Breaking Research: Ginger Burns Calories

A while back I wrote a brief post about the benefit of ginger as a natural alternative to anti-inflammatory medication. Truthfully, this effect is just one in a range of benefits that make ginger an ‘uber herb’ and a necessary addition to any diet.

Evidence suggests that ginger consumption also has anti-hypertensive, glucose-sensitizing and stimulatory effects on the gastrointestinal tract. However, an upcoming study from the Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia University also intends to add enhanced thermogenesis and reduced feelings of hunger to ginger’s portfolio.

The researchers conducted a study that assessed the effects of a hot ginger beverage on energy expenditure in overweight men. To assess this, a randomized crossover study was used which measured resting state energy expenditure (calories burned doing nothing) at and for 6 hours after consumption of a breakfast meal with / without 2g of ginger powder dissolved in hot water. The scientists also assessed the participants’ feelings of fullness hourly.

The study found that the men burned more energy after consuming ginger with their breakfast. In fact -

Energy expenditure rose by 43 calories in the group that drank the ginger drink

In their discussion, the researchers wondered whether ginger may have had a greater effect had it been paired with a fatty food, explaining that the body absorbs ginger better when combined with fat.

Naturally, further studies need to confirm these findings. However, for me - the potential of ginger to play a role in weight management only adds to it’s impressive profile.

Ginger Supplementation Tip:

While powdered ginger root was used by the researchers for the purpose of this study, consideration could be given to the purchase of ginger extract, with a minimum of 5% standardized gingerols as a dietary supplement. The method for extracting the ginger ensures that the proportion you receive in a single dose will be stronger than you could manage with the use of the root alone.

Reference:

Mansour, M.S., Ni, Y.M., Robers, A.L., Kelleman, M., Roychoudhury, A., & St-Onge, M.P. (2012).Metabolism, 24, ePub ahead of print.