Ginger: Health Benefits & Side-Effects (2024)

FAQs

What are the negative side effects of ginger? ›

It is rare to have side effects from ginger. In high doses it may cause mild heartburn, diarrhea, and irritation of the mouth. You may be able to avoid some of the mild stomach side effects, such as belching, heartburn, or stomach upset, by taking ginger supplements in capsules or taking ginger with meals.

Eating ginger every day may help lower "bad" or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in the body. In one study, taking 5 grams of ginger a day for almost 5 months was linked with lowering LDL cholesterol an average of 30 points.

Health Benefits of Ginger

Gingerol, a natural component of ginger root, benefits gastrointestinal motility ― the rate at which food exits the stomach and continues along the digestive process. Eating ginger encourages efficient digestion, so food doesn't linger as long in the gut. Nausea relief.

Ginger may help relieve nausea and vomiting and aid digestion . Antioxidants and other nutrients in ginger root may help prevent or treat arthritis, inflammation, and various types of infection. Ginger may also reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer, and other health problems.

Stay on the safe side and avoid use. Children: Ginger is possibly safe when taken by mouth for up to 4 days by teenagers around the start of their period. Bleeding disorders: Taking ginger might increase your risk of bleeding. Heart conditions: High doses of ginger might worsen some heart conditions.

Consuming foods and drinks with antioxidants, like ginger water, can help prevent and fight the negative side effects of ROS. One study found that that ginger could prevent or slow down kidney failure.

You can add crushed ginger root to your meals, eat it raw or take ginger water first thing in the morning. Note that while ginger aids in weight loss, you must complement it with good nutrition and sufficient exercise.

by Drugs.com

Over 60 drug interactions are reported with ginger, and may include anticoagulants like warfarin, aspirin, or other blood thinners and pain medicines like morphine. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication.

Eat it raw or cook it—both are healthy: Research suggests that heating raw ginger (i.e., in cooking or making tea) reduces its ability to scavenge certain types of free radicals and increases its ability to scavenge other types—likely due to the conversion of gingerols to shogaols.

Dry ginger contains concentrated form of the nutrients available in ginger, making it a better option for various health problems.

How quickly does ginger reduce inflammation? ›

Ginger was shown to reduce inflammation when taken in high doses for four weeks.

Ginger seems to aid digestion and saliva flow. Studies found that taking ginger could ease nausea and vomiting in some pregnant women. But pregnant women should be careful with ginger. Some experts worry that it could raise the risk of miscarriage, especially in high doses.

Recent studies have also been reported the curing effects of ginger on diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart attack and it was also found that ginger therapy is more effective in detoxification of cadmium and mercury toxicity (Egwurugwu et al. 2007; Vitalis et al. 2007).

Ginger is safe to eat daily, but experts recommend limiting yourself to 3 to 4 grams a day — stick to 1 gram daily if you're pregnant. Taking more than 6 grams of ginger a day has been proven to cause gastrointestinal issues such as reflux, heartburn and diarrhea.

Ginger as an important dietary agent which possesses carminative effect, decreases pressure on lower esophageal sphincter, reduces intestinal cramping, and prevents dyspepsia, flatulence, and bloating (Ali et al., ²⁰⁰⁸; Chrubasik, Pittler, & Roufogalis, ²⁰⁰⁵; Lohsiriwat, Rukkiat, Chaikomin, & Leelakusolvong, ²⁰¹⁰).

Fortunately, ginger is a food that has all the elements needed to prevent and treat liver problems. Experts suggest that ginger supplementation represents a new treatment strategy for NAFLD by improving the body's antioxidant activity, reducing inflammation and insulin resistance.

Several studies in both humans and animals have shown that ginger consumption can lower blood pressure levels in certain ways. Ginger acts as a natural calcium channel blocker and ACE inhibitor. Meanwhile, calcium channel blockers and ACE inhibitors are both medications used to treat high blood pressure.

“The takeaway is if you are considering using ginger supplementation, talk to your physician or endocrinologist first,” Al Bochi says. “We don't want a situation where you could end up with low blood sugar — that could affect your health. If you're using it in your everyday cooking, that's fine.”