Ginger Oil for Weight Loss: What You Should Know

Dr. Constance Odom, MD

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Constance Odom, MD

Dr. Constance Odom, MD

About

Constance Tambakis Odom, MD graduated in 1987 with her Doctorate of Medicine from the New York Medical College, and was an Anesthesiologist Resident from 1988 to 1991 at the Brookdale Medical Center PGY II (CA-I)-PGY IV (CA-III). She is Board Certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology since 1998 and American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine since 2002. Constance Odom, MD is affiliated with the American Medical Association, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, American Society of Anesthesiology, Georgia Society of Anesthesiology, Hellenic Medical Society of New York, North Carolina Society of Anesthesiology, and Society of Ambulatory Anesthesia.

Credentials

Medical Director At:

• Nu Image Medical
• MetroMedispa P.A.

Staff Anesthesiologist at:

• Betsy Johnson Regional Hospital in Dunn, NC
• Onslow Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, NC
• Duplin General Hospital in Kenansville, NC

Director of Anesthesia Services at:

• Jacksonville Surgery Center in Jacksonville, NC

Written by our editorial team.

Last Edited 1 year ago · 4 min read

With obesity on the rise all over the world, millions of people are looking for a miracle weight loss method to help them reach their goals. While many people turn to popular diets, such as the Atkins diet, other people are exploring alternative options. With that in mind, many people are turning to ginger oil to achieve weight loss.

According to recent studies, putting ginger in food and drink has the ability to fight obesity and help you lose weight. It also fights chronic diseases. Ginger oil is used in many medicines. It is grown in countries around the world, but it wasn’t until recently that people discovered that the herb may be beneficial in helping you lose weight. While this claim has not been proven by studies, a 2017 study found that the chemicals in ginger affect parts of the body that burn fat. These chemicals include zingerone and shogaols.

A study conducted in 2015 had women with obesity take two grams of ginger per day for a total of 12 weeks. These individuals saw a slight decline in appetite, and their body size decreased. Participants taking a placebo did not experience these benefits. Individuals with a specific gene type are more likely to experience a decrease in appetite when incorporating ginger oil into their diet. As a result of these findings, experts concluded that ginger oil has different effects on different people, and is not a one size fits all weight loss solution.

Because of this, many people have found that ginger oil helps them lose weight when used on a daily basis. However, more research is needed to determine whether or not ginger oil is truly effective in helping people lose weight. These results have been based on limited research. What works for one person may not work for another. There is no way to know whether ginger oil is effective for you unless you try it. According to PubMed, ginger is more effective than zinc in promoting good health. For this reason, adding ginger to food is a benefit, even if it doesn’t lead to weight loss.

Unfortunately, this method may not yield the results you desire. There are several factors to consider before trying ginger oil to lose weight. Ginger oil is more effective than other compounds, such as zinc. However, other herbs may be more effective in helping to suppress appetite. Studies have noted ginger’s effectiveness in curbing appetite and promoting weight loss. But what exactly is ginger oil? Ginger oil is an oil that is extracted from rhizome, which is found in the stem of the ginger plant. Also called the creeping rootstalk, rhizome stores starches and proteins. 

However, there are other factors to be aware of. Ginger oil has traditionally been used to treat conditions, such as arthritis, nausea, colds, and digestive upset. The oil itself has many benefits. It has anti-inflammatory effects. But how exactly does it promote weight loss?

Ginger oil has many positive properties that improve health, but whether it helps you lose weight will ultimately depend on a change of lifestyle. If you implement a healthy diet of lean meats, vegetables, and fruits, you are more likely to lose weight. However, you gain the most benefit from the compounds in ginger, because they improve health. They also cut your chances of developing certain conditions. Many ecommerce and social media websites promote ginger oil as a quick fix to lose weight and drain belly fat.

There are several claims on the market that say applying ginger oil to the belly button helps you trim fat and slim down. These claims also say that ginger oil quickly gets rid of cellulite, and is 10 times more effective than placing it on the skin. Claims that ginger oil is effective are not supported by solid research on the topic of belly fat. Instead, many scientists are basing their findings upon randomized studies that include obese patients. 

There are many ways to incorporate ginger oil into your diet. You can put two to three drops of ginger oil in fluids you drink, or you can mix it in with food. 

