Ginger is a common kitchen herb popular for its flavor and medicinal properties. Its use is prevalent to treat and manage ailments, such as cough, nausea, and gastric issues in adults. However, using ginger for babies needs caution as it can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, such as heartburn and gas in sensitive babies. Thus, knowing the right age and age-appropriate ways to feed ginger to babies is essential. Keep reading to learn more about the safety of ginger, its possible health benefits, and ways to feed this herb to babies.

Ginger And Its Nutritional Value

Ginger is classified as an herb and is the most commonly consumed dietary condiment in the world (1). The rhizome is used in the culinary, drug, and cosmetics industries. One hundred grams of ginger root contains the following nutrients. Source: USDA (2) Ginger is also considered a good source of bioactive phenolic compounds, such as gingerol, shogaol, and paradols with terpenes like zerumbone (3). These compounds tend to display anti-inflammatory and anti-tumorigenic properties and could help in reducing the risk of certain cancers, although more research is necessary to determine their effectiveness.

Is Ginger Safe For Babies?

Ginger is considered safe for babies, although there aren’t any studies suggesting a safe limit of its consumption by babies. The US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) has marked ginger as GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe). For adults, the recommended intake is up to four grams a day (4). The FDA advises caution while using ginger in home remedies or as alternative medicine. Ginger may have possible drug interactions, and thus, using it for babies in any of these forms must be done under a pediatrician’s guidance only. Ginger use as a medicine is not recommended for children below two years of age (5). Therefore, pediatric consultation is advised before you use ginger for any therapeutic purposes.

Health Benefits Of Ginger

Chemical analysis of ginger shows that it contains different compounds associated with positive health benefits in humans (3) (5). Some that could be beneficial for babies are mentioned next. Various studies also indicate that ginger could help reduce pain. It generally inhibits the functioning of an enzyme that’s a significant component of the inflammatory response (10). Thus, if your baby is suffering from ear pain or stomachache, ginger could be used. If ginger has so many health benefits, then why do you need professional guidance to use it? The answer is simple: consumption of ginger could have possible side-effects and drug interactions as there is no recommended dosage for babies. It is also important to follow a few precautions before using ginger for babies.

With proper precautions, ginger can be used safely in a baby’s diet. Want to know how? Read next.

Ways To Include Ginger In Diet

You can add ginger to your baby’s diet in one of these ways.

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