Ginger supplement: effects on digestion and nausea
Ginger supplements are recognized worldwide for their exceptional therapeutic properties. Whether you are looking to ease heaviness after a large meal or to settle motion sickness, this root is a valuable ally.
Eating fresh ginger every day is not always practical, however. That is where supplements come in. They deliver an optimal concentration of active compounds for fast-acting relief.
Ginger: More Than Just a Spice
Ginger has been used for thousands of years in Asia, and its medicinal use is described in traditional Chinese remedies as early as 400 BC. While it is prized in cooking for its pungent flavour, what interests us here is above all its content of gingerols and shogaols. These bioactive compounds are being studied for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Current data come mainly from laboratory studies, and results in humans remain preliminary.
Some people find plain ginger hard to take because of its very strong taste. Turning to concentrated forms is a way to benefit from everything it has to offer without wincing at every bite.
A Remedy for Nausea
This is the most studied use of the plant. Health Canada recognizes that ginger helps prevent nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness and seasickness. For other forms of nausea, the evidence varies depending on the context.
Motion Sickness and Pregnancy
If you get seasick or find long car rides uncomfortable, ginger is a natural option recognized by Health Canada for preventing nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness. The dose generally falls between 0.5 and 3 grams of dried rhizome per day, with a single dose taken about 30 minutes before travel. Results from clinical trials do vary from one study to another.
In pregnant women, first-trimester data show a modest reduction in nausea and vomiting at a total dose of about 1 gram per day, divided into two to four doses. Ginger is contraindicated close to labour, however, and in women with a history of miscarriage, vaginal bleeding or clotting disorders, because of the risk of hemorrhage. Use should always be confirmed with a health care professional.
A Practical Option: Chewable Ginger
For fast relief when nausea strikes suddenly, we often recommend chewable tablets. Chewable Ginger 500 mg from Natural Factors is an excellent option available on our site. The chewable format is easy to carry and allows for a quick dose the moment discomfort sets in. It is an ideal product to tuck into a travel bag for complete peace of mind.
A Valuable Aid for Digestion
Ginger is traditionally used in herbal medicine as a carminative to help relieve digestive upset, including lack of appetite, digestive spasms, indigestion, dyspepsia and flatulent colic. Clinically, trials have shown that ginger speeds up gastric emptying, meaning the movement of stomach contents into the intestine. That acceleration has not translated into a measurable improvement in digestive symptoms in the studies conducted so far, and research on this aspect remains preliminary.
The active compound content of ginger varies with growing, harvesting and processing conditions. A product licensed by Health Canada carries a declared and verified dose, which makes the amount you take more predictable than that of fresh rhizome.
How to Choose the Right Supplement
With so many products on the market, making an informed choice matters for both your safety and the effectiveness of what you take.
Look for Certified Quality
In Canada, the marker to check is the natural product number, or NPN, an eight-digit number printed on the label. Its presence means Health Canada has assessed the product's safety, efficacy and quality under the recommended conditions of use. Organic certification, for its part, governs which substances are permitted during cultivation. It does not guarantee the complete absence of residues, since accidental contamination by drift from neighbouring fields remains possible.
Capsules, Powder or Tablets?
Capsules: ideal if you do not care for the taste of ginger at all. They are easy to swallow and dissolve in the stomach.
Chewable tablets: as mentioned above, perfect for fast, local action.
Powder: lets you measure your own dose and stir it into drinks.
Other Ways to Enjoy Ginger
Vitamin C and Ginger
Ginger also appears in combination formulas. Ener-C Vitamin C Lemon-Ginger Drink Mix pairs vitamin C with the taste of ginger in an effervescent format, a practical option if you want to bring the two together in a single drink.
In the Kitchen: A Homemade Drink
If you feel like getting back to the stove and using fresh or powdered ginger in a delicious recipe, we have just the thing. Take a look at our blog post on how to make a refreshing ginger and turmeric drink. It is a great way to round out your supplements with healthy hydration.
Conclusion
Adding a ginger supplement to your routine is a simple step that can transform your digestive comfort. Whether you choose convenient capsules or chewable tablets like those from Natural Factors, you are choosing a plant with a thousand-year history.
At La Boîte à Grains, we are committed to bringing you the best of nature. Do not wait for discomfort to settle in before you act. Explore our range and find the ginger format that suits you best.
References
- Ginger, Zingiber officinale. Natural Health Product Monograph. Health Canada, Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate. 2025. https://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/atReq?atid=ginger.gingembre&lang=eng
- Ginger for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Lindblad AJ, Koppula S. Canadian Family Physician, volume 62, issue 2. 2016. https://www.cfp.ca/content/62/2/145
- Product licensing for natural health products. Health Canada. 2017. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/natural-non-prescription/applications-submissions/product-licensing.html
- Chemical residues and organic production. Canadian Food Inspection Agency. 2026. https://inspection.canada.ca/en/food-labels/organic-products/chemical-residues-and-organic-production
- Ginger in gastrointestinal disorders: a systematic review of clinical trials. Nikkhah Bodagh M, Maleki I, Hekmatdoost A. Food Science and Nutrition, volume 7, issue 1. 2019. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6341159/