Do you keep ginger all the time in your spice cabinet? And do you love drinking ginger tea? Do you use ginger in some of your favorite dishes? Some of you may keep it in your medicine cabinet.
Though ginger is a tasty spice, it can be used as a soothing treat to ease an upset stomach and reduce nausea. Some studies also show that ginger is a quite effective remedy to relieve pain and inflammation.
Ginger is mostly found in Southeast Asia and is considered one of the world’s healthiest and most delightful spices. This spice is closely related to turmeric and cardoon. People use ginger root in cooking and medicines to treat various health issues.
Ginger can be used in various forms, like fresh root, dried, powdered, oil, or juice. It is mostly used as the common ingredient in recipes, but it is sometimes also used in processed foods and cosmetics.
Proven Health Benefits of Ginger.
Powerful Medicinal Properties
Ginger has been used as traditional and alternative medicine since ancient times. It is used to treat digestion, reduce nausea, and can also give relief from flu and common cold and many more benefits to add to the list.
Ginger contains gingerol, which is the primary bioactive compound that works effectively with ginger’s medicinal properties. The unique fragrance and flavor of ginger come from this compound.
Ginger also consists of highly effective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that make it a powerful remedy to reduce oxidative stress that may increase due to the excess amount of free radicals in the body.
Treat Nausea and Morning Sickness
One of the most effective benefits of ginger is working against nausea. It helps in relieving nausea and vomiting for people who have undergone certain types of surgery. If you are dealing with chemotherapy-related nausea, ginger can help in easing your condition.
This spice is also effective in giving relief to pregnant women, especially nausea related to morning sickness. In some studies, it has been found that women taking ginger daily experience a significant reduction in the symptoms of nausea. But, it is not effective on vomiting episodes.
Though ginger is safe to consume, if you are pregnant, you must consult your doctor to know the amount of ginger consumed on a daily basis.
It is also said that women who are close to labor or who had miscarriages must not consume ginger as this spice has a history of vaginal bleeding and clotting disorder.
Read More: Home Remedies For Morning Sickness.
Lower Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, or we can also say it as hypertension, is a common symptom due to the intake of highly processed foods. If this condition is not treated on time, it can result in damage to arteries, heart, eyes, brain, and even kidneys. The doctor will prescribe you the blood pressure medications to reduce this condition. But what if you get a chance to reduce blood pressure naturally?
Another one of the beneficial health benefits of ginger is to improve blood pressure. Ginger is quite helpful in increasing circulation in the body, which in turn helps in reducing blood pressure all through the body.
This spice contains potassium that is helpful in lowering blood pressure. The amount of potassium found in 100g of ginger is more than the amount present in one banana.
Helpful in Weight Loss
Are you working hard to reduce your weight? As per the study, it is stated that ginger can also be used in reducing those extra pounds. The ginger supplementation works great in reducing body weight by working on the waist-hip ratio. If you are overweight or suffering from obesity, you must start consuming ginger in any form you want.
In one study that was conducted on some women with obesity, it was found that ginger can help in reducing BMI (Body Mass Index) and blood insulin levels. These women were given around 2 grams of ginger powder daily for 12 weeks, and the results were amazing.
In another study, it was concluded that ginger has highly positive results on obesity and weight loss. Consuming ginger water or ginger extract leads to a decrease in body weight. These proven health benefits of ginger encourage people to increase their intake of ginger for better results.
Ease Flu And The Common Cold
You might have heard from your grandmother or from your mother about the health benefits of ginger when suffering from flu or cold. There is numerous evidence to support this claim.
As per one research, it is found that fresh ginger may be more helpful in protecting the respiratory system than using dried ginger. It is treated as a herbal medicine for common cold or flu treatment.
You can consume the ginger supplement, ginger tea or can add ginger in your recipes to ease your sore throat. When dealing with these conditions, try to consume ginger daily to get better results in a short time.
Helpful in Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is one of the common health problems. In this health condition, the degeneration of the joints in the body leads to joint pain, stiffness, and other symptoms. It is also found that if people, who are suffering from this health condition, consume ginger; they can experience a significant reduction in pain and stiffness.
Some people may not like the taste of ginger, but if you start consuming ginger on a daily basis, you will start loving it as the best remedy for your condition. If you are diagnosed with OA of the knee, you are advised to consume from 50mg to 1 gram of ginger daily anytime you want for about 3-12 weeks.
It is also believed that a combination of ginger, cinnamon, and sesame oil is also one of the great benefits of ginger to reduce pain and stiffness in patients suffering from OA of the knee.
Lower Blood Sugar And Improve Health Disease
Though this study is relatively new, it has been found that ginger may also serve as powerful anti-diabetic properties. In one study, some patients with type 2 diabetes were given 2 grams of powdered ginger every day. The results were amazing as it had lowered the fasting blood sugar by 12%.
