Ginger snap cookies are a popular type of cookie made with ginger, molasses, and other spices like cinnamon and cloves. Some people consider them a healthier alternative to traditional chocolate chip or sugar cookies because they contain ginger, which has potential health benefits. However, others argue that no cookie can really be considered a healthy snack due to their high sugar and calorie content.
So are ginger snaps actually good for you? Or are they just another sugary treat that should be enjoyed in moderation? Here is a comprehensive look at the nutritional profile and health effects of ginger snap cookies.
Nutritional Profile of Ginger Snaps
The nutrition facts for a typical ginger snap cookie are:
| Nutrient | Amount per 1 cookie (30g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 110 |
| Total Fat | 3.5g |
| Saturated Fat | 1.7g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 15mg |
| Sodium | 115mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 20g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.5g |
| Sugars | 12g |
| Protein | 1g |
As you can see, a single ginger snap cookie contains around 110 calories, 20g of carbohydrates, 12g of sugar, and minimal protein and fiber.
The calories come mainly from refined flour and sugar. Like most cookies, ginger snaps are high in added sugars – a single cookie contains about 12g of sugar, which is nearly 25% of the recommended daily intake.
Ginger snaps also lack fiber, with only 0.5g per cookie. Fiber is important for digestive health, cholesterol levels, and feeling full.
Compared to other cookie varieties, ginger snaps are moderate in fat and calories. They contain less fat and calories than shortbread cookies or chocolate chip cookies. However, they are not dramatically different nutrition-wise from an oatmeal raisin cookie.
Main Nutrients and Calories in Ginger Snaps
– Carbohydrates: Ginger snaps are high in carbs, with 20g per cookie. Most of these carbs come from refined flour and sugar rather than whole grains or natural sugars.
– Sugar: A major source of calories and carbohydrates in ginger snaps is added sugar, at about 12g per cookie. This accounts for nearly 25% of daily recommended sugar intake.
– Fat and Saturated Fat: Ginger snaps contain 3.5g of total fat and 1.7g of saturated fat per cookie, mainly from butter or oil used in baking. This is moderate compared to other cookie varieties.
– Calories: At 110 calories per cookie, ginger snaps are lower in calories than some other cookie types, but still contain a significant number of calories from sugar.
– Fiber: With only 0.5g of fiber per cookie, ginger snaps lack the fiber found naturally in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Fiber helps promote fullness.
– Sodium: Ginger snaps contain 115mg sodium per cookie, which contributes to total daily sodium intake.
– Protein: Ginger snaps offer minimal protein at just 1g per cookie.
So in terms of macronutrients, calories, and fiber, ginger snaps are similar to other types of cookies made from refined flour and sugar. They are low in protein and fiber compared to whole foods.
Potential Health Benefits of Ginger Snaps
Ginger snaps get their name from one signature ingredient – ginger. Ginger is a spice that has long been used in folk medicine to treat nausea, inflammation, and other ailments. Some research shows that ginger may offer certain health benefits:
Ginger May Help Reduce Nausea
Ginger has been used to help relieve nausea from motion sickness, pregnancy, and chemotherapy. Studies show ginger may help reduce nausea and vomiting:
– A review of 12 studies found that taking ginger reduced nausea from chemotherapy by 40% compared to placebo. It was also effective at reducing pregnancy-related nausea.
– Ginger appears to act directly on the digestive tract to speed up motility and emptying of the stomach contents. This helps relieve feelings of nausea and vomiting.
– The active compounds in ginger, especially gingerol and shogaol, are believed to be responsible for the anti-nausea effects.
However, the amount of ginger in a ginger snap cookie is unlikely to provide significant anti-nausea effects. The clinical trials showing benefits use around 1-2 grams of ginger powder, while a cookie may contain only 0.1-0.5 grams.
Ginger May Reduce Inflammation
Chronic inflammation plays a role in many diseases like heart disease, arthritis, and cancer. Some evidence shows ginger has anti-inflammatory properties:
– In a study in people with osteoarthritis, taking ginger extract significantly reduced inflammatory chemicals like cytokines and prostaglandins.
– Ginger also contains antioxidants like gingerol that may reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the body.
– In mice with rheumatoid arthritis, ginger extract reduced joint swelling and inflammation by lowering inflammatory proteins like TNF-alpha and interleukin-1beta.
The anti-inflammatory effects are attributed mainly to the gingerols, shogaols, and zingerones in ginger. Through these mechanisms, ginger extract may help reduce inflammation underlying certain diseases and joint pain. However, the amount in a cookie is small.
Ginger May Slightly Boost Metabolism
A few studies suggest ginger may have mild metabolic boosting properties:
– In a study of obese men, those who took ginger capsules for 8 weeks experienced a small but significant increase in thermogenesis (calorie burning) compared to placebo group.
– Ginger also increased feelings of satiety and fullness, which could lead to lower calorie intake.
– The metabolic effects are thought to come from enhanced fat burning, inhibition of carbohydrate absorption, and increased insulin sensitivity.
However, research is still limited on ginger’s metabolism enhancing properties. Overall, any boost to metabolism from the small amounts in ginger snap cookies is likely minimal.
Ginger Snaps for Upset Stomach
Ginger has traditionally been used to soothe minor stomach upsets and aid digestion. There’s some evidence it may help:
– In a study of 24 healthy individuals, taking ginger capsules significantly speeded up emptying of the stomach after a meal compared to placebo.
