Ginger And Gout

Is Ginger Good For Gout?

Ginger belongs to the Zingiberaceae family and is consumed in several forms, including dried, fresh, powdered, juice, and oil.

Traditionally, ginger has been used as a culinary and therapeutic spice used in Indian cooking.

Ginger isn’t just for adding flavour to your favorite dishes though—it also packs a powerful punch of health benefits.

Ginger has long been used in traditional medicine, as it has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and pain-relieving properties due to its active compounds, gingerol and shogaol.

Ginger and gout have a long history together.

Evidence On The Effect Of Ginger On Gout 

Gout is characterized by elevated uric acid blood levels, usually caused by a high purine diet. Unhealthy eating patterns and a sedentary lifestyle are seen as the primary causes of gout.

People who have uric acid crystals in their joints experience acute pain and swelling in the affected regions. Ginger is well known in alternative medicine as being effective as a natural gout treatment.

Gingerols and shogaols, two anti-inflammatory compounds are present in ginger root. The uric acid crystals in the blood are suppressed by these compounds resulting in less gout flare ups.

Numerous clinical studies on ginger and gout have demonstrated that ginger root may improve the mobility, discomfort, and swelling of gout patients.

• According to research published in “Annals of Biological Research,” Ginger had potent anti-inflammatory effects and reduced clinical symptoms of gout in mice almost as effectively as the gout medicine indomethacin.
• In a 2019 study, the University of Gondar in Ethiopia found that ginger extract was effective in reducing gout symptoms as well.
• In a study by the University of Maryland Medical Center, ginger was found to be as effective at reducing inflammation and relieving pain associated with gout as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Ginger can also be a safer alternative to NSAIDs, which can have dangerous side effects.
• According to a review paper that appeared in the “International Journal of Preventative Medicine” in April 2013, ginger root includes a variety of anti-inflammatory compounds, including gingerols and shogaol.

Ginger also contains vitamins such as vitamin B6, magnesium, and potassium.

Vitamin B6 is essential for the production of energy and helps to break down uric acid, reducing inflammation.

Magnesium is important for muscles and nerve function, helping to reduce gout pain.

Potassium helps to regulate fluid balance in the body, which can help people with gout by decreasing swelling.

Other Potential Health Benefits Of Ginger

Anti-Cancer Properties

The substance gingerol, which is abundant in raw ginger, is thought to have anti-cancer capabilities. According to 2015 research, ginger root may be useful in treating several gastrointestinal cancers, including colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, and liver cancers. It could also be beneficial in treating ovarian and breast cancer.

Anti-Diabetic Properties 

Ginger may offer potent anti-diabetic capabilities. In a 2015 research, 2g/day of ginger powder reduced fasting blood sugar by 13% in diabetic patients.

Anti-Microbial Properties

Infection risk can be reduced with gingerol, a substance found in ginger. Ginger extract can stop a variety of germs from growing. It is particularly efficient against the oral germs associated with gingivitis and periodontitis, according to 2008 research.

Support Immune System

Daily ginger consumption may enhance the immune system, according to research. This might help people recover from other diseases like the common cold or flu as well as prevent chronic disease.

Prevent Nausea And Morning Sickness

Ginger root seems to be quite useful in preventing nausea. It could aid those having some types of surgery in reducing nausea and vomiting. 1.5g of ginger could work best for morning sickness and other pregnancy-related nausea according to research.

Aid In Weight Loss

Ginger root may have a positive impact on weight reduction in a variety of ways, including its capacity to boost calorie burn or decrease inflammation. According to a review of the research published in 2019, using ginger supplements dramatically decreased body weight.

Reduce Menstruation Pain

Ginger does appear to be beneficial for painful menstruation. For the first three days of their menstrual cycle, 150 women were told to take either ginger or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAID) in a 2009 research. Ginger was able to lessen discomfort just as well as the NSAIDs.

Treat Chronic Indigestion 

It is thought that indigestion (Recurrent pain and discomfort in the stomach) is largely caused by delayed stomach emptying. It’s interesting to note that ginger has been demonstrated to accelerate stomach emptying 

People with indigestion were given ginger capsules or placebo in 2011 research. After an hour, the soup was served to everyone.  In those who got ginger, the stomach emptied in 12.3 minutes. 16.1 minutes were needed for individuals who received the placebo. 

Improve Lipid Profile

An increased risk of heart disease has been related to high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol. In a 2013 research of 60 hyperlipidemic individuals, the 30 who got 5g of ginger pasted powder daily reported a reduction in their bad cholesterol levels of 17% over the course of three months.

Enhance Brain Function

A 2012 investigation of healthy women found that regular use of ginger extract increased working memory and reaction time. Numerous studies on animals have also shown that ginger can help prevent age-related decreases in cognitive function.

Side Effects Of Ginger 

Ginger for gout has no negative side effects in low doses. The likelihood of negative effects rises with high dosages of ginger, greater than 4g/day. 

Consuming it might result in:

• Gas and bloating
• Burning in mouth 
• Diarrhea 
• Stomach disturbance
• Heartburn
• Skin irritation if applied to the skin 

Conclusion

Ginger gout benefits are plentiful and with minimal downside.

For thousands of years, people have employed the ancient root of ginger for gout. And it has now been demonstrated to be a successful alternative therapy for many other painful diseases.

However, we’re only concerned with hard scientific evidence here and the lack of human clinical trials on ginger and gout is a concern. Most of the trials outlined here were conducted were on mice. So with that in mind;

Our Goutometer gives ginger 6/10.

Our favourite supplements for gout are still tart cherry and turmeric for their numerous human clinical trials.

If you want to consume more ginger for gout reasons, you should speak with a doctor first.