Why Research Says Ginger Could Benefit People With Autoimmune Conditions

For this study, researchers wanted to assess the impact of ginger on inflammation, namely looking at white blood cells called neutrophils, and further, neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, known as NETosis. In the simplest of simple terms, when NETosis occurs, there's a cell death of neutrophils and the body is subjected to inflammation as a result.

As study co-author Kristen Demoruelle, MD, Ph.D., explains in a news release, "There are a lot of diseases where neutrophils are abnormally overactive," such as autoimmune diseases, which impact up to 10% of the world's population.

But for this study, when both mice and human subjects were given a ginger supplement, it helped to restrain NETosis. Participants took a 20 milligram ginger supplement every day, and after seven days, they had more of the chemical cAMP in their neurophils, which helped inhibit NETosis from running rampant.

"This is important because [ginger] is a natural supplement that may be helpful to treat inflammation and symptoms for people with several different autoimmune diseases," Demoruelle explains.

Along with adding more ginger to your routine, there are plenty of other ways to support a healthy inflammatory response in the body.

Diet plays a huge role in inflammation, which is why countless experts recommend figuring out which foods cause an undesirable response for you, and which ones don't.

It's also important to mind your gut health, as a leaky gut or one that's out of microbial balance can result in inflammation as well. Other inflammation triggers include environmental toxins, not getting enough movement, and even stress.

Luckily, when factors like your environment are out of control, there are plenty of quality supplements available to support a healthy inflammatory response. Here are our favorites—we recommend looking for one with turmeric and ginger, as both have been shown to have benefits for your immune system and a healthy inflammatory response.