tbsp of this gel and whisk it into the aloe and lime. It creates a thick, smooth texture that’s great for the digestive tract.”

While this is one of the more expensive health shots to make, DIY-ing it at home can save up to 70% on opting for store-bought ones.

Collagen

“Consumers are definitely pushing for increasing their collagen intake in 2026, and collagen shots are a very effective way to do this,” adds Lily.

She comments, “To make these at home you will need 1 scoop bovine or marine collagen peptides, 100ml cold-pressed orange juice, 1 tsp rosehip oil (optional). Simply mix the collagen powder with the juice and oil until fully dissolved.”

Batch making collagen shots at home in bulk can make significant savings, and often can create a more protein-rich shot vs supermarket offerings

Lion’s Mane

“Lion’s mane has become a very popular choice for consumers, with some finding them beneficial for improving their energy levels,” says Lily.

She notes, “You will need ½ tsp lion’s mane mushroom powder, 1 tsp raw cacao, a splash of oat milk and a drop of maple syrup. Treat this like a cold brew espresso and whisk the mushroom powder and cacao into the oat milk until frothy. The cacao acts as a natural vasodilator, helping the lion’s mane reach your system faster.”

This DIY version can cost as little as 80p per shot, a huge saving versus supermarkets and online retailers.