But there are noticeable differences when you see them in person. Turmeric\u2019s outer skin is yellowish\/orangey whilst ginger is a light brown. Slicing their rhizomes open reveals further differences in flesh color:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- turmeric is a bright orange (like a carrot), and<\/li>
- ginger is yellow\/beige (like a potato). <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What are rhizomes exactly?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rhizomes are the parts that grow underground and are commonly consumed as a spice. Often, they\u2019re mistaken as roots, but they\u2019re actually underground stems<\/strong>. Technically, they are \u201cmodified stems\u201d since \u201cstem\u201d refers to their above-ground counterparts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turmeric vs ginger: Are they considered functional food?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
By definition, functional foods offer health benefits besides their basic nutritional value (1<\/a>). They serve a particular function, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- enhancing the immune system<\/li>
- promoting healthy digestion<\/li>
- slowing down the ageing process<\/li>
- helping the body recover from disease<\/li>
- helping control physical and mental disorders<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
As you will see in the health benefits sections, both spices do qualify as functional foods<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"turmeric](\"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/i-benefici-alla-salute-di-curcuma-e-zenzero-qual-e-meglio-02.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nTurmeric vs ginger health benefits: 5 surprising common benefits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
So, before we dive into this section, let\u2019s first describe what makes turmeric \u201cturmeric\u201d and what makes ginger \u201cginger\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, for turmeric, it is the chemical Curcumin<\/strong>. And for ginger, it is Gingerol.<\/strong> Both contain other natural compounds, of course. But curcumin and gingerol are key to making both spices count as \u201cfunctional food\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Interestingly, both spices have similar health benefits, as you will see below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1) Both are anti-inflammatory<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Short-term inflammation is a healthy immune system response. But when it becomes long-term or chronic, it\u2019s a bad thing. Depending on where the inflammation is, it can make you susceptible to many diseases. This includes diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and more (2<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are synthetic drugs that treat pain and inflammation. NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen are examples. But long-term use of these drugs can lead to side effects (3<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fortunately, a diet rich in ginger and turmeric can help ease inflammation. These two spices may work similarly to NSAIDs. Both are included in the list of plants with proven anti-inflammatory effects<\/strong> (4<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That said, when it comes to comparing ginger vs turmeric for inflammation, the latter may have an edge. A study done on arthritic rats showed they responded better to turmeric than either ginger or indomethacin (an NSAID) (5<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2) Antioxidant activity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Turmeric and ginger both have antioxidant properties. They help maintain our health at the molecular level by fighting off free radicals. If left unchallenged, these free radicals cause oxidative stress, leading to disease and rapid ageing. Take advantage of both spices\u2019 antioxidant benefits by consuming more of them (7<\/a>)!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3) Natural pain relievers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Both spices may help relieve abdominal pain, stomach discomfort, and other digestive disorders. Additionally, both may also help ease period-related pains in women. Here\u2019s what some studies say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Ginger taken in 250mg capsules 4x daily was as effective as mefenamic acid and ibuprofen<\/strong> in relieving dysmenorrhea (8<\/a>).<\/li>
- Turmeric taken in 500mg capsules 2x daily also showed the same analgesic effect<\/strong> on women (9<\/a>).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
4) Anti-nausea a.k.a. antiemetic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ginger is considered a natural antiemetic or anti-nausea remedy. It may help with motion sickness and pregnancy-related nausea. It\u2019s even said to be more effective than Dramamine<\/strong>, an over-the-counter drug for nausea and motion sickness (10<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turmeric is no slouch in this category either. It\u2019s been used to treat vomiting patients since ancient times. It\u2019s just that there aren\u2019t nearly as many studies done on its antiemetic properties like ginger. So far, an animal study supports this thesis \u2013 curcumin improved the appetite of rats undergoing chemotherapy <\/strong>(11<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5) May help provide relief for cancer patients<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Chemotherapy can kill cancer cells, but it also does a lot of damage to the body. Studies on both curcumin and ginger show that both may help slow down cancer progression<\/strong>. They can slow down and even stop cancer cells in their tracks (12<\/a>, 13<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using curcumin alongside chemo drugs has two benefits. It may help maximize the desired effects<\/strong> of the drugs. And it may also minimize any potential side effects<\/strong> (14<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As for ginger, its antiemetic effects may also provide much-needed relief to post-chemotherapy nausea (15<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are curcumin and gingerol bioavailable?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately, both curcumin and gingerol have issues with bioavailability<\/strong> (16<\/a>, 17<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, scientists continue to come up with creative ways to improve both compounds\u2019 absorption rates. For instance, krill oil may help improve the absorption of ginger supplements (18<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"meriva](\"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/meriva-500-09-2.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nFor turmeric\/curcumin, we believe Meriva\u2019s nano-delivery technology is the best!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Studies done on\u00a0Meriva Curcumin<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0show that this form is 29x better absorbed than ordinary curcumin (19<\/a>). This means you can take full advantage of curcumin\u2019s health benefits, including the ones we\u2019ve listed above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information about our Intelligent Labs curcumin products, check out these links:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meriva Curcumin Phytosome 250mg<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Turmeric taken in 500mg capsules 2x daily also showed the same analgesic effect<\/strong> on women (9<\/a>).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Ginger taken in 250mg capsules 4x daily was as effective as mefenamic acid and ibuprofen<\/strong> in relieving dysmenorrhea (8<\/a>).<\/li>