Ginger

What Is Ginger? Ginger Health Benefits Ginger is a common folk treatment for Ginger seems to aid digestion and But pregnant women should be careful with ginger. Some experts worry that it could raise the risk of Ginger seems to help with nausea caused by Ginger does seem to help with There's strong evidence that ginger may ease • • Muscle and • But more research is needed to know for sure. Lab and animal studies have found that ginger may, theoretically: • Lessen swelling • Lower • • Protect against • Prevent Clinical evidence shows evidence that ginger may help lower blood sugar and Some people apply ginger compresses to the Optimal doses of ginger have not been set for any condition. Quality and active ingredients in Ginger Nutrition Two teaspoons of ginger has 4 calories. The root doesn’t provide many vitamins or Ginger Natural Sources Ginger is a common spice and added flavoring. Many people drink ginger teas or soft drinks. Ginger is a common ingredient in chai Ginger Risks Side effects. In small doses, ginger has few side effects. High doses of ginger -- more than 5 grams a day -- increase the chances of side effects. Ginger on the skin may cause a Eating or drinking it may cause: • • • Upset stomach • Risks. Ginger may raise the risk of bleeding. If you have a bleeding disorder, it may not be safe. Always tell your doctor about herbal medicines you take, including ginger Interactions. If you take any The FDA does regulate SOURCES: Fundukian, L.J., editor. The Gale E...

Ginger adds a fragrant zest to both sweet and savory foods. The pleasantly spicy “kick” from the root of Zingiber officinale, the ginger plant, is what makes ginger ale, ginger tea, candies and many Asian dishes so appealing. What is ginger good for? In addition to great taste, ginger provides a range of health benefits that you can enjoy in many forms. Emma Slattery, a clinical dietitian at Johns Hopkins Medicine, talks about all the ways ginger can add flavor to your food and support your well-being. Health Benefits of Ginger “Ginger is fantastic,” says Slattery. “It’s not just delicious. 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. Encouraging stomach emptying can relieve the discomforts of nausea due to: • Chemotherapy. Slattery, who works with patients receiving chemo for cancer, says ginger may take the edge off post-treatment nausea, and without some of the side effects of anti-nausea medications. • Pregnancy. For generations, women have praised the power of ginger to ease “morning sickness” and other queasiness associated with pregnancy. “Even the American Academy of Obstetrics and Gynecology mentions ginger as an acceptable nonpharmaceutical remedy for nausea and vomiting,” Slattery says. • Bloating and gas. Eating ginger can cut down on f...

When taken by mouth: Ginger is likely safe. It can cause mild side effects including When applied to the skin: Ginger is possibly safe when used short-term. It might cause skin irritation for some people. Special Precautions & Warnings: Pregnancy: Ginger is likely safe when eaten in foods. It is possibly safe when taken by mouth as medicine during pregnancy. It might increase the risk of bleeding, so some experts advise against using it close to the delivery date. But it appears to be safe to use for morning sickness without harm to the baby. Talk to your Children: Ginger is possibly safe when taken by mouth for up to 4 days by teenagers around the start of their period. Surgery: Ginger might slow Moderate Interaction Be cautious with this combination• Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with GINGER Ginger might slow blood clotting. Taking ginger along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding. • Phenprocoumon (Marcoumar, others) interacts with GINGER Phenprocoumon is used to slow blood clotting. Ginger can also slow blood clotting. Taking ginger along with phenprocoumon might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your phenprocoumon might need to be changed. • Warfarin (Coumadin) interacts with GINGER Warfarin is used to slow blood clotting. Ginger can also slow blood clotting. Taking ginger along with warf...

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Ginger, which comes from a flowering root plant, especially provides a variety of great health benefits. Found first in Southeast Asia, the spice has been used in Eastern medicine practices since the 9th century, and is also a staple of Asian, Indian and Caribbean cuisines. By appearances alone, ginger doesn’t look like a body booster. When you’re eating ginger, you’re eating the root (called the rhizome), which resembles a smaller sweet potato or even a gnarled tree. But ginger is both delicious and highly nutritious. Dietitian Candace O’Neill, RD, LDN, shares the multiple health benefits of ginger and explains why it packs a powerful punch. Pain relief Fresh ginger boasts a potent compound called gingerol, which includes antioxidant properties and reduces inflammatory enzymes. As a result, ginger is “beneficial for Dried ginger also contains anti-inflammatory compounds, but gingerol changes form when heated into a different compound that’s not as effective. Interestingly, O’Neill says ginger’s been linked more to long-term pain relief rather than immediate pain relief. “When you take over-the-counter pain medication, it helps in an instant. Researchers studying the effects of ginger found the spice has a delayed effect. In a few days, people may anecdotally say, ‘You know what, I feel like I’m in less pa...

Isaac Winter is a fact-checker and writer for Real Simple, ensuring the accuracy of content published by rigorously researching content before publication and periodically when content needs to be updated. Highlights: Helped establish a food pantry in West Garfield Park as an AmeriCorps employee at Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center. Interviewed Heartland Alliance employees for oral history project conducted by the Lake Forest College History Department. Editorial Head of Lake Forest College's literary magazine, Tusitala, for two years.

Ginger not only adds delicious flavor to food — it’s also full of nutrients. People have been using the root for cooking and healing for thousands of years. Ancient writings from Rome, Greece, China, and Arab countries all describe ginger’s uses as a medicine. It was especially popular in Asian medicine as a treatment for stomach issues, including nausea and diarrhea. Other traditional medical uses for ginger include treating muscle and joint pain, Today, people still consider ginger a natural way to soothe an Defining Ginger and Understanding What It’s Good for Ginger is a tropical flowering plant that originally grew in Southeast Asia but is now widely available from growers around the world. It’s classified as a member of the Zingiberaceae family, making it a close relative of Zingiber officinale, which is thought to come from the Sanskrit name for the spice ( singabera). The leafy plant grows to about three feet tall and produces clusters of greenish-purple flowers. Ginger’s root or rhizome is the part used as a spice or healing aid. Depending on the variety, the inside of the root can be yellow, red, or white. It’s harvested by pulling the entire plant out of the soil, removing the leaves and cleaning the root. Ginger can be eaten fresh, dried and stored as a spice, or made into tablets, capsules, and liquid extracts. There’s about 2 percent of essential oil in the root, which is used in the cosmetic industry as a fragrance in soaps and beauty products. (2) There are ...