Is Ginger Ale Good For You 2024? Types, Health Benefits & Side Effects

Ginger ale soda is a simple beverage, and it also alleviates nausea. A 12-ounce can of ginger ale has 32 grams of sugar in it. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends no more than 24 grams of sugar per day for women and 36 grams per day for men.

Canada dry ginger ale is no better in sugar content. But given the fact that ginger ale alleviates nausea, is such a small benefit worth noting? What about side effects?

 This article addresses ginger ale, the types, benefits, and potential side effects. That way, you can take soda with ginger flavor, knowing more about it.

Types Of Ginger Ale

Ginger ale is quite a popular drink. It’s worth noting that it comes in several types of ginger ale, including:

Regular

Regular ginger ale is a broad term that you can use to describe commercial soft drinks and traditional drinks. Both contain varying amounts of fresh ginger root but differ in terms of other ingredients. Most commercial ginger ale manufacturers use high fructose corn syrup, carbonated water, flavorings, and preservatives.

But, the traditional one is a healthier ginger ale fit for consumption. You can enjoy all the benefits of ginger without worrying about additives.

Diet

A diet ginger ale simply means it doesn’t contain any added sugar. Unlike the other sugary drinks, manufacturers opt to use artificial sweeteners in this ginger ale.

Still, the ginger ale contains ginger flavor and carbonated water that makes soft drinks.

Dry

Dry ginger ale is a manufacturers’ marketing tactic to sell a spicier drink. This spicier option requires sourcing the ginger root in a specific way to make a ‘drier’ version of commercial ginger ales.

Some even opt to use more artificial ginger flavors to add more spice to the drink. The drier ginger flavor has a stronger ginger taste and can alleviate morning sickness.

These are the three types of ginger ale. You can take them to reap the important health benefits of ginger. But, the type you like depends on your tastes and preferences.

Health Benefits Of Ginger Ale

Ginger ale is a simple drink. It’s not a type of healthy drink, but it does have health benefits worth noting. Some people see it as a better form of ginger supplementation.

Ginger has been around for quite some time and has amazing benefits^[4].

Find Relief From Nausea

People who experience nausea and morning sickness find it hard to keep anything down. Nausea isn’t only an indicator of morning sickness. It can also be a symptom of an upset stomach, chemotherapy, or migraines.

Drinking commercial ginger ales may help you feel much better^[5]. This tends to work because of the compounds in the fresh ginger^[6]. They include shogaols and gingerols readily available in fresh ginger.

May Improve Heart Health

One symptom of poor heart health^[7] is high blood pressure, which is a precursor to cardiovascular disease.

Ginger ale may improve heart health as it helps lower blood pressure.

Caffeine-Free Drink

Other soft drinks have caffeine as a common ingredient. But ginger ale doesn’t have caffeine which makes it a better option.

Instead, manufacturers use ginger extract to make a caffeine-free carbonated beverage.

May Reduce Inflammation

Ginger ale may have anti-inflammatory effects thanks to the natural ginger. It benefits^[8] your joints^[9] and brain. Ginger ale can help relieve stiff joints and improve mobility.

May Result In Antioxidant Effects

Ginger contains ginger oil which is a great source of antioxidants. The antioxidant content in ginger ale can benefit your body^[10].

But, this might diminish in a highly-processed carbonated beverage.

May Help Alleviate Migraines

Ginger powder extract is quite effective when it comes to acute migraine treatment, according to a study^[11] that showed it’s more effective than taking prescribed medication. In another study^[12], patients found relief from migraines after placing ginger powder underneath the tongue.

Ginger Vs. Ginger Ale

As indicated above, ginger carries many health benefits. It’s also worth noting that ginger ale isn’t a healthy drink. This is a type of carbonated beverage containing ingredients such as nonnutritive sweeteners like added sugar or high fructose syrups. These artificial sweeteners have no benefit to the body.

Since ginger ale contains only one or a few natural ingredients, it’s best only to consume a little at a time. The added sugar, carbonated water, and nonnutritive sweeteners do more harm than good.

Potential Side-Effects Of Ginger Ale

It’s better not to consume too much ginger ale.

Some possible side effects you might encounter when you take ginger ale consistently include:

Increased Gassiness And Bloating

Drinks with carbonated water tend to make you gassier and more bloated. You might encounter gassiness and bloating when you take ginger ale.

In addition, there are more consumed nonnutritive sweeteners in diet ginger ale. When you consume large amounts of nonnutritive sweeteners, you can experience bloating^[13].

 Added Sugar

Ginger ale isn’t a healthy drink, and the primary reason is high amounts of added sugar. Research shows that consuming too much sugar can harm your health. The sugar or high fructose content leads to weight gain, among other side effects.

Weight gain can be a precursor^[14] to other chronic diseases like high blood pressure. Apart from that, you can also encounter dental cavities due to the high sugar content.

Nonnutritive Sweeteners

Diet ginger ale contains nonnutritive sweeteners that can negatively affect your metabolism.

For instance, taking too much of the drink can diminish the level of beneficial bacteria in your intestinal tract. Such occurrences can cause obesity or type 2 diabetes.

How To Choose Suitable Ginger Ale

There are 3 types of ginger ale, and it’s important to pick the right one for you. Always check the ingredients of the drink as you select the best one. Still, it’s worth noting that all ginger ale at the store contains nonnutritive sweeteners, natural or artificial ginger, and carbonated water.

All these ingredients can lead to weight gain and other side effects listed above. You can drink it plain or mix it with other drinks like apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. When you add lemon juice to ginger ale, you end up with a refreshing drink. Some people even make ginger tea with ginger ale.

Ginger ale made at home tends to have more healthy ingredients. It’s better to consume it with sparkling water, which is a better option. You can mix it with spirit-based drinks like vodka or Rum. You can even use it to make sourdough bread.

Conclusion

Ginger ale is a type of soft drink that you can buy from the store. Many people like it because it contains ginger. The drink has been around for centuries, but today’s commercial version contains lots of added sugar.

Natural ginger has many health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and better heart health, among others. It can also help relieve nausea from morning sickness, stomach upset, or other ailments.

But, it’s worth noting that the ginger in the drink is responsible for the benefits. Ginger ale in itself isn’t a healthy drink, so consume it in low amounts.

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