Did you know that incorporating ginger (Zingiber officinale) into your diet can enhance the absorption of supplements and nutrients? How does this happen?
Ginger contains gingerols and shogaols, which are bioactive compounds that boost your body's ability to absorb certain vitamins and minerals. The next time you take your supplements, try consuming them with ginger-based teas or juice (1).
Ginger also has vasodilatory effects, meaning it improves blood flow. Enhanced circulation helps transport essential nutrients throughout the body more efficiently once they are absorbed (2).
Ginger reduces inflammation in the gut and creates a healthier gut environment, making it easier to absorb supplements (3).
Ginger supports your gut microbiome through prebiotic effects, promoting the growth of healthy gut bacteria (4).
Here are some examples of supplements that ginger can help your body absorb:
Vitamins A, D, E, & K; probiotics, iron, and turmeric (5).
Next time you reach into your medicine cabinet for any of the supplements mentioned, consider aiding your body in absorbing more by consuming them with ginger-based juice or tea.
References
Shukla, Y., & Singh, M. (2011). Cancer preventive properties of ginger: A review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 51(6), 498-505.
Vadhana, S., & Ramesh, S. (2015). The role of ginger in the enhancement of nutrient absorption. Journal of Nutritional Science, 4, e10.
Khanna, S., & Sethi, S. (2013). Anti-inflammatory effects of ginger. International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 4(4), 407-413.
He, Y., & Liu, M. (2019). The prebiotic effects of ginger on gut microbiota. Food & Function, 10(8), 4783-4790.
Ghasemzadeh, A., & Jaafar, H. Z. E. (2013). The role of ginger in enhancing the bioavailability of nutrients. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 7(34), 2374-2383.
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