Does fresh ginger contain lead?
In this article, we will answer the question “Does fresh ginger contain lead?”, how to avoid lead exposure from spices, what happens when you eat too much ginger, and what are the health benefits of eating ginger.
Does fresh ginger contain lead?
No, fresh ginger does not contain lead. More precisely, the incidence of lead contamination is not common for ginger. However, the concentration of lead may be significant in candied ginger and ginger candy treats.
How to avoid lead exposure from spices?
Most people turn to spices to avoid putting too much fat and salt in their food for flavor. A study published in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice probed a link between spice consumption and lead poisoning. Therefore, you must be cautious even with the spices.
Testing and examining various consumer products showed that the chances of lead poisoning were higher in the spices bought overseas. More than 30% of the spice samples bought overseas exceeded the acceptable limit of lead, which is 2ppm.
Spices coming from Georgia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Morocco showed the highest incidence of surpassing the acceptable limit of lead. Overseas spices such as turmeric, hot pepper, chili powder, and paprika were most commonly contaminated.
The bottom line is that you should avoid imported spices to limit your exposure to lead poisoning. If you regularly consume spices such as turmeric, chili, and paprika, get your blood lead levels tested every year.
Does ginger contain cyanide?
| Antinutrients | White type | Yellow type |
| Cyanide | 1.520 ± 1.18 | 0.506 ± 0.17 |
| Tannin | 0.120 ± 0.05 | 0.260 ± 0.06 |
| Phytic acid | 20.18 ± 0.51 | 28.88 ± 0.73 |
What happens when you eat too much ginger?
Ginger does not hurt if you eat in moderation. It is packed with nutrients such as vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium.
However, excessive and compulsive consumption of ginger can upset your stomach and lead to heartburn, diarrhea, gas/burping. To keep the risk at bay, make sure you do not eat more than 5grams of ginger per day.
What do I need to know about the lead warning on my pickled ginger?
The high concentration of lead in the molasses has been linked to the soil where the sugarcane grows. Although some lead contamination occurs during the processing or manufacturing of molasses.
The high incidence of lead contamination in powdered ginger has also been linked with the soil where the ginger grows. The brine in the pickled ginger may also contain lead.
How much copper is in ginger?
| Nutrient value | % RDA | |
| Copper | 0.226 mg | 25% |
| Iron | 0.60 mg | 7.5% |
| Magnesium | 43 mg | 11% |
| Manganese | 0.229 mg | 10% |
How much zinc does ginger contain?
| Amount | Unit | |
| Potassium, K | 415 | mg |
| Sodium, Na | 13 | mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.34 | mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.226 | mg |
What are the health benefits of eating ginger?
Contains powerful antioxidants
The main bioactive compound or oil present in ginger is Gingerol. Most of the medical properties of ginger are attributed to gingerol.
Gingerol has excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It combats oxidative stress, improves digestion, relieves nausea and symptoms of the common cold such as flu.
Ginger can treat morning sickness
The effectiveness of ginger in treating nausea or morning sickness is well-known. Ginger works equally well for nausea caused by pregnancy and chemotherapy. Pregnant women should not take ginger without consulting their doctor.
May help with weight loss
According to studies, ginger reduces waist-hip ratio, hip ratio, BMI, and blood insulin levels, both of which increase the chances of obesity. The ability of ginger to reduce body weight may be attributed to its anti-inflammatory action. Moreover, ginger accelerates the rate of metabolism.
Can help with osteoarthritis
Ginger prevents osteoarthritis which is characterized by weak joints and subsequent joint pain and stiffness. Several studies have shown that eating ginger has helped reduce the symptoms of OA.
Lowers blood sugar and reduces the risk of heart diseases
Studies have shown that eating ginger reduces the fasting blood sugar level and improves the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in diabetics, both helpful in controlling diabetes.
Can help treat chronic indigestion
Ginger accelerates the stomach emptying, thus relieving the painful symptoms of indigestion. Studies have shown that ginger could help improve chronic indigestion and functional dyspepsia.
May reduce menstrual pain
Ginger has remarkable pain-relieving properties. According to a study, ginger is as helpful in relieving menstrual pain as the well-known pain relievers ibuprofen and mefenamic acid.
Conclusion
In this article, we answered the question “Does fresh ginger contain lead?”, how to avoid lead exposure from spices, what happens when you eat too much ginger, and what are the health benefits of eating ginger.
