Ginger Vs Turmeric – Differences In The Kitchen
Both ginger and turmeric are grown in Asian countries and their roots used to spice up cooking and traditional cuisine.
Both ginger and turmeric are grown for their strong flavours and abundance of health benefits. To grow in the UK and colder climates you will need a long growing period and then you can harvest the rhizomes. Eaten fresh or dried and processed, you will have a year long supply.
If you are growing a herb garden for medicinal purposes you will want to include both turmeric and ginger – in abundance!
Health Benefits Of Ginger Vs Turmeric
Below is a table of nutritional date for each of 1 tsp fresh ginger and 1 tsp ground turmeric, as these are the usual quantities that we may expect to find in our cooking. I will say it is a lot easier to up your intake of fresh ginger than turmeric, but I wanted to give a clear comparison.
| 1tsp Fresh Ginger | 1tsp Ground Turmeric |
| Calcium 0.32mg | Calcium 5.04mg |
| Iron 0.01mg | Iron 1.65mg (9% RDA) |
| Potassium 8.3mg | Potassium 62mg (1% RDA) |
| Magnesium 0.86mg | Magnesium 6.24mg (2% RDA) |
| Manganese 0.005mg | Manganese 0.594 mg (26 % RDA) |
| Phosphorous 0.68mg | Phosphorous 8.97 mg (1 %RDA) |
| Potassium 8.30 mg | Potassium 62.40 mg (1 % RDA) |
| Zinc 0.01mg | Zinc 0.14 mg (1 %RDA) |
As can be seen from the above table turmeric is much more packed with minerals and vitamins, notably Manganese and Iron than ginger. This is in part because it is used dried and therefore more concentrate than in the fresh ginger. However ginger does contain plenty of health giving nutrients and minerals.
When comparing ginger to turmeric we can see that turmeric has much larger quantities of potassium, zinc, phosphorous and magnesium than ginger. It is also incredibly easy to pop some turmeric into a stew, casserole or curry without overpowering the dish. Ginger will be easily placed in any dish, and in fact can be a pungent flavor.
Medicinal Uses For Ginger and Turmeric
Turmeric contains curcuminoids can be used topically or as a dietary supplement for ailments ranging from arthritis to respiratory conditions. Ginger contains gingerol which is closely associated with helping reduce nausea and acting as an antioxidant.
In Ann M Bode and Zigang Dong’s Herbal Medicine; Biomolecular and clinical aspects there is significant research into the health benefits of ginger and turmeric with historical uses including the treatment of nausea, arthritic pains, colds, hypertension and migraines.
The main issue with either ginger or turmeric is that many of the health benefits are lost in the process of digestion. Including them as part of a wider ranged diet can help to aid absorption as well as adding much needed colour, fragrance and flavour to dishes.
What Next & Further Reading
I hope to have shown some of the interesting details about ginger vs turmeric and you can now plan your kitchen and cooking appropriately. If I had one last thing to say it would be, start using both ginger and turmeric more often. Find excuses to include them in your cooking or even herbal teas. Packed full of nutrients and tasty and colorful!
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