Ginger: 10 Ways This Herb Improves Digestion

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Ginger:  10 Ways This Herb Enhances Digestion

Ginger is one of my all-time favorite superfood herbs that I recommend to nearly every client I have ever worked with for its powerful ability to improve our digestive function and immune system.  Superfoods such as ginger are foods and herbs that have a unique concentration of nutrients that synergize together to boost potential.

These foods are typically loaded with a combination of critical fatty acids, antioxidant phytonutrients and essential amino acids.   Ginger is a classic example of this as it has compounds with health benefits that go far beyond what can be studied at this time.

Ginger is used throughout the world in countries such as China, Japan, India, Greece, Caribbean countries, England and the USA. It is made into teas, ginger ale, beers, bread, snap cookies and biscuits. Almost every culture has historically used it for its powerful ability to enhance immunity, improve digestion and reduce inflammation.

This incredible superfood herb is 13th on the antioxidant list boasting an impressive ORAC score of 28,811. Ginger is composed of several volatile oils that give it it’s characteristic flavor and odor; zingerone, shogaols, & gingerols. These oils are powerful anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic agents (1).  In addition, it inhibits cancer cell formation while firing up our body’s own inborn ability to destroy the cancer cells formerly present (2, 3, 4).

Ginger Improves Digestive Function

Ginger has classically been used to improve the digestion process. Nine different substances have been found that stimulate serotonin receptors in the gut which provides benefits to the gastrointestinal system. This reduces gut related inflammation and enhances nutrient absorption.

Ginger is classified as a carminative (reducing intestinal gas) and an intestinal spasmolytic (soothes intestinal tract) while inducing gut motility. Ginger is known to reduce fever related nausea, motion sickness, and feelings of “morning sickness.” Additionally, it helps aid in the production of bile, making it particularly helpful in digesting fats (5, 6, 7).

If you are dealing with digestive challenges, I highly encourage trying out ginger in your diet and health routine.  Using some ginger tea on a daily basis is a great way to begin.  We also have a fantastic de-inflaming ginger-ale recipe at the bottom of this article.

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Ginger Provides Pain Relief:

Ginger is also an important part of a de-inflaming, natural pain-relief program. One compound called 6-gingerol has been shown to significantly inhibit the production of a highly reactive nitrogen molecule, nitric oxide, that quickly forms a dangerous free radical peroxynitrite.

Additionally, ginger helps to protect the bodies stores of glutathione (the super antioxidant and free radical destroyer) (8, 9).  Due to its effect on glutathione and nitric oxide, ginger has been shown to protect the brain and nervous system from degenerative stress (10).

Ginger is also very high in potassium which aids in electrical energy production and detoxification. It is a great source of manganese which protects the lining of the heart blood vessels and urinary tract.  Ginger contains silicon which enhances skin, hair, teeth & nails. It helps assimilate calcium and reduces inflammation in the bone tissue aiding the development of strong bones and teeth.

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Functional Uses for Ginger:

Personally, ginger is something I recommend for a majority of my clients to use on a regular basis.  This includes using ginger in teas and grating the fresh root on salads and meats and in green juices.  Sometimes, I recommend supplementing with detox products that have this herb as it helps to aid in digestive function and liver detoxification.

Ginger helps stimulate digestive juices such as hydrochloric acid from the stomach and bile from the liver and gallbladder.  This is why it is good to have ginger on or with your largest meals of the day.  The Asian culture has used ginger in many of their dishes and you can even find pickled ginger with grocery store sushi packs.

I recommend grating fresh ginger on meat, salads and stews.  You can also use dry, powdered forms if you are unable to access fresh ginger.  It is quite pungent so use it mildly and it will provide you with excellent health benefits.

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De-Inflaming Ginger Ale

The Europeans developed ginger ale many years ago and it was thought to be health tonic that would benefit a wide variety of ailments.  That is until the 20th century when it became highly processed and full of sugar and artificial flavorings.  Traditional ginger ale was simply fermented ginger tea.  The fermentation process activates ginger’s full nutritional potential and it produces enzymes and probiotics for a powerful digestive health formula.

My de-inflaming ginger ale uses coconut water which is rich in electrolytes and low in fructose.  The sugar in the coconut water provides the nourishment for the good microbes to flourish.  As they metabolize the sugar they produce B vitamins and organic acids that give the drink it’s natural effervescence and characteristic flavor.  You should be able to find a coconut water kefir starter called Inner Eco at your local health food store.

