Ginger

Ginger root is commonly used in cooking and has a history of use in herbal medicine too. It’s also used as a home remedy to treat indigestion and nausea, including morning sickness during pregnancy.

Two components of ginger, gingerol and zingerone, may help reduce inflammation related to several health conditions, including type 2 diabetes. Ginger consumption may also positively impact HbA1c (blood sugar control over 3 months) over time (24Trusted Source, 25Trusted Source, 26Trusted Source, 27Trusted Source, 28).

One study noted that when people with diabetes were given 1,600 mg of ginger daily for 12 weeks, their blood sugar control improved and inflammation levels decreased significantly compared with the control group (26Trusted Source).

Another study found that women with breast cancer who took ginger supplements had lower levels of the inflammatory markers CRP and interleukin-6 (IL-6) compared with a placebo group, especially when ginger supplementation was combined with exercise (27Trusted Source).

Up to 2 grams of ginger daily is safe, but higher dosages may have a blood-thinning effect. If you’re taking a blood-thinning medication, speak with a healthcare professional before supplementing with ginger beyond amounts that would typically be used in cooking (29Trusted Source).