If you haven’t given ginger a try for what ails you now is the time to. I am a big promoter of ginger for its health benefits, which are backed up by scientific research (and my own results on myself). I like to drink it in tea form as find it soothing as a hot cup of tea, which is great for stress relief. I also cook with it in my food and like the added flavor it brings. It is one miracle food one should include in their diet for its various health benefits, that’s for sure!
Here are 10 amazing health benefits of ginger (and there are more):
1. Immune System Booster – Ginger can boost the immune system to help prevent colds, flus and other viral infections. According to Ayurvedic medicine, it effectively warms the body which helps in breaking down accumulated toxins in your organs and cleanses the lymphatic system. Which means you are less likely to get infections, especially in the respiratory system.
2. Prevent Heart Attack and Stroke – Ginger has anti-blood clotting abilities in that it can prevent and reduce blood clots, which can cause blockages, that can lead to to a heart attack or stroke. Combine it with garlic and onions, you get 3 powerful superfoods that can help to keep heart attacks and strokes at bay!
3. Indigestion and Nausea Aid – From a simple tummy ache to severe nausea, ginger is an effective digestive aid. It helps gastrointestinal disorders, such as bloating and constipation, to move food along the digestive system by relaxing the smooth muscle in the lining of your gut.
4. Fights Bacterial Infections – Ginger has antibacterial properties that have been compared to conventional antibiotics, but beats them each time in effectively killing bacteria like staph and strep. These two types of bacteria are very common in hospitals and for those who have a weaker immune system, can cause complications. If you need to have surgery or visiting someone in the hospital, take a couple drops of ginger essential oil in water before you go as a precautionary measure.
5. Pain Relief and Anti-Inflammatory Properties – Ginger is known for its anti-pain properties. Gingerol, the bioactive ingredient of ginger, acts on the vanilloid receptors, located on sensory nerve endings, by relieving pain similar to how capsaicin works. Just like when you eat a spicy hot pepper, you get an initial intense burning, ginger also has a burn but it lasts only a second. Ginger directly affects the pain pathways and relieves the pain by getting to the root of the inflammation that causes the pain. A couple examples of pain ginger can relieve, shown through studies, are in conditions like osteoarthritis and menstrual pain.
6. Cancer Prevention and Cancer Fighter – Ginger’s antioxidants and cancer fighter abilities were recently shown in a cancer research model which was published in PLoS. It was found that 6-shaogal, the pungent component in ginger, is 10,000 times stronger than chemo in fighting cancer, specifically in breast cancer. Taking ginger may help to prevent and fight cancer.
7. Cures Stomach Ulcers – Ginger can cure stomach ulcers which reasearchers have known since the 1980s. In a recent study, they discovered ginger was more potent by 6 to 8 times, than the drug of choice, to treat acid reflux or GERD. Since ginger is a good stomach remedy, it only makes sense to use it to help stomach ailments.
8. Improves Diabetes – Ginger can help to prevent and manage type 2 diabetes from diabetic complications, and may possibly even reverse it. Gingerols are known to enhance insulin sensitivity and naturally improves diabetes by lowering blood sugar, as well as regulating insulin in diabetics. Adding ginger can help in preventing and managing diabetes.
9. Lowers Cholesterol – Ginger extract lowers LDL cholesterol in a similar way as cholesterol drugs prescribed by doctors, according to researchers from a couple clinical studies. Use ginger to help with your cholesterol levels.
10. Brain Function Improvement and Protection Against Alzheimer’s Disease – There have been various studies suggesting that ginger can provide protection to age-related damage in the brain and improve brain function, especially in elderly women. Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress speeds up the aging process, which are the key reasons for age-related cognitive decline and alzheimer’s disease. It is suggested that the bioactive compounds and antioxidants in ginger can prevent the inflammatory responses that occur in the brain.
There are various forms to take ginger: raw ginger, ginger tea, dried ginger, ginger essential oil, ginger capsules or ginger powder. As in all things that are good for you, keep it in balance as part of a healthy diet and don’t go overboard. According to the University of Maryland Medical Health Center, it is advised for adults not to take more than 4 g of ginger per day, including in food, and for pregnant women, not more than 1 g per day. Always best to consult your health care provider if you are taking medications, as to how much you can take or if there would be any interaction. Side effects from ginger are rare and in high doses may cause irritation of the mouth, mild heartburn or diarrhea.
Ginger has long been used as an anti-inflammatory and digestive aid, but it has many other health benefits as shown here. A natural superfood that is a cheap investment to your health!
To make a tea out of ginger is very easy to do, just take a chunk of fresh ginger root, peel it and bring to a boil, then simmer in water for about 10 mins or so, a little longer to make it stronger. Drink it straight or can add organic honey to sweeten it. I prefer to drink it without anything added. Drink a cup of ginger tea once a day as a prevention and increase to two times a day, if feel you feel rundown or a cold or flu coming on. And if you have a cold or flu, drink a cup of it 3 times a day and it will help to stop it in its tracks and reduce the severity of it. The tea form not only relaxes the body, settles the stomach, relieves any nausea and reduces inflammation but helps for other ailments as well.
Start your day with ginger tea and enjoy the health benefits of ginger today! I don’t know about you but I’m going to grab a cup of ginger tea right now.
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