Compounds in ginger and chili peppers found to prevent cancer

On their own, both ginger and chili are delicious spices with well-known health benefits.

Ginger is used in traditional medicine to relieve common health complaints like digestive issues and nausea. On the other hand, chili peppers help boost your mood, metabolism and immune system.

Both ginger and chili peppers can also improve blood circulation.

According to an animal study, combining certain compounds from both ginger and chili pepper can help prevent cancer. Researchers discovered that the likelihood of developing lung cancer was significantly reduced when animal subjects were given these compounds together.

The study was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Preventing tumor growth with ginger and chili pepper compounds

Study findings showed that 6-gingerol in ginger and capsaicin, a chili pepper compound, work well together to effectively prevent cancer.

This is because 6-gingerol binds to capsaicin to create a new, extremely strong compound that can help inhibit tumor-growing cell receptors in the body.

For the study, researchers fed mice prone to lung cancer either 6-gingerol or capsaicin alone or in combination for several weeks. All of the mice given only the capsaicin developed tumors in their lungs while only half of the 6-gingerol-only mice did.

Meanwhile, only 20 percent of the mice that received the combination of both capsaicin and 6-gingerol developed cancer.

The study shows that when it comes to fighting cancer, combining 6-gingerol and capsaicin is more effective than taking only ginger or chili pepper. Combining the two forms a powerful compound that binds to cell receptors that would otherwise trigger tumor growth.

Health benefits of ginger and chili pepper

It’s amazing that combining two already beneficial spices like ginger and chili pepper can help prevent cancer.

When cooking at home, you can give dishes a nutritious flavor boost by using either fresh or dried ginger and chili peppers.

But that’s not all. Detailed below are more health benefits of ginger and chili pepper.

Ginger health benefits

In traditional and alternative medicine, ginger is used to aid digestion, reduce nausea and help fight the flu and common cold.

Ginger’s unique fragrance and flavor are due to its natural oils, the most important of which is gingerol. As the main bioactive compound in ginger, gingerol is responsible for many of ginger’s medicinal properties.

Data suggest that gingerol has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. It can help reduce oxidative stress, which is often caused by having an excess amount of free radicals in the body.

Ginger helps treat many forms of nausea

The data have proven that ginger is very effective against nausea.

Ginger can help ease nausea and vomiting in people undergoing certain types of surgery. It may also help with chemotherapy-related nausea.

According to research, ginger is most effective when treating pregnancy-related nausea, such as morning sickness. According to a review of 12 studies that included a total of 1,278 pregnant women, taking 1.1 to 1.5 grams of ginger can significantly reduce symptoms of nausea.

While ginger is considered safe to consume, consult your doctor before taking large amounts of ginger when pregnant. Take note that pregnant women who are close to labor or who have had miscarriages should avoid ginger since it is contraindicated with a history of vaginal bleeding and clotting disorders.

Ginger helps promote weight loss

Data from studies conducted on both humans and animals suggest that ginger can help promote weight loss.

In a 2016 study involving 80 women with obesity, findings showed that ginger could help reduce body mass index (BMI) and blood insulin levels. High blood insulin levels are often linked to obesity. The volunteers were given relatively high daily doses of two grams of ginger powder for 12 weeks.

According to a 2019 literature review, ginger supplementation can significantly reduce body weight, the waist-hip ratio and the hip ratio of overweight or obese individuals.

In a 2019 literature review of functional foods, researchers reported that ginger had a very positive effect on obesity and weight loss.

The evidence supporting ginger’s role in helping prevent obesity is stronger in animal studies.

According to one study, rats and mice given ginger water or ginger extract consistently saw decreases in their body weight, even when they were also fed high-fat diets.

Experts believe that ginger’s ability to influence weight loss may be related to certain mechanisms, like its potential to help increase the number of calories burned or reduce inflammation.

Ginger helps with osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a common health problem that involves degeneration of the joints in the body. It can result in debilitating symptoms like joint pain and stiffness.

According to a literature review, individuals who used ginger to treat their osteoarthritis saw significant reductions in pain and disability. Mild side effects, like dissatisfaction with the taste of ginger, were reported.

The volunteers received between 500 milligrams (mg) and one gram of ginger each day between three to 12 weeks. A majority of the volunteers had been diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Another 2011 study revealed that a combination of topical ginger, mastic, cinnamon and sesame oil can help reduce pain and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Ginger helps improve brain function and prevent Alzheimer’s disease

Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation can accelerate the aging process. These two factors are also believed to be among the key drivers of Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline.

Data from some animal studies suggest that the antioxidants and bioactive compounds in ginger can help curb inflammatory responses that occur in the brain.

Research also suggests that ginger can help enhance brain function directly. According to a 2012 study of healthy middle-aged women, taking ginger extract daily can help improve reaction time and working memory.

Additionally, several animal studies have found that ginger can help fight age-related decline in brain function.

Chili pepper health benefits

Chili peppers have a burning taste, but consuming this fiery spice also offers several health benefits.

Chili peppers are full of vitamins and minerals such as:

• Copper – Copper is an essential trace element. You need copper for strong bones and healthy neurons.
• Potassium – Potassium is an essential dietary mineral with many bodily functions. It can help reduce your risk of heart disease when consumed in adequate amounts.
• Vitamin A – Red chili peppers are high in beta carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A.
• Vitamin B6 – Vitamin B6 belongs to the family of B vitamins. It has a crucial role in energy metabolism.
• Vitamin C – Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that is needed for wound healing and immune function.
• Vitamin K1 – Vitamin K1 or phylloquinone is essential for blood clotting and healthy bones and kidneys.

Chili pepper helps promote weight loss

Obesity is a serious health condition that increases the risk of many chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease.

Some studies have shown that capsaicin can promote weight loss by reducing appetite and increasing fat burning. According to research, consuming at least 10 grams of red chili pepper can significantly increase fat burning in both men and women.

Capsaicin from chili pepper can also help reduce calorie intake. Data from a study on 24 people who consume chili regularly showed that taking capsaicin before a meal helped reduce calorie intake.

When combined with other healthy lifestyle strategies, consuming red chili peppers or capsaicin supplements regularly can help aid weight loss.

Give various dishes a tasty and nutritious flavor boost by using cancer-fighting spices like ginger and chili pepper.

Visit Superfoods.news for more informative articles about ginger, chili peppers and other nutritious vegetables.

View the video below to know more about the health benefits of ginger.

This video is from the Natural Remedies channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Boost brain health and relieve nausea and stomach issues with ginger, a versatile superfood.

Chili pepper, a traditional remedy for rheumatoid arthritis.

Research shows fish oil supplements boost the effectiveness of cancer treatments.

Sources include:

NaturalHealth365.com

Healthline.com 1

Healthline.com 2

Healthline.com 3

GoodHousekeeping.com

Brighteon.com