Is Crystallized Ginger Healthy?

Crystallized ginger, also known as candied ginger, makes for a sweet treat, but it also provides a range of health and nutritional benefits. You can eat it a snack, chop it for inclusion in desserts or use it to make a flavorful tea. Note, however, that while crystallized ginger is relatively healthy, the sugar content of this food may make it inappropriate for some diets.

Fat-Free Food

A 1/4-cup serving of crystallized ginger contains no fat, which makes it a good choice for satisfying your sweet tooth without introducing the fat present in other candies, such as chocolate or caramels. You should include fat in your diet -- 20 to 35 percent of your daily caloric intake is an ideal range -- but it is better to choose foods with higher nutritional value and less sugar than crystallized ginger from which to get the fat you require.

Source of Vitamin A

Crystallized ginger provides 12 percent of the daily recommended intake of vitamin A based on a 2,000-calorie diet. The vitamin A you get from this candied root is good for your immune system as it boosts the ability of white blood cells to fight infection. It also builds up mucus membranes and skin, both of which prevent harmful bacteria from entering your body. Vitamin A available in crystallized ginger is also important for your eyesight, especially your night vision.

Provides Iron and Calcium

Eat crystallized ginger to slightly boost your iron and calcium intake -- one 1/4-cup serving of this food contains 7 percent of the iron and 5 percent of the calcium your body needs each day. This makes crystallized ginger useful for improving the production of red blood cells and increasing bone density. In doing so, you are less likely to develop anemia or osteoporosis.

May Fight Aging

Including crystallized ginger in your diet may help you fight the effects of aging. A study published in the 2011 issue of "The American Journal of Chinese Medicine" indicates that it wards off generalized inflammation in the body as well as oxidative damage that contributes to aging. Researchers theorize that ginger may have a place in your diet as a natural protection against disease and other medical conditions that occur as you get older.

Considerations

While crystallized ginger is good for you in many ways, it is quite high in sugar -- ginger pieces are often coated in sugar syrup and then rolled in granulated sugar. A 1/4-cup serving of this ginger has 13.2 g of sugar, which accounts for a considerable portion of the daily limit suggested by the American Heart Association: 25 g per day for women and 37 g per day for men. Too much sugar in your diet may trigger tooth decay and weight gain.