Adding a teaspoon of powdered ginger to a hot drink with breakfast might help the body burn a little extra calories after eating, compared to just drinking hot water.
Scientific Claim
In overweight men, consuming 2 grams of powdered ginger dissolved in hot water with a standardized breakfast is associated with a 42.7 kcal/day increase in thermic effect of food compared to a placebo beverage, suggesting ginger may modestly enhance post-meal energy expenditure.
Original Statement
“There was a significant effect of ginger on thermic effect of food (ginger vs control = 42.7 ± 21.4 kcal/d, P = 0.049)”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
overstated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The study is a small crossover RCT with unknown blinding, limiting causal inference. The authors state 'enhances' as if causal, but the design cannot confirm causation.
More Accurate Statement
“In overweight men, consuming 2 grams of powdered ginger dissolved in hot water with a standardized breakfast is associated with a 42.7 kcal/day increase in thermic effect of food compared to a placebo beverage.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
This study found that overweight men burned about 43 extra calories after eating breakfast with ginger powder compared to without it, which means ginger might help the body use a bit more energy after meals.