Also known as gari, this garnish is sweet, spicy and often
served as a palate cleanser. Ginger, or Zingiber officinale, is a root that's
native to Asia. For thousands of years, it has been used in traditional
medicine and cooking. Pickled ginger, which is steeped in vinegar and spices,
has a variety of nutritional benefits.
Low in
Calories
One
health benefit of pickled ginger is its low calorie content. Two tablespoons,
or 28 grams, has just 20 calories. Additionally, because pickled ginger has a
strong flavor, you don’t need much to enjoy it – so eating this garnish won’t
pile on the calories too quickly.
Not a Bit of Fat
According
to the United States Department of Agriculture, pickled ginger has 0 grams of
total fat. It is also free of saturated fat, an unhealthy fat that should make
up not more than 5 to 6 percent of your daily caloric intake. A diet high in
saturated fat can increase your blood cholesterol levels.
No Added Sugar
Pickled
ginger also has 0 grams of added sugar, so it won’t contribute unnecessary
calories. Women shouldn't consume more than 24 grams of added sugar each day, and
men need no more than 36 grams. This is equivalent to 6 and 9 teaspoons,
respectively. Because added sugar offers nothing but extra calories, eating too
much can lead to weight gain.
Proven Health Benefits
of Ginger
- Contains
gingerol, a substance with powerful medicinal properties. ...
- Ginger
can treat many forms of nausea,
especially morning sickness. ...
- Ginger
may reduce muscle pain and soreness. ...
- The anti-inflammatory effects can help
with osteoarthritis. ...
- Ginger
may drastically lower blood sugars and improve heart disease risk factors.