Ginger Research -- What Science is Finding About Our Favorite Rhizome

Although commonly referred to as a root, it is actually a rhizome of the plant Ziniger officinale. This sort of thing is important to the science nuts that tell us what we know about the excellent effects of whole food supplements! Today we are looking at ginger, and how it has shown up in various forms in the scientific literature of the past few years.

Ginger could save Third World babies

Third World babies often develop fatal diarrhea, due to unhealthy water supplies and bacteria in food. However, ginger is showing up as a promising alternative to the condition which is currently treated by drug therapy. Zingerone is the compound that is likely responsible for the antibacterial effect, which kills E.coli -- it has been shown to kill around 25% of human pathogens. Ginger whole food supplements would be a safe and fairly cost-effective way to deliver ginger

Ginger treating chemotherapy nausea

Chemotherapy may work for many cancer patients, but some wonder whether life is worth living while undergoing chemo. Nausea, weight loss, headaches and inability to concentrate are some of the most common side effects. Ginger has been shown to combat the nausea, at least, and one study showed it actually to be more effective than current anti-emetic drugs like Zofran, Novaban, etc. Ginger whole food supplements containing 0.5g or 1g of ginger, taken three times daily, reduced nausea by around 40%.

Gingerol could help colon cancer

Gingerol is the compound that gives ginger its flavor, and is chemically similar to capsaicin, found in capsicums and hot chillies. Researchers at the University of Minnesota found that mice who were fed gingerol three times weekly had slower rates of colon cancer growth than those who were not. The same researchers are now conducting experiments that will be more clinically relevant -- for example, giving the mice gingerol only after their tumors hit a certain (detectable) size. There is plenty of gingerol in ginger whole food supplements, but synthesized versions are low in the natural compound.