2 Tbsp. of Coconut Water Kefir
1-2 cups of coconut water
2-4 oz. of fresh ginger grated
Combine all ingredients and let sit and ferment for 24 hours to provide an amazing, probiotic enriched soda alternative.

HomemadeGingerAle

Supplemental Usage

Ginger has powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties and is very effective in a blend of complementary supplements for a variety of health conditions.  One of the key areas my team uses ginger for is to help the gut and reduce Candida and other opportunistic microbes such as H Pylori.

Our product Candida Elim features a bioavailable along with oregano, turmeric, olive leaf and caprylic acid.  This is a fantastic product to support gut health and reshaping of the microbiome.

We also use ginger in combination with curcumin, boswelia, rosemary extract, systemic enzymes and bioflavonoids in our Inflam Defense.  This combination of compounds is powerful for reducing inflammation in the body.

If you are dealing with chronic or acute pain conditions, degenerative joints or have elevated inflammatory markers on your lab testing than I would highly recommend the Inflam Defense product.

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Inflammation Crushing Ebundle

The Inflammation Crushing Ebundle is designed to help you improve your brain, liver, immune system and discover the healing strategies, foods and recipes to burn fat, reduce inflammation and Thrive in Life!

As a doctor of natural medicine, I have spent the past 20 years studying the best healing strategies and worked with hundreds of coaching clients, helping them overcome chronic health conditions and optimize their overall health.

In our Inflammation Crushing Ebundle, I have put together my very best strategies to reduce inflammation and optimize your healing potential.  Take a look at what you will get inside these valuable guides below!

Sources For This Article Include:

1. Park M, Bae J, Lee DS. Antibacterial activity of [10]-gingerol and [12]-gingerol isolated from ginger_rhizome against periodontal bacteria.  Phytother Res. 2008 Nov;22(11):1446-9.  PMID:  18814211
2. Rahmani AH, Shabrmi FM, Aly SM. Active ingredients of_ginger as potential candidates in the prevention and treatment of diseases via modulation of biological activities. Int J Physiol Pathophysiol Pharmacol. 2014 Jul 12;6(2):125-36. eCollection 2014. Review. PMID:  25057339
3. Baliga MS, Haniadka R, Pereira MM, D’Souza JJ, Pallaty PL, Bhat HP, Popuri S. Update on the chemopreventive effects of_ginger and its phytochemicals.  Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2011 Jul;51(6):499-523 Review.  PMID:  21929329
4. Kundu JK, Na HK, Surh YJ Ginger_derived phenolic substances with cancer preventive and therapeutic potential.  Forum Nutr. 2009;61:182-92. PMID:  19367122
5. Haniadka R, Saldanha E, Sunita V, Palatty PL, Fayad R, Baliga MS. A review of the gastroprotective effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). Food Funct. 2013 Jun;4(6):845-55. Review.  PMID: 23612703
6. Palatty PL, Haniadka R, Valder B, Arora R, Baliga MS. Ginger_in the prevention of nausea and vomiting: a review.  Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2013;53(7):659-69.   PMID: 23638927
7. Ali BH, Blunden G, Tanira MO, Nemmar A. Some phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological properties of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe): a review of recent research.  Food Chem Toxicol. 2008 Feb;46(2):409-20.  PMID: 17950516
8. Ippoushi K, Azuma K, Ito H, Horie H, Higashio H. [6]-Gingerol inhibits nitric oxide synthesis in activated J774.1 mouse macrophages and prevents peroxynitrite-induced oxidation and nitration reactions.  Life Sci. 2003 Nov 14;73(26):3427-37.  PMID: 14572883
9. Jeena K, Liju VB, Kuttan R. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of essential oil from ginger.  Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2013 Jan-Mar;57(1):51-62.  PMID:  24020099
10. Yao J, Ge C, Duan D, Zhang B, Cui X, Peng S, Liu Y, Fang J. Activation of the phase II enzymes for neuroprotection by ginger active constituent 6-dehydrogingerdione in PC12 cells.  J Agric Food Chem. 2014 Jun 18;62(24):5507-18.  PMID:  24869427

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Dr. Jockers

Dr David Jockers is passionate about seeing people reach their health potential in mind, body and spirit. He is the host of the popular “Dr Jockers Functional Nutrition” podcast and the author of the best-selling books, “The Keto Metabolic Breakthrough” and “The Fasting Transformation.”

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  1. I love ginger, but a few years ago I developed sensitivity to it: I would get skin rush, upset stomach, and diarrhea after eating it. This lasted a few years and now I can ginger again but I don’t understand why my body reacted to it in this way. Any ideas?

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