Ginger May Boost Immune Response Against Bacteria, Study Finds

Life & Science

Can a Ginger Shot Ward Off a Looming Cold? Now There's Lab Evidence

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Temperatures are dropping, nights are growing longer, and colds are once again on the rise. For many, reaching for a ginger root—or even a concentrated ginger shot—has become a daily ritual. That burning sensation in the throat must be doing something good—right?

That's exactly what researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich set out to investigate. In their study, participants had to drink a liter of ginger tea on an empty stomach within 20 minutes.

The Findings

Afterward, scientists analyzed the participants' blood and detected gingerol, the pungent compound in ginger. This substance put immune cells on high alert, and the cells responded far more strongly to a simulated bacterial infection.

In large quantities—or highly concentrated doses—ginger can indeed help preemptively activate the immune system. At least in the lab, this effect was confirmed for bacteria. "It's possible this also works against viruses, but we've only proven it for bacterial infections so far," food chemist and study co-author Gaby Andersen told tagesschau.de.

What Ginger Actually Helps With

Current evidence suggests ginger may have antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Whether it can prevent a cold, however, remains unclear.

What is well-documented is ginger's effectiveness against nausea. The root is commonly recommended for motion sickness on ships, planes, and cars, and there's also evidence it may ease pregnancy-related nausea. (leo)

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