Ginger: More Than an Herb

Ginger is good for more than adding flavor to foods and teas. Preliminary studies show that ginger root supplements may reduce inflammation of the colon, in turn decreasing the likelihood of developing colon cancer.

While additional research is necessary before public recommendations are made, a new University of Michigan study found that intestinal inflammation in people who took ginger supplements for 28 days fell by 28 percent compared to those who did not take the supplements. Previous studies have linked chronic colon inflammation to cancer, suggesting that easing inflammation could reduce risk of the disease.

Previous studies have found that taking aspirin regularly may also reduce inflammation of the colon. However, regular use of aspirin can have major side effects, such as kidney damage, ulcers or internal bleeding. Ginger, on the other hand, is not toxic to the stomach.

More About Ginger

Ginger is an herb usually used in teas, Asian dishes and sweet treats such as gingerbread and ginger snap cookies. The amount of ginger found in a supplement is about 20 grams of raw ginger root, well above the amount one would normally consume in food.