Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) is one of the most common spices used in Indian cooking. However, it is the therapeutic benefits of the root that makes it extraordinary. It has been a traditional Ayurvedic medicine, which is high in a powerful antioxidant. It also has an anti-inflammatory agent called ‘gingerol’.
Qualities of Ginger
The Ayurvedic Qualities of Ginger
Traditional Ayurvedic sources speak elaborately about ginger’s usefulness and effectiveness in treating joint pains. It is known as the therapeutic solution which can help in improving the movements of the joints. It is an ideal Ayurvedic solution you can have for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. This is the remedy you can have to stay active and have the right physiological condition. Ginger also acts as a solution to airsickness. It also allows nutrients to be better absorbed by the body and the proper elimination of bodily wastes.
It is beneficial if you can eat ginger in raw form. For this, you have to make ginger slices and chew on them. You can even dip the ginger slices in salt water and add lime juice. It will help if you drink this solution before taking a meal. If you feel that you cannot eat ginger in the raw form and feel disturbed by the pungent taste, then you can add slices of ginger to the curry and enjoy the benefits of this Ayurvedic ingredient.
Benefits of Ginger Tea
You need to know that ginger tea is good for your health. To the tea, you can add peppermint or honey, which can help conceal the pungent smell of the stuff. It is highly beneficial to have ginger tea, especially in the monsoon season. During monsoon time, it is common to feel nauseated. Drinking ginger tea can help in relieving the condition. The tea is right to help eliminate conditions of motion sickness and the vomiting associated with the same.
During monsoon, the Agni or the digestive fire of your stomach is low and not usually working to its optimal levels. This is when ginger tea can help. It helps improve the stomach’s performance, which is a suitable ingredient to help improve digestion. In case you have overeaten, drinking ginger tea will prevent you from feeling bloating. Ginger tea is also the proper brew to heal muscle and joint problems. Ginger tea relieves joint inflammation and is also the perfect tea to fight against respiratory problems. If you have congestion due to the common cold, ginger tea will help relieve the condition at the earliest.
The Magic of Dry Ginger
There are many tried, tested, and trusted benefits of using dry ginger or ginger powder. In this case, fresh ginger is dried in the sun and utterly dehydrated before usage. This looks like the fine off-white flakes, which are then powdered and have a pungent smell. It is easy to store dry ginger. You can use the dried form of ginger in cooking or in-home remedies to treat various ailments, especially colds and coughs.
The dry ginger can be used to flavor the gingerbreads. Dry ginger is the best ingredient to make foods for the expecting mothers and even for the lactating females. You can even use dried ginger to treat skin-related problems, especially on the face. You must make a solution of ginger powder, water, rosemary, or lavender oil. Make sure to store the solution in a cool place and use the same to make a face feel refreshed.
Top 16 Amazing Health Benefits Of Ginger
1. Treats Nausea Effectively
Ginger is highly effective against different forms of nausea. It has long been used as a sea sickness remedy. Regular intake of 1.1-1.5gm of ginger is extremely beneficial for pregnancy-related nausea like morning sickness. It can relieve the symptoms of post-surgery nausea significantly. The potential of the root against chemotherapy-induced nausea in cancer patients has also been confirmed by research.
2. Offers Gastro-Protective Effects – Helps in Digestion
Ginger has amazing protective effects on our gastrointestinal system. In fact, it has been used as a natural digestive remedy for thousands of years. According to a study published in the “Molecular Nutrition and Food Research”, the root can cure stomach ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) almost 8 times more efficiently than prescribed medications. Besides, ginger can also aid in treating bloating, flatulence, constipation, and other gastrointestinal disorders.
3. Makes Chronic Indigestion Better
Dyspepsia or chronic indigestion can be treated well with ginger. When consumed before a meal, the herb can expedite emptying of the stomach as much as 50%, which reduces pain and discomfort caused due to indigestion. This is also quite helpful in preventing malabsorption by stimulating regular digestion and promoting proper assimilation of nutrients.
4. Eases Muscle Pain And Soreness
When it comes to relieving pain, aches, and discomfort in muscles naturally, the anti-inflammatory properties of ginger help a lot. Gingerol presents in ginger acts directly on the endings of our sensory nerves, which gradually reduces inflammation to a great extent. It is especially true for exercise-induced muscle pain and soreness. According to a study conducted by Danish researchers, ginger reduces swelling, joint pain, and stiffness.
As per a study, in order to cure the pain one should take the below daily in their daily diet.
- 1 tsp of dried ginger
- 2 tsp of chopped ginger
5. Reduces Osteoarthritis Symptoms
People, who have long been suffering from osteoarthritis, can benefit from ginger significantly. Though it cannot prevent the degeneration of bone joints in patients, it can ease the symptoms considerably. Studies have found that the anti-inflammatory properties of the root can decrease even the most prominent osteoarthritis symptoms like pain and stiffness significantly.
