The ancients said, "Three slices of ginger in the morning are better than a bowl of ginseng soup, but eating ginger at night is like eating arsenic." This saying means that eating ginger in the morning is beneficial to the body, while eating it at night can harm health. Is this saying really true?
Actually, from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this saying passed down from the ancients has some truth to it. In the early morning, the body's Qi (vital energy) in the stomach needs to be uplifted. Ginger is pungent in taste and warm in nature, and contains active ingredients like gingerol. Eating some ginger can strengthen the spleen and warm the stomach, "paving the way" for the digestion and absorption of food throughout the day. Furthermore, the volatile oils in ginger can boost blood circulation, excite the nerves, and warm the entire body. Also, if you catch a cold due to wind and cold, drinking ginger tea can alleviate the symptoms. However, by night, the body's Yang energy should be conserved while Yin energy flourishes. Therefore, one should eat foods that clear heat, guide Qi downward, and aid digestion to be more conducive to nighttime rest. The gingerol in ginger can stimulate intestinal peristalsis. During the day, this can enhance digestive function, but at night, it can become a major problem that disrupts sleep and harms the intestines. Secondly, the pungent and warm, diffusive nature of ginger can interfere with normal nighttime rest. Moreover, consuming pungent and warm ginger at night can easily generate internal heat, leading to symptoms of "internal heat" (上火) over time. Saying it's like "arsenic" is an exaggeration, but it is indeed detrimental to sleep. Therefore, the benefits of eating ginger in the morning are many, and it is not advisable to consume large amounts at night. However, eating a small amount of ginger at night, such as using it as a seasoning in stir-fries, will not harm your health.
In conclusion, the general principle for eating ginger is: it is suitable for cold-related diseases but not for heat-related ones; it is suitable for people with a cold constitution but not for those with a hot one. Ginger's greatest effect is preventing colds caused by wind and cold. On the contrary, if your symptoms include fever, a dry mouth, and a sore throat, it's best not to "add fuel to the fire." Additionally, people with constipation should eat less ginger, as constipation is often related to intestinal heat. Overconsumption of ginger in this case can worsen the symptoms. A special reminder: never eat rotten ginger, as it contains toxic substances that can induce liver cancer and other diseases.