Ginger Gives Workouts A Boost

An abundant source of antioxidants, previous studies suggest that ginger (Zingiber officinale) confers analgesic and pharmacological properties mimicking non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs. James M. Smoliga, from High Point University (North Carolina, USA), and colleagues enrolled 20 non-weight trained men and women to five days of ‘loading’ with either ginger (4 g) or placebo, prior to an exercise regimen designed to induce muscle damage. The results showed that one repetition maximum lift was decreased in both groups 24 hours after the exercise regimen, but this was significantly improved in the ginger group at 48 hours (as compared to 72-96 hours post-exercise the placebo group). The study authors report that: “4 g of ginger supplementation may be used to accelerate recovery of muscle strength following intense exercise but does not influence indicators of muscle damage or[delayed onset muscle soreness].”