# WOO® Ingwer Formula: gingerols, gut and inflammation - what ginger really does

> Ginger is pharmacologically well studied: gingerols act on gastric emptying, inflammation and thermogenesis. What the evidence shows - and how WOO® Ingwer Formula is built.

Ginger is one of the most thoroughly researched culinary plants there is - more than 200 clinical papers deal with the root. What makes it interesting is not the folklore but the pharmacology: ginger acts on the stomach, on inflammatory processes and on energy metabolism through mechanisms that can be described precisely. And those actives are fragile.

## Gingerols and shogaols: the actual compounds

The pungency of fresh ginger comes from **gingerols**, above all 6-gingerol. Drying and heating converts part of them into **shogaols** - also active, but with a different profile. These phenylpropanoids are the reason ginger produces measurable effects at all. Their concentration varies considerably with origin and processing. A ginger product is therefore only as good as its actual raw material content.

## Gastric emptying and digestion

The best documented effect concerns the upper digestive tract. Using ultrasound in healthy volunteers, Wu et al. (2008) showed that ginger **accelerates gastric emptying** and increases antral motility. In parallel, gingerols act as antagonists at the 5-HT3 receptor - the serotonin receptor that plays a key role in nausea. That explains why ginger consistently outperforms placebo in meta-analyses on motion sickness. Traditional Chinese Medicine has used ginger as a medicinal plant for centuries; modern physiology now supplies the explanation.

## Modulating inflammation after training

In vitro, gingerols inhibit both the cyclooxygenase and the lipoxygenase axis and dampen NF-κB signalling. Black et al. (2010) made that practically relevant: eleven days of 2 g ginger daily reduced muscle pain after eccentric exercise by roughly a quarter compared with placebo. Not a dramatic effect, but a reproducible one - and one that avoids the high doses of classic anti-inflammatories, which are known to interfere with training adaptation.

## Thermogenesis and satiety

Mansour et al. (2012) examined the thermic effect of food after ginger intake: post-meal energy expenditure rose measurably, and so did the feeling of fullness. For diet and reset phases that is a sensible building block - not as a fat burner, but as support for a behaviour you intend to follow through on anyway.

## Why sugar distorts the picture

Most ginger shots on the shelf are sweetened with sugar or padded out with apple juice concentrate. The result is a sugar load that cancels the intended metabolic effect. **[WOO® Ingwer Formula](/en/shop/woo-ginger-formula)** takes the other route: over 25% Swiss ginger juice, sweetened with erythritol, xylitol and steviol glycosides instead of sugar - 0.4 g of sugar and 9 kcal per serving. Added to that are natural juices from passion fruit, lemon and grapefruit plus the shiso leaf extract Benegut®, for which Buchwald-Werner et al. (2014) demonstrated an improvement in gastrointestinal discomfort. Vitamin C contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism, to the normal function of the immune system and to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. One serving is 16 ml, three per day maximum.

## Frequently asked questions

**How much ginger does it take to have an effect?**
In studies, effective amounts usually range between 1 and 3 g of ginger per day, or equivalent extract quantities. What counts is the actual ginger content of the product, not the picture on the label.

**Can I take ginger every day?**
Yes - in food quantities ginger is considered well tolerated. With WOO® Ingwer Formula, do not exceed three servings (48 ml) per day. Anyone taking blood-thinning medication should discuss higher amounts with a doctor.

**When is the best time to take it?**
Whenever you need it - in the morning to start the day, before a meal to support digestion, or after hard sessions. Store it cool and use an opened bottle within 30 days.

## Sources

Wu KL et al. (2008), European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology - Effects of ginger on gastric emptying and motility in healthy humans.
Black CD et al. (2010), The Journal of Pain - Ginger (Zingiber officinale) reduces muscle pain caused by eccentric exercise.
Mansour MS et al. (2012), Metabolism - Ginger consumption enhances the thermic effect of food and promotes feelings of satiety.
Buchwald-Werner S et al. (2014), BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine - Perilla extract improves gastrointestinal discomfort.

*WOO® Ingwer Formula in the NEMAPO shop.*