The Benefits of Ginger

Ginger

Ginger is one of the healthiest and most delicious spices on the planet. It is loaded with nutrients and bioactive compounds that have powerful benefits for your body and brain.

It is a flowering plant that originated from China. The rhizome (underground part of the stem) is the part commonly used as a spice. It is often called ginger root, or simply ginger.

Ginger has a very long history of use in various forms of traditional/alternative medicine. It has been used to help digestion, reduce nausea and help fight the flu and common cold, to name a few.

It also reduces high blood pressure (hypertension), neutralizes free radicals, reduces rheumatic pain, and prevents blood vessel blockages, to treat itching due to insect bites.

Ginger can be used fresh, dried, powdered, or as an oil or juice, and is sometimes added to processed foods and cosmetics. It is a very common ingredient in recipes.

Gingerol is the main bioactive compound in ginger, responsible for much of its medicinal properties. It has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Below are other health benefits of ginger:

1. Ginger relieves nausea and vomiting after surgery, and in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

But it may be the most effective when it comes to pregnancy-related nausea, such as morning sickness. According to a review of 12 studies that included a total of 1,278 pregnant women, 1.1-1.5 grams of ginger can significantly reduce symptoms of nausea.

Although ginger is considered safe, talk to your doctor before taking large amounts if you are pregnant. Some believe that large amounts can raise the risk of miscarriage, but there are currently no studies to support this.

2. Ginger reduces muscle pain and soreness

Ginger has been shown to be effective against exercise-induced muscle pain. Consuming 2 grams of ginger per day, for 11 days, significantly reduced muscle pain in people performing elbow exercises.

Ginger does not have an immediate impact, but may be effective at reducing the day-to-day progression of muscle pain.

3. The Anti-Inflammatory Effects Can Help With Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a common health problem. It involves degeneration of the joints in the body, leading to symptoms like joint pain and stiffness.

In a controlled trial of 247 people with osteoarthritis of the knee, those who took ginger extract had less pain and required less pain medication.

Another study found that a combination of ginger, mastic, cinnamon and sesame oil, can reduce pain and stiffness in osteoarthritis patients when applied topically.

4. Ginger May Drastically Lower Blood Sugars and Improve Heart Disease Risk Factors

This area of research is relatively new, but ginger may have powerful anti-diabetic properties.

In a recent 2015 study of 41 participants with type 2 diabetes, 2 grams of ginger powder per day lowered fasting blood sugar by 12%.c. It also dramatically improved HbA1c (a marker for long-term blood sugar levels), leading to a 10% reduction over a period of 12 weeks.

5. Ginger Can Help Treat Chronic Indigestion

Chronic indigestion (dyspepsia) is characterized by recurrent pain and discomfort in the upper part of the stomach. It is believed that delayed emptying of the stomach is a major driver of indigestion.

Interestingly, ginger has been shown to speed up emptying of the stomach in people with this condition. After eating soup, ginger reduced the time it took for the stomach to empty from 16 to 12 minutes.

Ginger in food, or ideally as a strong tea, helps stimulate saliva, bile and gastric juice production to aid in digestion. Phenolic compounds like gingerol and various other volatile oils are primarily responsible for ginger tea's beneficial effect on your digestive system.

6. Ginger powder may significantly reduce menstrual pain

Menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea) refers to pain felt during a woman’s menstrual cycle. One of the traditional uses of ginger is for pain relief, including menstrual pain.

In one study, 150 women were instructed to take 1 gram of ginger powder per day, for the first 3 days of the menstrual period. Ginger managed to reduce pain as effectively as the drugs mefenamic acid and ibuprofen.

7. Ginger may lower Cholesterol levels

High levels of LDL lipoproteins (the “bad” cholesterol) are linked to an increased risk of heart disease.

The foods you eat can have a strong influence on LDL levels.

In a 45-day study of 85 individuals with high cholesterol, 3 grams of ginger powder caused significant reductions in most cholesterol markers.

Ginger in a blended form

8. Ginger contains a substance that may help prevent cancer

Cancer is a very serious disease that is characterized by uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells.

Ginger extract has been studied as an alternative treatment for several forms of cancer. The anti-cancer properties are attributed to 6-gingerol, a substance that is found in large amounts in raw ginger.

In a study of 30 individuals, 2 grams of ginger extract per day significantly reduced pro-inflammatory signalling molecules in the colon.

However, a follow-up study in individuals at a high risk of colon cancer did not confirm these findings.

There is some, albeit limited, evidence that ginger may be effective against pancreatic cancer, breast cancer and ovarian cancer. More research is needed.

9. Ginger May Improve Brain Function and Protect Against Alzheimer’s Disease

Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation can accelerate the aging process. They are believed to be among the key drivers of Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline.

Some studies in animals suggest that the antioxidants and bioactive compounds in ginger can inhibit inflammatory responses that occur in the brain.

There is also some evidence that ginger can enhance brain function directly. In a study of 60 middle-aged women, ginger extract was shown to improve reaction time and working memory.

There are also numerous studies in animals showing that ginger can protect against age-related decline in brain function.

10. The Active Ingredient in Ginger Can Help Fight Infections

Gingerol, the bioactive substance in fresh ginger, can help lower the risk of infections. In fact, ginger extract can inhibit the growth of many different types of bacteria.

Fresh ginger may also be effective against the RSV virus, a common cause of respiratory infections.

What does Ginger do to the body?

Ginger is commonly used to treat various types of "stomach problems," including motion sickness, morning sickness, colic, upset stomach, gas, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), nausea, nausea caused by cancer treatment, nausea caused by HIV/AIDS treatment, nausea and vomiting after surgery, etc.

However, if taken in large quantities, ginger can cause other stomach problems such as diarrhea.

Ginger For Hair Growth

Ginger is also a great hair conditioner. Rich in minerals and essential oils, it makes hair more manageable, softer and shinier. Besides, ginger is a useful remedy for dandruff and dry, itchy scalp. It contains natural anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties that help keep scalp healthy and clean.

Ginger for cough

Ginger is an herbal for relief from sore throat, non-stop coughing and even congestion. You can also add some lemon juice and honey to it. Another option is to chew fresh raw ginger on and off throughout the day to reduce your cough.

The anti-inflammatory gingerols and shaogals in ginger root will help to relieve a sore throat quickly, and they also kill rhinoviruses, which cause colds in the first place.

Skin Mask

Ginger is the jam for keeping my skin looking youthful and even-toned.

Cure For Baldness

Hair loss is a common problem experienced by many people both men and women. A wide variety of ways used to overcome the hair loss, either by using modern means or by natural means, because hair loss if left unchecked could lead to baldness. And of course the baldness can make us feel inferior and less confident.

The cause of hair loss usually causes by often change hair styles, hair coloring, hair washing too frequently and also the habit of using a hair dryer.

To overcome the hair problems, it would be better if we use the natural way with natural ingredients. And one of them is to use natural ingredients of ginger. Ginger is a plant that contains Zingeron compounds.

Here ginger benefits to maintain the health of your hair:

1.Prepare ginger to taste (1-2 sections/depending on needs), then wash thoroughly. 2.          Peel then mashed or grated the ginger. 3. Rub the grated ginger on the scalp. 4. Allow a few minutes so that ginger can stimulate the hair cells and gives a healthy scalp and hair health. 5. And final step, wash the head thoroughly.

Written by Joe Leech, Dietitian