Health guide · Yado Market Blog
Can a ginger candy for nausea really settle your stomach? Here's what the research says about ginger for morning sickness, chemotherapy, surgery and travel, how much ginger the studies used, and which ginger sweets and drinks we keep in stock in Chicago.
Quick answer: does ginger candy help nausea?
Ginger may help mild nausea, and the best evidence is for nausea in pregnancy.[1][2][3] In cancer patients, ginger taken alongside regular anti-nausea medicine lowered nausea in a large study.[5] For motion sickness, most studies have not shown a benefit.[1] The catch: studies used about 0.5 to 1.5 g of ginger a day, and candy packs usually don't say how much ginger each piece has. So enjoy ginger candy as a comforting, spicy sweet that may help a little, not as a measured dose.
At a glance
- Price$5.99 · 125 g bag
- TypeHard candy, each piece wrapped
- TastesSweet, then real ginger heat
- How to useLet it melt, one or two at a time
- Get itChicago pickup, local delivery or shipping
12 trials
In a review of ginger for pregnancy nausea[3]
576
Cancer patients in the biggest ginger study[5]
$5.99
Akono ginger candy, 125 g bag
Shop ginger
Which Ginger Candy and Ginger Drinks Can You Get at Yado?
Our ginger sweet is Akono: a hard candy that starts sweet and ends with real ginger heat. If you'd rather sip than suck a candy, we also carry instant ginger drinks and ground ginger.
Our pick · ginger candy
Akono Ginger Candy, 125 g
Spicy hard ginger sweets, each one wrapped. Easy to keep in a bag, car or desk.
Shop · $5.99
Ginger drink
Prince of Peace Lemon Ginger Honey Crystals
Stir a sachet into hot water for a quick ginger tea.
Shop · $4.99
Ginger drink
Pocas Instant Honey Ginger Tea
Instant honey ginger tea in original, lemon or soursop flavor.
Shop · $7.99
Ginger drink
Gold Kili Instant Honey Ginger Drink
Popular in West African homes. Mix with hot water for a sweet, warming ginger drink.
Shop · $8.99
Measure it yourself
Ginger Powder (Ground Ginger)
Pure ground ginger for tea and cooking, so you know how much you're using.
Shop · $9.99What the research says
Does Ginger Really Help With Nausea?
Ginger root has been studied for nausea for decades. The answer depends on why you feel sick. Here is what the research found for each situation, in plain words:
Best evidence
Morning sickness (pregnancy)
A review of 12 trials with 1,278 pregnant women found ginger eased nausea better than a placebo, but it did not clearly cut the number of times women vomited.[3] The U.S. obstetricians' group ACOG lists ginger as a non-drug option to consider.[2] A Cochrane review called the evidence limited and not consistent.[4]
Some evidence
Chemotherapy nausea
In a study of 576 cancer patients who also took regular anti-nausea medicine, 0.5 g to 1 g of ginger a day lowered nausea on the day of chemo.[5] The NIH still calls it uncertain whether ginger adds to standard treatment.[1]
Mixed evidence
After surgery
A 2006 review found at least 1 g of ginger before surgery lowered nausea and vomiting in the next 24 hours.[6] The NIH says it is still unclear.[1]
Weak evidence
Motion sickness
Most studies of ginger for car, boat or plane sickness have not shown it helps.[1] Many people still like a ginger sweet on long trips for the taste, but don't count on it like travel-sickness medicine.
The honest part
How Much Ginger Is in a Ginger Candy?
This is the question most "ginger candy for nausea" pages skip. The studies above gave people a measured amount of ginger, mostly as capsules or powder. Candy is different:
Studies
About 0.5 to 1.5 g of ginger a day. In the pregnancy review, doses under 1.5 g a day worked best.[3][5]
Candy
Ginger candy packs usually don't say how many grams of ginger are in each piece, and our Akono listing doesn't give a ginger amount either. So nobody can tell you how many candies equal a study dose.
Sugar
Hard candy is mostly sugar. Eating a handful to "get more ginger" mostly gets you more sugar.
Measure
Want a known amount? 1 teaspoon of ground ginger weighs about 1.8 g,[8] so half a teaspoon in hot water is close to 1 g.
Everyday tips
How Do You Use Ginger Candy for a Queasy Stomach?
Let it melt
Akono is a hard candy. Suck it slowly instead of chewing, so the ginger lasts.
One or two at a time
Treat it like candy. If one or two don't help, more candy won't add much ginger.