It had also resulted in the reduction of Hemoglobin A1c by 10% with the timespan of 12 weeks. It had also found that the consumption of ginger resulted in a 28% reduction in ApoB/ApoA-I ratio, while a 23% reduction in MDA was also found. Both these are the major risk factors of heart disease.
After this, various studies had been conducted that showed somewhat similar results, while some showed that ginger had no beneficial effect on lowering fasting blood sugar.
Helpful in Chronic Indigestion
You might have experienced indigestion many times due to one or another reason. But, if you are a patient of chronic indigestion, then it’s a matter of concern. This condition may result in recurring pain and discomfort in the upper part of your stomach.
The major cause of indigestion is the delayed emptying of the stomach. Here, speeding up emptying your stomach is one of the effective health benefits of ginger.
In one study, some people with indigestion problems were given ginger in the form of capsules or powder. Around one hour later, these patients were given soup. Within half to one hour, they emptied their stomach.
Even people without any issue of indigestion can also enjoy the benefits of ginger. If you want to keep your digestive system working properly, you must start consuming ginger in your diet.
Reduce Menstrual Pain
Dysmenorrhea is the pain that most women feel during the menstrual cycle. One of the traditional, proven benefits of ginger is relieving pain, including menstrual pain.
In one study, some women were given ginger, while some were asked to take the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug for the first three days of their menstrual period. It was found that women who were given ginger managed to reduce menstrual pain as effectively as women who had taken the drug.
In some studies, it is found that ginger is more effective than a placebo and works the same as painkillers. So, if you experience too much pain due to your menstrual period, simply get some ginger tea or ginger supplement for a quick result.
Lower Cholesterol Levels
You must know that a high level of LDL cholesterol is linked directly to the increased risk of heart disease. The type of food you eat brings a great impact on your LDL levels. In one study, it is found that people who consume 5 grams of powdered ginger daily noticed around 17-18% reduction in LDL cholesterol levels over a period of 3 months.
This study is conducted on high doses of ginger. You can consult the doctor before you start consuming ginger to see the desired results. It is also found that people who consume 3 grams of powdered ginger in the capsule form daily experienced a significant reduction in their cholesterol levels. They noticed around 10% reduction in cholesterol levels over the period of 45 days.
Help in Preventing Cancer
Ginger has been found to be one of the alternative and effective remedies for various forms of cancer. It contains a large amount of a compound, gingerol, which has anti-cancer properties. Gingerol is quite powerful and works great to prevent various types of cancer.
People with a normal risk of colorectal cancer were given 2 grams of ginger extract regularly every day. There was found a significant reduction in the pro-inflammatory signing molecules in the colon. While the people having a high risk of colorectal cancer didn’t show the same results.
It is also found that ginger may show effective results against other gastrointestinal cancers. Ginger helps in preventing you from pancreatic cancer and liver cancer. The benefits of ginger also include the fight against breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
Improve Brain Function
Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation may result in increasing the aging process. It is also believed that these situations may also trigger Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline.
The antioxidants and bioactive compounds found in ginger can prevent the inflammatory responses in the brain. One of the proven health benefits of ginger is to enhance brain function. Middle-aged people can experience a great change in their memory and a great improvement in the reaction time.
In various studies, it has been shown that taking ginger regularly can help in protecting against age-related weakening in brain function.
Fight Against Infections
The compound gingerol, found in ginger, helps in lowering the risk of infections. In fact, it is found that ginger extract is quite effective in preventing the growth of different types of bacteria.
Ginger is believed to be an effective remedy to prevent oral bacteria linked to gingivitis and periodontitis. Consuming fresh ginger can be beneficial in fighting against respiratory infections.
Also Read more about such Health Benefits Of Ayurvedic Herbs.
How To Use Ginger?
It is great to know these proven health benefits of ginger. But, are you confused about how to consume ginger in your daily routine? It is a spice, and many of you may not like its taste.
Fortunately, you have a number of ways to enjoy ginger either in your diet or in other forms.
- Fresh ginger root
- Ground ginger
- Ginger capsules
- Tea having Ginger
- Ginger chews
- Ginger oil
No matter what option you will choose for yourself, it ensures to give a soothing effect to various health concerns. Still, it is recommended to consult a doctor if you are suffering from a chronic health condition. Never take ginger in a large amount without asking your doctor.
Final Words
There is no doubt that the nutrients and bioactive compounds present in ginger make it a powerful remedy to treat various health problems. The given health benefits of ginger will surely encourage you to start consuming this spice from today only.
If you are a patient with a specific health problem, you will find these benefits of ginger quite helpful.
