Fact-Check: The truth about ginger’s health benefits and cancer risk

CLAIM: Ginger is a powerful metabolism booster that helps reduce cancer risk, supports immunity, and aids digestion

FACT: Ginger provides health benefits supported by research, but terming it as the top metabolism booster or claiming it prevents cancer oversimplifies its impact

A thread on X, posted by Harry Psaros (@PittGuru), has highlighted the potential benefits of ginger, claiming that it reduces inflammation, balances blood sugar levels, supports immunity, aids in weight loss, improves metabolism, and may even help prevent cancer.

The post also warns against consuming ginger if you are taking blood pressure or blood-thinning medications, or have a bleeding disorder. The video attached to the post also cautions that individuals with gallstones should refrain from having ginger.

The tweet has gained 13.1 million views, 69,000 likes and 11,000 retweets.

What is the fact?

Research shows that ginger does have strong anti-inflammatory properties. A study has found that ginger's bioactive compounds, including gingerol and shogaol, exhibit strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, supporting immune modulation and reducing oxidative stress. But further research is needed to establish safe daily consumption guidelines and explore its potential in functional foods, the study notes.

Another study has found that ginger extract significantly reduced pain and stiffness in osteoarthritis patients, demonstrating its ability to mitigate inflammation. Similarly, its effects on blood sugar levels have been explored in studies like this. Ginger supplements significantly improved glycaemic control and oxidative stress markers in type 2 diabetic patients, with minimal side effects, making it a promising remedy for managing diabetes and reducing chronic complications. However, limitations such as a small sample size highlight the need for further research with larger populations and for extended durations.

As for weight loss, evidence from this study found that consuming a hot ginger beverage increased the thermic effect of food and reduced feelings of hunger in overweight men. However, the impact on weight loss is relatively modest and most effective only when combined with an overall healthy lifestyle.

Can ginger reduce cancer risk?

Claims about ginger’s potential cancer-preventing properties remain less substantiated. Laboratory studies, such as this, suggest that gingerol inhibited the growth of human colorectal cancer cells, but the experiment has so far only been carried out on animals. Clinical evidence in humans is limited, and no conclusions can be drawn about its effectiveness in cancer prevention.

"I have never come across any research-based evidence that proves that ginger can reduce cancer risk," Dr. TS Ganesan, professor of medical oncology at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu told First Check.

He continued: "This is completely false; one needs to do a long-term study ranging over 30-40 years to prove that daily ginger consumption can reduce cancer risk."

Thus, while ginger offers several health benefits backed by scientific studies, calling it the "No. 1 metabolism booster" or asserting its ability to prevent cancer is FALSE and misleading. There is insufficient evidence to conclusively support these claims.

(This article was first posted by First Check and re-shared by Deccan Chronicle as part of the Shakti Collective Fact Check initiative.)

https://www.deccanchronicle.com/fact-check/fact-check-claims-about-narayana-murthy-calling-for-limiting-gender-interactions-is-fake-1853270