Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Five slices of ginger contains:¹

9 calories

0.1 grams of fat, sugar, sodium

0.2 grams protein

0.2 grams of fiber

1% vitamin C and magnesium

Ginger is a tropical plant that belongs to the Zingiberacceae family.¹¹ It has been used for centuries as a spice and food supplement as well as in CAM herbal therapy, particularly with patients experiencing nausea from pregnancy, motion sickness, or chemotherapy.¹¹ Ginger works by blocking the effects of serotonin, a chemical produced by the brain and stomach when a patient is nauseated.¹² In a recent study, ginger was equally as effective in relieving motion sickness as Dramamine.¹² In a double blind study of women being treated for breast cancer, 500 mg of powered ginger was administered twice a day for three days. This benefited those patients experiencing nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy.¹¹ During pregnancy, approximately 70-80% of women experience nausea and vomiting.13 Many new studies have taken a therapeutic approach to treat pregnancy induced sickness. Ginger has a long history of pharmaceutical application, especially in China, Japan, and India.¹³ According to the results, ginger is a simple, accessible and convenient approach to gestational nausea.¹³

Orally, studies have demonstrated that gingerol, a compound in ginger, poses both antiviral and antifungal agents that promote salivary flow and reduce oral candidiasis.⁶

Ginger has an excellent safety profile. The most common side effect was gastrointestinal irritation.⁸ Due to the pungent nature of ginger, high doses may cause heartburn. Patients on blood thinners, such as warfarin, should avoid ginger due to its anti-coagulate properties.⁸

In culinary use, ginger may be used fresh in hot teas, winter soups, or grated and pressed to enhance the flavor of fish and stir-fries.

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