Is it true that … Ginger strokes stimulate immunity? | Life and style

Do Do you find yourself buying tiny bottles of buried gloop with the first signs of a cold? You are not alone. Ginger blows have become a trend in recent years, thanks to the perception that they are good for immunity. But are they?

Dr. Emily Leeming, dietitian at King's College in London, says it is unlikely that they are a miracle remedy. She says that there was only a small amount of research that shows that gingerol extracts, polyphenols active in ginger can help reduce certain inflammation markers (an immune response), but the evidence is quite low.

“I could not find a limited number of studies with a very small number of participants, published in low-quality journals, and they tend to use concentrated extracts from active ginger, rather than fresh juice like this in stores,” explains Leeming. With the juices she wonders: “Is this active component in sufficient quantity?

It signals a small medium quality study, in particular, which focused on people in extreme circumstances: male endurance runners on a treadmill, which has received dried ginger in the same quantity as you will get in a placebos of v juice juice v. “They found that there were lower levels of post-experience inflammation, but these results could not be the same Inflammation in the disease, for example, or for people who are not extreme athletes. “

Most importantly, with inflammation, Leeming says: “No food will be a quick solution for your immune system.” Inflammation can only be lowered by having a coherent, healthy and balanced diet, doing the exercise, doing a good night's sleep and managing stress levels. A daily ginger stroke could contribute slightly, but there are easier and cheaper ways to have a more proven impact on your immunity.

“If you want to take ginger fire, there is no harm, and there could be a slight advantage,” she adds. “But maybe it is better to spend this money on whole foods, such as bays or cooked grains, which will help you keep your fiber and feed your intestinal microbiome, which acts to support your immune system.”