What are the benefits of Ginger for Men?
Ginger benefits for men include the potential to inhibit prostate cancer cell growth and promote the death of prostate cancer cells. Ginger also has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is a common spice valued both for its culinary contributions and for its medicinal value. The root or rhizome is the portion of the plant that provides ginger health benefits.
Among one of the more frequent uses of ginger is to manage nausea. Ginger has been shown to be helpful in managing indigestion and in inhibiting nausea associated with conditions ranging from motion sickness to chemotherapy for cancer, including prostate cancer.
Ginger contains a number of bioactive ingredients, including gingerols, shogaols, and others. Although the individual ingredients have been tested for anticancer abilities, researchers are recognizing that the synergistic effect is more potent than single agents alone.
Therefore, ginger extract was the focus of the 2012 study published in the British Journal of Nutrition. This report is believed to be the first to evaluate the ability of ginger extracts to fight prostate cancer. The study involved adding ginger extract to a variety of prostate cancer cells as well as administering the extract to mice with prostate cancer.
When scientists examined the effect of ginger extract on prostate cancer cells, they found that ginger inhibited cell growth and helped cell suicide. In the mouse experiments, ginger health benefits included the ability of the spice to inhibit tumor growth and progression by approximately 56 percent. Also important was the finding that ginger extract did not cause toxicity in normal tissues.
How to use ginger
Ginger supplements are made from dried or fresh ginger root or from a steam process of the oil. You can find ginger extracts, tinctures, capsules, oils, and tea. Thus far, experts have established suggested doses of ginger only for conditions such as nausea, gas, and indigestion. To reap ginger health benefits, be sure to not take more than 4 grams of ginger daily, including from food. The suggested dose is 75 to 2,000 mg of standardized ginger (4% volatile oils or 5% compounds including gingerol or shogaol) in divided doses taken with food.
References
Karna P et al. Benefits of whole ginger extract in prostate cancer. British Journal of Nutrition 2012 Feb; 107(4): 473-84
University of Maryland Medical Center. Information on ginger health benefits
