Jess Translating Science

Type of article: mini feature

Reading time: 4 minutes

Jessica Desamero, PhD

From decorated gingerbread houses to people-shaped cookies, gingerbread has become a Christmas staple in many parts of the globe. What gives this confection its signature flavor is its warm spice blend, which mainly includes ginger. And because ginger has numerous health benefits, gingerbread can also potentially be a nutritional holiday treat. Let’s take a closer look at how.

Reviewing some health benefits of ginger

Ginger contains high amounts of vitamin C, vitamin B9, potassium and magnesium. Potassium aids in muscle movement and nerve function, while magnesium helps in physiological processes such as energy production. Its fiber content also aids in digestion and in regulating blood sugar levels.

Furthermore, ginger contains many bioactive compounds, each with their own pharmacological effects. Most notably, its main components, called gingerols, possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Gingerols may even play a role in cancer. One study found that gingerol inhibited the activity of leukotriene A4 hydrolase, an enzyme widely expressed in colorectal cancer. Another study found that 6-gingerol enhanced the number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, immune cells that naturally enter tumors to fight cancer. This, in turn, inhibited tumor growth in mice afflicted with several types of cancers, including melanomas, renal cell carcinomas, and colon carcinomas. Shogaols are another component of ginger with inflammation-reducing and anticancer properties. Preclinical studies have found that 6-shogaols inhibited white blood cells from infiltrating inflamed tissue and suppressed pro-inflammatory responses by suppressing certain inflammatory mediators like cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase.

In an umbrella review of 24 systematic reviews, researchers evaluated the therapeutic effects of oral ginger consumption on human health and assessed the quality of existing evidence. They found the strongest evidence for the findings that ginger treats nausea in pregnant women, relieves pain in patients with osteoarthritis, and improves glycemic control. Ginger also had a positive effect on blood pressure, painful menstrual cramps, and chemotherapy-induced vomiting. Future randomized controlled and dose-dependent clinical trials with more patients and standardized ginger products would be needed to better establish the clinical relevance of these outcomes, but there is clear potential in ginger being beneficial to human health.

Research studies on consuming gingerbread

According to several studies, consuming gingerbread specifically has also led to health benefits. In a 2017 observational study, Allaert and a team of researchers in France evaluated the effects of consuming magnesium and vitamin B-enriched gingerbread on the cognitive well-being of 185 adult men and women. They found that consuming gingerbread significantly reduced stress, improved mood by 26%, and increased sleep quality by 23%. In a 2024 laboratory study, Shawir and a team of researchers in Egypt evaluated the effect of ginger-fortified bread consumption on the liver and renal function of rats with chronic liver and kidney damage. They found that consuming this bread improved rats’ lipid profiles by lowering the concentration of “bad” cholesterol (LDL and VLDL) in the blood. Bread consumption also decreased levels of thyroid gland hormone, improving gland function. Overall, this study showed that kidney and liver function improved in these diseased rats and suggests that adding ginger to bread as part of our daily diet may also be beneficial.

And according to a 2024 study, using more nutrient-rich ingredients may further enhance the health effects of gingerbread. In this study, researchers made three sets of gingerbread cookies: one with 100% whole wheat flour, one partially substituted with quinoa flour, and one partially substituted with defatted apple seed flour (DASF). DASF is a high-protein, high-fiber, mineral-packed, and antioxidant-packed flour made by collecting and crushing apple seeds, removing oil from them, and milling the resulting product into a powder. After several quantitative analyses of the gingerbread cookies, they found that enriching flour with DASF increased crude fiber content and improved their antioxidant properties.

Conclusion

Many more studies need to be done to determine the true extent of how consuming ginger and gingerbread benefits human health. But from the research done so far, ginger and gingerbread seem to help keep your body healthy. Most notably, their antioxidant properties can help protect your cells from oxidative damage. As long as the gingerbread cookies are eaten in moderation and don’t have too much added fat and sugar, these holiday treats can be both sweet and nutritious!

Header Image Source: Pexels.com (Credit: Thuanny Gantuss, Creative Commons license)

Main References

1. Edo, G.I., Igbuku, U.A., Makia, R.S. et al. Phytochemical profile, therapeutic potentials, nutritional composition, and food applications of ginger: a comprehensive review. Discov Food 5, 25 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00280-2
2. Crichton M, Davidson AR, Innerarity C, Marx W, Lohning A, Isenring E, Marshall S. Orally consumed ginger and human health: an umbrella review. Am J Clin Nutr. 2022 Jun 7;115(6):1511-1527. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqac035. PMID: 35147170; PMCID: PMC9170469.
3. Allaert FA, Schueller R, Herpin F, and Rigaudier F. Observational Study of the Effect of Consumption of a Magnesium- and B Vitamin-Enriched Gingerbread on Cognitive Well-being (Mood, Stress, and Sleep). Vitamins and Minerals 6, 2 (2017). https://www.hilarispublisher.com/open-access/observational-study-of-the-effect-of-consumption-of-a-magnesium-and-bvitaminenriched-gingerbread-on-cognitive-wellbeing-mood-stres-2376-1318-1000162.pdf
4. Shawir, S., Eltayip, A., & Lotfy, T. (2024). Protective Effect of Pan Bread Fortified with Ginger on Liver and Renal Function of Hepatotoxic and Nephrotoxic Albino Rats. Egyptian Journal of Chemistry, 67(13), 361-369. doi: 10.21608/ejchem.2024.257594.9039
5. Pejic, L.D., Milincic, D.D., Rabrenovic, B.B. et al. Characterization of gingerbread cookies enriched with quinoa and defatted apple seed flour: nutritional, antioxidant and sensory properties. Food Measure 18, 8782–8793 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11694-024-02844-9