Mixing Ginger and Chili Creates a Powerful Anti-Cancer Combination

Ginger and chili not only add spice and flavor to your favorite dish — they may also help you ward off cancer. A recent study has found that the popular spices have properties that significantly reduce mice’s chances of developing lung cancer due to their ability to bind to a receptor that is also responsible for tumor growth.

According to a study now published in the online Journal of Agricultural And Food Chemistry, capsaicin, a compound in chili peppers, and 6-gingerol, a component in ginger, could work together to lower the risk of cancer, possibly because 6-gingergol binds to capsaicin to form a super-strong compound that inhibits key tumor-growing receptors, The Daily Mail reported.


For the study, the researchers fed mice prone to lung cancer either capsaicin or 6- gingerol alone, or in combination with one another over the course of several weeks. During the study period, all of the mice that received only capsaicin developed lung tumors, while only half of the mice fed 6-gingerol did. However, only 20 percent of the mice that received a combination of both went on to develop cancer.

1. Ginger
While ginger and chili may have cancer-kicking abilities together, on their own, the two spices are also impressively powerful. For example, ginger contains chromium, magnesium, and zinc, which help to maintain healthy and normal blood flow. In addition, The American Pregnancy Association recommends consuming ginger in different forms, such as tea or jam, to help curb morning nausea brought on by pregnancy, and Columbia University researchers say that ginger, paired with bronchodilating medications, maybe help to relax the smooth muscle surrounding airways.

2. Chili
As for chili, capsaicin, the same compound that gives chili peppers their hot flavor, also inhibits a brain pain transmitter which can help to reduce headaches and prevent inflammation. In addition, Chili pepper contains 108 percent of the vitamin C daily requirements per tablespoon, which can help to improve the immune system.