Ginger

Ginger for weight loss

Ginger is one of the most commonly used herbs in the kitchen. In combination with coconut milk, ginger is a great basis for a Thai curry, but with its fresh, bold taste it’s also to be found in meat marinades, tea, cookies, ginger ale… Ginger already has a long standing reputation in folk medicine as a remedy for nausea and indigestion. It is sometimes called the ‘hot and dry’ herb, because it warms up the stomach and gets rid of a cold. The explanation for this can be found in the bioactive molecule of ginger, gingerol, which shows strong similarities to capsaicin. The latter is responsible for the stimulation of the heat senses when eating peppers.

Zingiber officinale

Ginger originates in Southeast Asia but is now found in all tropical and subtropical regions of Asia (50% of the world’s harvest comes from India), Brazil, Jamaica and Nigeria. The herb comes from the root of the Zingiber officinale. A unique characteristic of the root of the ginger plant is its light blue ring. This ring indicates the presence of zingibain, a powerful protein-splitting enzyme. If, in a fresh produce shop, you cut a root piece in half, you’ll often see this ring.

The active ingredients of ginger are essential oils 0.25% -3.3% (mono and sesquiterpenes) that are responsible for its fresh scent. The non-volatile active components are gingerol and shogaol (phenyl alkyl fetons 4-7.5%) and after conversion zingerone. These components include antioxidants that neutralise free radicals, that arise during the normal metabolism, through UV damage or by smoking.

Vitamins and minerals

Furthermore, you will find all kinds of vitamins (B1, B2, B6 and vitamin C), minerals (Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Phosphorus, Iron, Magnesium, Copper and Zinc), proteins (including zingiberene), carbohydrates and fibres in ginger. Ginger is also known to improve the absorption of nutrients. It increases the bioavailability of vitamins and minerals and is, as it were, a carrier for nutrients. Ginger does not only have healing properties but also bolsters your health.

Ginger extract

Ginger can be used in various ways: fresh, dried, preserved extract… Dried ginger has the strongest flavour and a significantly stronger effect than fresh ginger. Ginger extract, obtained from the combination of powder and ginger juice, contains at least 5% of the phenylalkylphetones and is the form with the strongest pharmacological action. The reason for this lies in the drying process. Gingerol is transformed into shogaol, by drying and heating up fresh ginger, and this shogaol also acts as an analgesic in addition to it’s anti-inflammatory action. Shogaol is also spicier than gingerol.

The third molecule responsible for the beneficial effects of ginger is zingerone. It is not present in fresh ginger but heating (drying or cooking) this molecule is formed from gingerol or shogaol. Zingerone has various pharmacological effects including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial properties and helps with nausea and diarrhea.

Ginger for weight loss

There are also indications that zingerone is a tool to assist you with weight loss. Studies have shown that zingerone increases the production of norepinephrine sensitive lipase and thus stimulates fat burning. In 2013, the effect of ginger extract was compared with a known weight loss drug in rats. This study showed that ginger has a positive effect on cholesterol, is effective in slimming and has no side effects. A more recent study also indicates that ginger extract works synergistically and strengthens the result of exercise during weight loss. Therefore using ginger for weight loss is a smart approach.