My food mentor, Fred Bisci, is 96 years old. He is not a redhead and he is certainly not a “ginger” in any sense of the word. And while the image included here is unrelated, it gives a small sense of the energy and presence he carries to this day.
Fred taught me that ginger juice helps break up gas pressure inside the digestive system. The way he explained it, when digestion is weak, gas builds up in the intestines and that pressure affects the entire body. In his view, if this internal pressure is not relieved, it can spread through the system and contribute to irritation and inflammation on a very subtle scale. He described it as the tiniest form of disturbance, where the body is holding onto pressure it cannot release.
Modern science agrees with parts of this concept, even if it uses different language. Research shows that ginger can help the stomach empty more efficiently and calm the muscles of the digestive tract. This reduces bloating, gas, and the heavy feeling of fullness after eating. In simple terms, ginger helps food and gas move through the gut so it does not build up and cause discomfort. Scientific studies also show that ginger contains compounds called gingerols and shogaols, which have strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. These compounds help lower markers of inflammation and may support joint health, digestive comfort, and overall system resilience.
Where Fred used vivid imagery—like gas entering cells and weighing them down—science tells a more technical story. In reality, gas from the intestines does not pass into cells and distort them. Inflammation is not a gas bubble trapped in a cell. Instead, it is a complex immune process involving chemical messengers, changes in blood flow, and responses in tissue. Ginger supports this system not by "popping bubbles" inside us, but by calming inflammatory pathways, reducing oxidative stress, and relieving mechanical pressure in the gut.
Even though his imagery may not be scientifically precise, the feeling he described is very real. When the intestines are swollen with gas and food is not moving properly, the gut sends distress signals through the nervous system. This includes the vagus nerve, which connects the digestive tract directly to the brain. The body senses that something is off, even if we cannot name it. We feel this as tension, irritability, fogginess, or anxiety without a clear reason. When ginger improves digestion and reduces gas, it helps quiet that background noise and restore ease.
At its core, Fred’s teaching holds up. Ginger juice can relieve internal pressure, support better digestion, and contribute to lower inflammation throughout the body. It helps the whole system feel lighter and calmer. While the microscopic explanation might differ from the poetic version I first learned, the practical effect is the same. A simple daily practice like drinking ginger juice or ginger tea is a small, powerful act. It supports the gut, calms the nerves, and gives the body a gentle push back toward balance.
Above: The real Fred Bisci