Tea 

Another way to ingest ginger oil is to make ginger tea. Place some ginger on your little finger, and mix it into the tea. You should boil water and let the tea simmer for five to 10 minutes. Strain the tea before drinking it. Ginger oil is good for the cardiovascular system. Not only does ginger help shed belly fat, it also lowers your risk of developing diabetes. Additionally, it boosts metabolism. When extracted from the rhizome of the ginger plant, ginger oil goes through a distillation process. Much like other oils, it is highly concentrated. Ginger oil has a unique smell that is described as spicy, warm, and strong. Ginger is sometimes used for aromatherapy, because of its strong aroma. It can also be used on the hair and skin. Ginger oil is often used in shampoos, because of it promotes both hair growth and hair health. 

There are many other ways to use ginger oil. You can inhale ginger oil through aromatherapy and other “topical applications,” according to the online website, Healthline. You can also use a diffuser that adds the scent of ginger oil to a room. If the ginger oil is too strong, you may need to dilute it with water. 

Another way to get the benefits of ginger oil is to inhale it through steam. To do this, you should heat water until it’s steaming. Then, place it in a bowl. Put a few drops of ginger oil into the bowl, and put a towel over your head. With your eyes closed, place your head over the bowl, and inhale the steam. You can also inhale ginger oil by spraying ginger spray in a room. Using ginger spray is a good way to freshen a room, and it gives you the ability to easily get ginger oil into your system. Some believe that the spice to the skin is another effective way to use ginger oil for weight loss. 

Side effects of ginger oil

Although ginger oil is generally deemed as safe, it does have some potential side effects. According to experts, it should never be applied to the skin without being diluted. If you are worried about an adverse skin reaction, start by applying just a “small amount” of ginger oil to the skin. This allows you to determine whether a larger dose would have adverse effects on your body. If you apply only a small amount of ginger oil, any adverse reaction will be minimal, and may not require extensive treatment.   

If you are using ginger oil as a topical application, you should first dilute it with a carrier oil, such as coconut oil, almond oil, or jojoba oil. The essential oil you use should not be more than three or five percent of the concoction. If you were to create a three percent solution, you should add more drops of the essential oil to your solution. While ingesting ginger oil through these methods is effective, there are also other alternatives. You can place ground or powdered ginger in your food. You can also serve it pickled or candied.

Many recipes call for ginger, so making dishes with powdered ginger is a great way to reap the health benefits of the spice. Although there is no solid evidence that ginger oil helps you lose weight, ginger in itself contains the beneficial compounds, gingerols and shogaols. Obesity causes inflammation and oxidative stress. However, the antioxidants found in ginger can help you avoid stress and other weight-induced problems. 

You can also mix ginger oil with apple cider vinegar to promote weight loss. To reap the benefits of apple cider vinegar, get a teabag, and place it in hot water. Let the water cool, and put apple cider vinegar in it. Placing apple cider vinegar in water that is too hot will kill off probiotics that have positive health effects.  

Although ginger oil has not been proven as an effective weight loss method, some studies say that green tea mixed with ginger oil can actually make you lose weight. Green tea has weight loss properties, and there is solid evidence that green tea speeds up metabolism. Because ginger oil is packed with healthy compounds, such as antioxidants, combining it with green tea can make you lose weight. Because ginger boosts metabolism, it also may compel you to exercise, and thus burn calories.

Ginger has a huge impact on the way your body processes fat and can actually help treat obesity. The spice also affects the way your body processes carbohydrates and insulin. Some experts believe that ginger cuts down on the amount of fat that accumulates in your body. It also has the ability to suppress appetite, making it easier for you to lose and maintain weight. Ginger oil may not be very effective when used alone, but combining ginger with other herbs and compounds can help you shed pounds. Ginger is especially effective in promoting weight loss when it is combined with a high fat diet.

9 Sources

Nu Image Medical has strict sourcing guidelines to ensure our content is accurate and current. We rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We strive to use primary sources and refrain from using tertiary references. 

https://www.fitandwell.com/features/ginger-oil-for-weight-loss

https://time.com/collection/guide-to-weight-loss/4787027/ginger-body-fat-obesity/

https://www.healthline.com/health/ginger-oil

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27000311/

https://www.britannica.com/science/rhizome

https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.323V3AC

https://gingerpeople.com/does-ginger-help-you-lose-weight/

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-961/ginger

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhizome

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your physician about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Nu Image Medical may not offer the medications or services mentioned in this article.