Is Crystallized Ginger Good For You?

Looking at the beige, knobby exterior of the ginger root, you might not assume it could impart a sweet flavor. However, if you cook strips or small chunks of ginger in sugar syrup and coat it in granulated sugar, it takes on a sweet taste without changing the spicy interior common to ginger. While the added sugar is not good for you, if eaten in moderation, this candy-like root can offer a range of nutritional and medicinal benefits.

Basic Nutrition

A 1.2-oz. serving of crystallized ginger contains 120 calories. The majority of these calories come from the sugar, as the same size portion of uncrystallized ginger has 26 calories. Despite the added sugar, this ginger contains no fat, and it also won't add protein to your meal plan. You will, however, get 31.2 g carbohydrates, or 9.6 to 13.8 percent of the carbs you should eat every day.

Vitamins and Minerals

Crystallized ginger serves as a good source of vitamin A. Each serving of ginger provides 12 percent of the daily recommended intake of this vitamin, which makes crystallized ginger a smart choice for eye health. The vitamin A in ginger augments protection against age-related eyesight degeneration and may enhance your night vision. You'll take in 7 percent of the iron you need each day as well as 5 percent of the calcium. With these minerals, crystallized ginger may protect you against anemia and osteoporosis.

Sugar

Too much sugar in your diet can lead to generalized inflammation in your body and encourages tooth decay; a serving of crystallized ginger contains 13.2 g of sugar -- this amount should not damage your health as long as you monitor the amount of sugar in the remainder of your diet. The American Heart Association recommends limiting your sugar intake to no more than 25.2 g sugar for women and 37.8 g per day for men.

Nausea and Vomiting

Eating a piece of crystallized ginger may satisfy your sweet tooth while reducing nausea and vomiting while you're pregnant. A study published in the August 2010 issue of the "International Journal of Women's Health" notes that up to 90 percent of pregnant women experience these problems during the first trimester, and it can cause serious health problems. Consuming ginger is an inexpensive remedy that can keep morning sickness under control.

Liver Disease

Including crystallized ginger in your diet may help ward off a condition known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Evidence in the January 2011 edition of the "World Journal of Gastroenterology" suggests that this condition may benefit from the antioxidants present in ginger. It may treat or prevent this liver disease; the researcher recommends clinical trials to confirm the theory.