Ginger is a valuable and versatile herb. This massive new review of the research shows just how versatile and valuable it is.
This umbrella review included 24 previously published systematic reviews. It found that ginger significantly reduces pain and that it is as effective as the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with all of their side effects. Compared to placebo, ginger significantly reduced the pain of osteoarthritis.
When it comes to heart health, ginger significantly reduces systolic and diastolic blood pressure, significantly lowers triglycerides and total cholesterol, while increasing the heart healthy HDL-cholesterol.
When if comes to blood sugar, compared to placebo, ginger significantly improves insulin resistance, fasting blood glucose, and, most importantly, HbA1c, the most important marker of long-term diabetes and blood sugar control.
As for weight loss, ginger reduces weight, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and body mass index.
Ginger is best known for fighting nausea. Studies of pregnant women showed that ginger significantly reduced nausea incidence and severity compared to placebo. It also significantly reduces postoperative nausea and acute vomiting from chemotherapy.
The data showed that ginger is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.
This umbrella review shows the many benefits of ginger, with the greatest evidence being for nausea during pregnancy, pain from osteoarthritis and glycemic control.
An earlier systematic review of 109 controlled studies (Nutrients 2020;12(1):157) also found evidence for ginger’s benefit for nausea and digestion; pain, including
painful periods, migraine and arthritis; diabetes; obesity; asthma and acute respiratory disease; and for increasing breast milk.
Am J Clin Nutr. June 7, 2022;115(6):1511-1527.