The purpose of our graduate student research study is to observe the effects of ginger on hsCRP, IL-6, and TNF-α levels in exercising individuals based on their level of activity.

Participants will fill out a demographic questionnaire and a quality of life survey, (SF-36). Take a 3g supplement of ginger in powder form with meals once/day (preferably in the morning) for 8 weeks. By end of week 4 (halfway through the study), subjects will do another blood test for mid-intervention CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α values. By end of week 8, participants will do a final blood test for CRP values and fill out the SF-36 survey for post-intervention levels.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 30 - 70 years of age

• Various levels of activity outlined by the General Physical Activities Defined by Level of Intensity by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

  • Regular Exercisers- at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity at least 3 times per week.
  • Non-regular Exercisers- at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity 1-2 times per week.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals currently taking...

  • Vit D
  • Aspirin
  • Coumadin
  • Ginger supplements more than 1x/week within the last month
  • Heparin
  • NSAIDs
  • Pain meds

• Individuals with chronic inflammatory conditions such as Cancer, CVD, Diabetes, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Ginger allergies, Metabolic Syndrome, and/or autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis