The ancients said, "Three slices of ginger in the morning are better than ginseng soup; 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, this saying passed down from the ancients has some truth to it. In the early morning, the body's Qi needs to rise. Ginger is pungent and warm in nature, containing 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. Additionally, the volatile oils in ginger can improve blood circulation, stimulate the nerves, and warm the entire body. Furthermore, if you have a cold due to wind-cold, drinking ginger soup can alleviate the symptoms. However, by night, the body's Yang energy should be conserved, and Yin energy should flourish. Therefore, it is better to eat foods that clear heat, promote Qi descent, and aid digestion for a more restful night's sleep. The gingerol in ginger can stimulate intestinal peristalsis; during the day, this can enhance spleen and stomach function, but at night, it can become a problem that affects sleep and harms the intestines. Secondly, the pungent and warm nature of ginger can disrupt normal nighttime rest, and consuming it at night can easily lead to internal heat, causing "heatiness" symptoms over time. Calling it "arsenic" is an exaggeration, but it is indeed detrimental to sleep. Therefore, the benefits of eating ginger in the morning are many, while 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 cooking, will not harm your health.
In summary, the general principle for eating ginger is: it is suitable for wind-cold illnesses but not for heat-related illnesses; it is suitable for people with a cold constitution but not for those with a hot constitution. Ginger's greatest effect is preventing colds due to wind-cold. Conversely, if you have symptoms like 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 due to intestinal heat, and excessive ginger consumption can worsen the symptoms. A special reminder: never eat rotten ginger, as it contains toxic substances that can induce liver cancer and other diseases.