6. Helps With Menstrual Pain
When it comes to dealing with painful periods naturally, ginger helps a lot. One just needs to take 1gm of ginger powder daily for 3 consecutive days at the starting of the menstrual cycle. It can treat dysmenorrhea or menstrual cramps by reducing the pain to a huge extent, thereby providing relief to women during those days.
7. Keeps Blood Sugar Levels Low – Helps in Diabetes
Ginger is a potent natural anti-diabetic agent that lowers our blood sugar levels and keeps them stabilized in an efficient way. Daily consumption of 2gm of ginger powder is known to enhance the insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes patients, thereby promoting carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Apart from balancing blood sugar and improving diabetes, it also keeps various diabetic complications under control.
8. Lowers Cholesterol Levels
Scientists have discovered that ginger extract is extremely useful in decreasing the levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), also known as ‘bad cholesterol’, in our bloodstream. Daily intake of the only 3gm of ginger can bring most of the cholesterol markers down along with reducing the levels of triglycerides. In a study conducted with ginger powder on cardiac patients, it was found that it possesses lipid-lowering effect in a significant way. It also reduces the triglyceride and cholesterol levels. [Link]
9. Regulates Blood Pressure
Gingerol, the active compound present in the ginger extract, supports our overall cardiovascular health by regulating our blood pressure levels. Scientists have concluded that the herb can help us keep hypertension away by lowering high blood pressure and maintaining its standard levels in an efficient way. It lowers blood pressure by sealing off voltage-dependent calcium channels. [link]
10. Improves Cardiac Risk Factors
While the cholesterol and blood pressure-lowering capabilities make ginger a boon for cardiovascular health, the anti-clotting property of the herb also helps ease different cardiac risk factors. A study has confirmed that ginger can reduce the ApoB/ApoA-I ratio and oxidized lipoproteins in our bloodstream drastically, which keeps heart attack and stroke at bay.
11. Protects Against Cancer
Ginger extract has been found to be highly effective against different forms of cancer including colon cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, etc. Being loaded with 6-gingerol, it possesses strong anti-carcinogenic property. This reduces pro-inflammatory signaling molecules and inhibits the growth of abnormal cancerous cells.
Anti-inflammatory effects and anti-oxidative properties of ginger makes it an ideal herb for cancer prevention. Some of the top ingredients present in it are paradols, shogaol, and gingerols that have cancer-fighting properties.
12. Prevents Age-Related Brain Damages
Ginger is believed to prevent age-related cognitive decline, especially in women. The antioxidants and bioactive compounds (6-Shogaol, 10-gingerol, etc.) found in the traditional herb protect our brain from chronic inflammation as well as oxidative stress. It not only helps in maintaining the brain health but also promotes its functionalities over time.
13. Boosts Immune System
Ginger assists in strengthening our immunity in a natural manner. It warms up the body and breaks down the toxin buildups. It also eliminates harmful substances from organs in order to keep the body healthy in the long run. The root also plays a key role in cleansing the lymphatic system, which opens up the lymphatic channels and prevents compromised immunity.
14. Keeps Infections Away
Being a natural immunity booster, ginger has great antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. It can prevent bacterial infections by killing or at least restricting the growth of a number of dangerous bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. The herb is also quite effective in fighting fungal infections as well as treating respiratory infections caused by the RSV virus.
15. Comforts Migraine Pain
Ground ginger is known to provide relief from migraine-related discomfort. People suffering from the pain of a migraine can rely on it and feel better within just a few hours. Being a natural remedy for a migraine, ginger doesn’t cause any side effect. Most children with a migraine could get relief on just taking ginger tea. [Link]
16. Averts UV Damages – Prevents Skin Problems
The ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun cause immense damage to our skin, but ginger can turn out to be the savior. The herb can absorb ultraviolet-B (UVB) present in the sunlight, thereby preventing damages to the cells, especially the DNAs inside them. In addition, ginger also stimulates the production of antioxidants in the body, which offer a protective effect against the UV rays.
Key Facts About Ginger
- Origin: Native to Southeast Asia
- Family: Zingiberaceae family
- Plant Appearance: Herbaceous perennial with thick, knobby rhizomes (roots)
- Leaves: Long, narrow, and green with a pointed tip
- Flowers: Small, yellow-green with purple streaks
- Rhizome Use: Widely used in cooking and traditional medicine
- Nutrition: Contains gingerol, vitamins B6 and C, and minerals like magnesium
- Health Benefits: Known for anti-inflammatory, digestive, and nausea-relieving properties
- Cultivation: Grows best in warm, humid climates with well-drained soil
- Propagation: Typically grown from rhizome sections
- Global Production: India, China, Indonesia, and Nigeria are major producers
- Culinary Use: Used fresh, dried, or powdered in both savory and sweet dishes
Whether taken raw or used in cooking, ginger can always give a great boost to health. So, include it in your daily diet and stay healthy!
1 Comment
Thank you for that insightful information.I have known ginger since childhood but didn’t know its health benefits until now,infact I tended to shun it because of its bitter taste.