Keep a few handy
Each Akono piece is wrapped, so a few fit in a purse, glove box or desk drawer.
Too spicy?
Try a warm honey ginger drink instead. It's gentler and easy to sip slowly.
Compare
Ginger Candy vs Ginger Chews vs Ginger Tea: Which Is Best for Nausea?
No study has compared them head to head. The main difference is how easy each one is to take when you feel sick, and whether you can tell how much ginger you're getting.
Hard ginger candy
Slow to melt, easy to carry, strong ginger taste. Ginger amount usually not listed. Example: Akono.
Ginger chews
Soft and chewy, gone faster. Check the label for the ginger amount. We don't carry chews right now.
Ginger tea or powder
Warm and easy to sip. With ground ginger you can measure exactly how much you use.
Want to know more about the candy itself, like taste and types? Read our ginger candy guide.
Before you try it
Is Ginger Candy Safe? Who Should Check With a Doctor First?
Ginger has been used safely in many studies. It can cause stomach discomfort, heartburn or diarrhea in some people.[1] Talk to your doctor, midwife or pharmacist first if you:
- Are pregnant. Ginger may be safe in pregnancy, but check with your provider before using it, especially as a supplement.[1]
- Take blood thinners or aspirin-type medicine. Ginger affects blood platelets and may raise the risk of bleeding with these drugs.[7]
- Take any regular medicine. Some herbs and medicines interact.[1]
- Have diabetes. Ginger candy is mainly sugar, so count it like any sweet.
Get medical help if you can't keep fluids down, you're vomiting for more than a day, or you feel dizzy or very weak. Ginger candy is not a treatment for that.
Ginger candy near me
Where Can I Buy Ginger Candy in Chicago?
Pick up Akono ginger candy, ginger drinks and ground ginger at Yado African & Caribbean Market, 1651 E 87th St, Chicago. Not in Chicago? We ship anywhere in the U.S.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ginger candy help with nausea?
It may help a little. Ginger has the best evidence for pregnancy nausea[2][3] and some for chemotherapy nausea alongside regular medicine.[5] But candy doesn't tell you how much ginger you're getting, so results will vary.
What is the best ginger candy for nausea?
No candy has been tested against another. Pick one that tastes strongly of real ginger and lists ginger near the top of its ingredients. Our Akono hard candy has a real ginger kick and lasts a long time in the mouth.
What are the side effects of eating ginger candy?
Ginger can cause stomach discomfort, heartburn or diarrhea in some people.[1] It may raise bleeding risk with blood thinners.[7] And candy adds sugar, which matters for teeth and blood sugar.
How quickly does ginger reduce nausea?
Research hasn't pinned this down. The studies we cite gave ginger over days and measured how people felt over that time,[3][5] so they don't tell us how fast one piece of candy works.
Can I eat ginger candy while pregnant?
Ginger is a recognized non-drug option for morning sickness,[2] and the NIH says ginger may be safe in pregnancy.[1] Ask your doctor or midwife first, and remember candy is mostly sugar.
Does ginger candy help motion sickness?
Probably not much. Most studies of ginger for motion sickness haven't shown a benefit.[1] Ask a pharmacist about travel-sickness medicine if you get sick on trips.
Where can I buy ginger candy near me in Chicago?
At Yado Market: pick up at 1651 E 87th St in Chicago, local delivery, or shipping anywhere in the U.S.
Sources
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Ginger. Updated February 2025.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Practice Bulletin No. 189: Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2018.
- Viljoen E, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect and safety of ginger in the treatment of pregnancy-associated nausea and vomiting. Nutrition Journal, 2014.
- Matthews A, et al. Interventions for nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2015.
- Ryan JL, et al. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) reduces acute chemotherapy-induced nausea: a URCC CCOP study of 576 patients. Supportive Care in Cancer, 2012.
- Chaiyakunapruk N, et al. The efficacy of ginger for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting: a meta-analysis. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2006.
- Cassileth B, Gubili J, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Ginger (Integrative Oncology). The ASCO Post, 2013.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central: "Spices, ginger, ground", portion size 1 tsp.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Akono ginger candy is a candy, not a medicine, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using ginger if you are pregnant, take medicine, or have a health condition.
Keep Ginger Candy on Hand
Sweet, spicy and wrapped one by one. Grab a bag of Akono for your purse, car or desk, or a box of honey ginger drink for the cupboard.