In this short article, we will answer the question “Is ginger ale good for you?” and will discuss its main ingredient: ginger.
Is ginger ale good for you?
Not a lot. Even though ginger has many health advantages, ginger ale is still considered a soft drink or soda, not healthy food. If you decide to drink ginger ale, it’s advisable to do so sparingly as part of a balanced diet.
The artificial ginger flavour is used in a lot of commercial ginger ales. Some also have a very little amount of added sugar and ginger.
What negative impacts might drinking ginger ale have?
- Bloating, gurgling, and enhanced gassiness may result after ingesting ginger ale.
- The main harmful component of ginger ale is the added sugar; it can increase body weight and visceral fat, cause dental caries, cardiac disease, overweight, type 2 diabetes, as well as other chronic illnesses.
- In healthy individuals, artificial sweeteners in ginger ale may cause metabolic problems and disrupt the ratio of good gut bacteria, resulting in alterations in metabolism that can result in type 2 obesity and diabetes.
On the other hand, you can get some of the advantages of ginger by drinking ginger ale. See what benefits the best component of ginger ale—ginger, of course—can provide.
What advantages does ginger have?
The following are ginger’s primary health advantages:
Enhance vomiting and nausea
Ginger has antiemetic effects that speed up stomach emptying and reduce nausea and vomiting that can occur during pregnancy or while receiving chemotherapy.
Treating and avoiding reflux disease
Strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ginger help prevent and treat gastritis and ulcers by reducing inflammation in the stomach. Additionally, ginger possesses antiemetic qualities that aid in stomach emptying and shield against reflux and inadequate digestion.
Sooth muscular pain
Ginger contains bioactive substances called cineole and borneol that play a significant analgesic role in reducing muscle discomfort.
Additionally, ginger has a calming and anti-inflammatory effect that helps those with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and arthritic pain.
Relieve your period discomfort
Consumed soon before or at the start of the menstrual cycle, ginger can help with cramp relief since it contains the analgesic chemicals cineole and sackcloth.
Help the body battle infections
Ginger is a fantastic alternative to help combat respiratory ailments including the flu, colds, asthma, and bronchitis since it contains bactericidal and antibacterial components.
Infections of the mouth and throat such as pharyngitis, tonsillitis, periodontitis, and gingivitis can also be treated with ginger.
Stability of blood pressure
The calming, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, vasodilator, and anticoagulant effects of ginger increase the flexibility and relaxation of the arteries, promoting circulation, and assisting in the regulation of high blood pressure.
Additionally, ginger blocks the angiotensin-converting enzyme, which is responsible for blood vessel contraction and lowers blood pressure.
Final thoughts
Ginger is a root that includes 6-gingerol and 8-gingerol, bioactive substances with thermogenic qualities that boost the burning of body fat and speed up metabolism, which is beneficial for weight loss.
Ginger, a strong anti-spasmodic, works to calm the muscles of the stomach, preventing nausea, vomiting, and poor digestion.
Additionally, ginger has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help it treat and prevent conditions including high blood pressure, reflux, and arthritis.
When is it not advisable to eat ginger or consume foods and drinks that contain this root, such as ginger ale?
In case of gallstones, ginger is not advised. Additionally, it should not be used by anyone who uses anticoagulants or has bleeding disorders because ginger can make bleeding more likely in these circumstances.
Ginger should only be consumed under a doctor’s supervision by those who use medications to manage their high blood pressure and diabetes since it can interfere with the effects of these drugs and result in low blood pressure and hypoglycemia.
The highest amount of ginger that should be consumed while pregnant is 1g per day, spread out over a maximum of 3 days. However, ginger shouldn’t be ingested right before labour because it can make bleeding more likely.
Ginger can have some negative effects, including stomach pain, an irregular heartbeat, diarrhoea, and sleepiness, when used in excess (more than 5 g per day).
Conclusion:
In this short article, we answered the question “Is ginger ale good for you?” and discussed its main ingredient: ginger.
References:
ARABLOU Tahereh et al. The effect of ginger consumption on glycemic status, lipid profile and some inflammatory markers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. 65. 4; 515-520, 2014
BODAGH Mehrmaz et al. Ginger in gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review of clinical trials. Food Science & Nutrition. 7. 1; 96–108, 2019
CHANG, J. S.; et al. Fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale) has anti-viral activity against the human respiratory syncytial virus in human respiratory tract cell lines. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 145. 1; 145-151, 2013
HASANI, Hossein; et al. Does ginger supplementation lower blood pressure? A systematic review and meta‐analysis of clinical trials. Phytotherapy Research. 1-9, 2019