– Ginger also appears to speed transit through the intestines. This could potentially help relieve constipation.
– Antioxidants in ginger may help reduce inflammation of the stomach lining and intestines that contributes to indigestion.
The ginger in cookies is unlikely to significantly aid digestion or upset stomach. The clinical studies showing benefits use around 1-2 grams powdered ginger.
Downsides of Ginger Snaps
While ginger snaps provide the benefits of ginger, they also come with the downsides of any sugary cookie:
High in Refined Carbs and Added Sugars
Like most commercial cookies, ginger snaps are made with refined flour, which has had the fiber-rich bran and germ removed. They also contain lots of added sugar.
Refined flour and added sugars are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, causing spikes and crashes in blood sugar. They provide easily accessible energy but lack nutrients.
Overeating refined flour and sugar is linked to increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses.
Low in Protein and Fiber
Cookies like ginger snaps contain minimal fiber or protein, two nutrients that promote fullness and stable blood sugar levels.
The high sugar pairs with low fiber and protein to create a food that is quickly digested and absorbed, leading to hunger and cravings for more cookies shortly after eating.
High Glycemic Index and Load
The combination of refined flour, sugar, and low fiber gives ginger snaps a very high glycemic index and load:
– Glycemic index estimates how quickly a food raises blood sugar levels on a scale of 1-100. Ginger snaps have a glycemic index around 80.
– Glycemic load accounts for serving size, giving a more realistic indicator of blood sugar impact. Ginger snaps have a glycemic load of around 25 per 4 cookies.
– For comparison, chocolate chip cookies have a similar glycemic index of around 77 and load around 27 per 3 cookies.
This indicates both ginger snaps and chocolate chip cookies cause rapid spikes in blood sugar after eating. Over time, regularly consuming high glycemic index foods can increase risk for insulin resistance.
Healthier Ginger Snap Alternatives
Ginger snaps made from refined ingredients offer minimal nutrition. You can get the benefits of ginger with less sugar and more fiber from these alternatives:
Make Your Own
Baking homemade ginger snaps allows you to control the ingredients. Substitute whole wheat flour for some of the refined flour and use less sugar. Increase fiber by adding oats. Use chocolate chips or raisins for a treat.
Look for “Vegan” or “Gluten Free” Varieties
Vegan or gluten-free ginger snaps often use alternate flours like almond or coconut flour and contain less sugar. The fiber and protein will be higher than regular ginger snaps.
Try Ginger Tea
Drinking ginger tea is an easy way to get the benefits of ginger without the extra sugar and calories. Steep fresh sliced ginger in hot water for a refreshing beverage. Can add lemon, honey, cinnamon for more flavor.
Use Natural Snacks with Ginger
Rather than ginger cookies, get your ginger fix from trail mixes with candied ginger, ginger nut bars or balls made with dates, or fresh ginger slices with apple slices. These provide fiber, protein and nutrients.
Take a Ginger Supplement
Ginger capsules or tablets contain concentrated ground ginger. Doses found effective in studies for nausea and inflammation range from 1-2 grams per day. Consult your doctor before starting any new supplement.
Are Ginger Snaps Healthy? The Bottom Line
Ginger snaps contain a classic cookie ingredient – ginger – which provides potential benefits like reducing nausea, inflammation, and stimulating metabolism. However, ginger snaps also contain refined flour, added sugars, and minimal fiber and protein.
Eating a few ginger snaps as an occasional treat is unlikely to be harmful for most people. But regularly consuming multiple ginger snaps in place of more nutritious snacks may contribute excess sugar, calories, and unhealthy carbs.
Overall, ginger snaps are a tasty cookie option, but not a healthy snack choice compared to whole foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, yogurt, or hummus. Homemade ginger snaps made with less refined ingredients can provide more nutrition. Or you can get the benefits of ginger from tea, supplements, or ginger slices rather than cookies.
Enjoy your favorite spiced ginger snaps, but practice moderation and balance with other whole food snacks to get the antioxidants from ginger without excess sugar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are ginger snaps vegan?
Ginger snaps can be made vegan by using vegan ingredients. Traditional ginger snap recipes call for butter and eggs. However, there are vegan recipes that use oil instead of butter and egg replacers like flax eggs. Check ingredients lists to find vegan ginger snap options.
Do ginger snaps have gluten?
Regular ginger snaps contain gluten since they are made with wheat flour. But there are gluten-free varieties made with alternate flours like almond, coconut, cassava and chickpea flour. If avoiding gluten, look for ginger snaps marked certified gluten-free.
Are ginger snaps keto-friendly?
Original ginger snaps are not keto-friendly due to the carb content from sugar and flour. However, there are low carb keto ginger snap recipes made with almond flour, erythritol, and other keto-approved ingredients. Look for keto ginger snaps with around 5g net carbs per serving.
How long do ginger snaps last?
Like most cookies, ginger snaps last 1-2 weeks at room temperature when stored in an airtight container. They can be kept for 1-2 months in the refrigerator and 6-12 months in the freezer. Properly frozen ginger snaps retain texture and flavor well when thawed.
Can dogs eat ginger snaps?
Ginger snaps are not recommended for dogs as the spices, sugar, and dough ingredients can cause stomach upset. Stick to treats formulated specifically for dogs rather than human ginger cookies. Only give small amounts of people foods, as diet should be 90% dog food.
