It’s been known for quite some time that ginger comes with a host of health benefits, particularly those relating to the digestive system. Past research has shown ginger to have anti-inflammatory properties, as well as glucose-sensitizing, antihypertensive, and stimulatory effects on the gastrointestinal tract. In the latest study, published earlier this year in the journal Metabolism, researchers at Columbia University set up a randomized crossover trial to determine the effect of consuming powdered ginger in a hot water beverage during a meal. Blood samples were taken before and after the meal, along with energy expenditure levels to gauge changes in metabolism. Subjects were also asked hourly to rate feelings of fullness. What the researchers found was that not only did the subjects who consumed the ginger beverage report higher levels of fullness and consequently eat less at their meal than the control group, they also experienced a significant increase in metabolism afterward, indicating a significant effect of ginger on the thermic effect of food, also known as thermogenesis, or fat burning.
