Plant atlas Short
Galangal: The Ginger Look-Alike in Tom Kha Gai
Galangal · ข่า · Alpinia galanga
Galangal — ข่า (kha) — Alpinia galanga.
In a controlled crossover trial, a proprietary concentrated galangal extract taken with caffeine raised alertness and sustained attention. Galangal is ginger's woodier, sharper look-alike, and it provides copper, iron, vitamin C, and fiber. Thai cooking uses the rhizome for its citrus-pine flavor: Tom Kha Gai simmers galangal with chicken and coconut milk, while red curry paste pounds it with chilies and aromatics. Follow Longevity Biome for a new Thai plant every day.
Tom Kha Gai — ต้มข่าไก่ (tom-kha-gai)
Nam Phrik Kha — น้ำพริกข่า (nam-phrik-kha)
Source: Srivastava et al. (2017). Alpinia galanga (EnXtra) on alertness/attention: double-blind placebo-controlled crossover RCT, n=59. J Am Coll Nutr 36(8):631-639. PMID 28910196
Educational content, not medical advice! Consult your doctor before changing diet or medication.
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Food and nutrients
Rich in: copper, iron, vitamin C, fiber
Research context
A concentrated galangal extract raised mental alertness and sustained caffeine's focus in a controlled trial — J Am Coll Nutr, 2017