Is Ginger Ale Good For You?

Is Ginger ale good for you? Ginger ale is a carbonated drink that is flavored with spicy ginger. Ginger ale is made by mixing carbonated water with sugar, high fructose corn syrup and natural/artificial ginger flavoring.

It also contains preservatives like citric acid or caramel color. The best way to describe ginger ale is that it is a carbonated beverage made with ginger root and a sweetener.

Some of the most popular types of ginger ale is:

• Regular Ginger ale which contains ginger, sugar, high fructose corn syrup and carbonation.
• Dry which has a spicier and drier ginger flavor.

Is Ginger ale good for you? Photo credit: iStock-bhofack2

Ginger root is known to have medicinal historical benefits particularly related to the digestive system. If you consume ginger root, it can help relieve nausea, upset stomach, stomach flu, migraines, morning sickness, chemotherapy, etc.

Ginger oil is considered a natural antioxidant that protects cells from damage that can lead to disease. There was a research study that found that a 250 mg of ginger powder supplement was as effective as a prescription drug for reducing migraine symptoms.

Research studies have shown that ginger can help reduce inflammation and support a healthy heart. One of things that is unhealthy about ginger ale is the added sugar in it. One single 12 ounce can of ginger ale contains about 36 grams of added sugar which is about 72% of the Daily Value based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All the research studies have shown that consuming a high amount of sugar can lead to chronic health issues such as obesity, dental cavities, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc. And that is the reason you want to consume ginger ale within moderation because of the added sugar content of it.

The Bottom Line is ginger ale is ok to drink as a beverage if you do it within moderation because of the added sugar.

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