The Benefits of Ginger Chews

Ginger chews are made from pieces of real ginger root, which means they contain its natural active ingredients. While it has multiple benefits, ginger is best known for its ability to alleviate nausea.

According to a June 2019 article published by ​Foods,​ ginger has many different characteristics that benefit health, including antimicrobial, anticancer, antiobesity, antinausea, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antioxidant, antiemetic and cardiovascular and respiratory protective qualities.

Ginger can also help decrease pain and combat memory issues that often occur with aging, according to an April 2019 article published by ​Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B - Soil & Plant Science​.

Read more: What Are the Benefits of Ginger for a Flat Tummy?

A basic ginger chew consists of a slice of ginger root that is boiled in water to soften it and then coated in sugar. You can also find ginger chews flavored with a variety of ingredients, such as coffee, apples and peanuts.

Check the label on the chews you buy to see how much sugar they contain. According to the USDA, ginger chews have approximately three grams of sugar per piece.

In addition to ginger chews, other common forms of ginger include liquid extracts, tea, tablets and capsules.

Current scientific research supports the old-school advice to take ginger for an upset stomach. Its ability to relieve nausea is attributed to the way it expels intestinal gas and accelerates the movement of food out of your stomach, according to research cited by Herbal Medicine. Ginger significantly relieves nausea in pregnant people, according to a review of research published in the March 2014 issue of ​Nutrition Journal.​

Unstable atoms in the body, called free radicals, contribute to the development of a variety of diseases. Antioxidants, such as those contained in ginger, lessen or even prevent the destructive effects of free radicals in the body.

Ginger root's antioxidant capacity is surpassed only by pomegranate and some berries. While researchers haven't targeted the exact way it works, studies cited by Herbal Medicine show that ginger reduces inflammation and may relieve pain. These characteristics also contribute to its potential to prevent cancer.

According to a March 2015 article published by ​Gastroenterology Research and Practice, ​ginger and its components have been shown to be effective against gastric, pancreatic, liver, colorectal cancers and cholangiocarcinoma — bile duct cancer. The article also states that ginger is effective for treating chemotherapy-induced nausea.

​Read more:​ Benefits of Garlic & Ginger

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, ginger is believed to be generally safe when used as a spice. Ginger has benefits and side effects. Some of the negative side effects associated with ginger include heartburn, gas, bloating and nausea.

Be cautious about the number of ginger chews you eat because you won't know the amount of bioactive substances they contain. Since ginger chews are sold as candy, they carry the standard nutrition facts label, which shows calories and nutrients but does not itemize active ingredients.