A Golden Root
1. A Powerful Antioxidant
Gingerol and gingerol compounds (among other things such as it’s flavanols) are a unique and powerful piece of ginger’s potency, especially through the scavenging of free radicals [3,4,5].
Antioxidant effects have a broad spectrum impact on the body and ginger’s antioxidants syngergize with other supportive elements across the body. It’s not the anti-oxidant effect alone that makes ginger such an ageless dietary prize, but they are a pervasive element of the herb’s potential. [6]
2. Digestive Support
Ginger has been used in as a digestive support for millenia – historically recognized as a “carminative” in western herbalism [7] – and indeed, modern science has explored ginger’s gastric bounties.
It is commonly used to support with gastric issues like constipation, dyspepsia, belching, bloating, gastritis, epigastric discomfort, gastric ulcerations, ad indigestion [8] through a variety of functions including supporting gastric emptying [9] and ulcer protection [6,10],
3. Nausea Relief
Ginger is oft prescribed by western [11] and eastern [12] doctors, home herbalists alike [13] as a remedy for nausea.
Not only a home remedy for travel sickness and pregnancy, it’s even prescribed for post-op and chemotherapy nausea! [14,15,16,17]
4. Supports Metabolism Health
Aside from aiding digestion in general, ginger has a number of beneficial effects on the broader metabolism.
There is evidence to support ginger’s value as a weight loss aid that fights obesity through thermogenesis, increase in lipolysis, suppression of lipgenesis, and appetite control. [18]
It also has a direct anti-hyperglycemic effect that counteracts diabetes [19,20]. Additionally, it may help counteract the damage of hyperglycemia on the brain in those with diabetes via its anti-oxidant impact[21]. It may also support the digestion and metabolizing of high fat diets [22].
It seems the impact of ginger on the metabolism and weight is multifaceted and complex [22].
5. Anti-Inflammatory
Ginger is used as a dietary supplement for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis [6] and studies have shown decided promise indicating it’s effectiveness at reducing pain from chronic [23] and acute [24,25] inflammation. These anti-inflammatory effects are far reaching, and alongside the anti-oxidant effects have broad spectum influence [22].
6. Anti Cancer Support
Ginger has been studied it’s anti-carcinogenic potential including 6-gingerol and 6 shogaol’s role in suppression of cancer development and metastasis, as well as induction of apoptosis. [22,26,27,28,29,30]
7. Heart health
Ayurvedic medicine sees ginger as a tool for combating heart disease and supporting the heart [31,32,33], and indeed studies show it can help regulate cholesterol levels [34,35]. It may be that this is most effective for regulating conversion of dietary cholesterol [36].
8. Prevents Infections
Ginger has been shown effective as both an anti-bacterial and anti-viral.
There’s evidence to indicate part of it’s heralded anti-ulcer activity is due to it’s inhibition of helicobacter pylori growth among other things [37].
Ginger is often used in Chinese and Ayuervedic cold remedies [38], and has been shown to have action against human respiratory viruses [39,40]
Ginger constituents have also been shown to be effective in combating periodontal bactria that cause cavities [41].
9. Menstrual Symptom Support
As part of its anti-inflammatory and even analgesic effects, ginger has long been recommended as a home remedy for women suffering from painful cramps, and also nausea [42]. Indeed, ginger compares to ibuprofen and mefenamic acid (both NSAIDs) even in a double blind clinical trial [43] and out preforms a placebo [44]. In these studies individuals took ~1000 grams of ginger powder spread out over the course of a day.
