Ginger is a common household remedy for nausea and vomiting. It's also been used in traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory. Despite the fact that some anti-inflammatory compounds are healthy for your heart, however, there's no evidence that ginger helps lower triglycerides. Nor is there any evidence that it raises them.
Ginger
Ginger is common in foods and as an herbal remedy. Its characteristic heat -- and many of its medicinal properties -- come from the molecule zingerone, which has a structure similar to that of the spicy molecule capsaicin in hot peppers, and the molecule piperine from black peppercorn. According to Drs. Penny Le Couteur and Jay Bureson in their book "Napoleon's Buttons," zingerone binds to pain receptors, which leads to the sensation of heat or burning in the mouth.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are fats. In the diet, they're an important source of energy and also provide building blocks for certain cellular molecules, like the phospholipids that make up cell membranes. If you eat too many triglycerides in the diet, however, you can end up with too many triglycerides in the bloodstream. This isn't healthy for your heart, explains the American Heart Association, and increases your risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Ginger And Triglycerides
Ginger has virtually no effect on your triglyceride levels, either in the cells or in your bloodstream. Ginger is quite low in fat, so it doesn't increase the triglycerides in your bloodstream. Neither, however, is there any scientific evidence that it lower your bloodstream triglyceride levels. You should talk to your doctor if you have concerns about your triglyceride levels, or if you are interested in using ginger as an herbal therapy.
Lowering Triglycerides
The best way to lower your blood triglyceride levels is to modify your diet and lifestyle. Diets lower in overall fat -- and particularly diets that don't contain large quantities of animal or processed fat -- help lower blood triglycerides. This has a positive effect on cardiovascular health. Exercise also helps improve heart health, and can produce the "good" cholesterol that helps clean out your arteries and reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.
References
- "Napoleon's Buttons"; Penny Le Couteur and Jay Bureson; 2004
- American Heart Association: Triglycerides
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