Do you know how ginger affects your health? The medicinal Benefits of Ginger have been proven through many studies. We just use ginger for the sake of taste but you will be amazed by knowing the health benefits of ginger, it helps you in fighting many diseases.
Ginger is a very potent medicinal plant that belongs to the Zingiberaceae Plant family. Turmeric and Cardamom also fall under the same plant family. The root is used medicinally, it has a sharp, pungent taste and aroma.
Ginger root contains several chemicals and its active constituents like volatile oil gingerol are used as the most potent medicine. It inhibits prostaglandins and leukotriene formation and reduces inflammation and increases the healing process within the body cells.
Ginger contains several chemical compounds as listed below:
Starch – 50%
Protein – 9-10%
Lipids including lecithin, fatty acids, phosphatidic acid, and glycerides – 7-8%
Proteases – 2-3%
Volatile oils including zingiberol, gingerol, shogoal, and zingiberene
Vitamins including Vitamin A, Vitamin B3, and Vitamin C
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Health Benefits of Ginger
Ginger has been used since ancient times to aid digestion and relieve symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Also, it is used as an aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory, anti-cough & cold, and useful for indigestion, nausea, and vomiting.
Several studies have been done to prove the medicinal properties and health benefits of ginger. A German study done in 1999 reported the results from 12 volunteers who were given 100 mg ginger extract twice a day when fasting and then with a meal. In both the stances, it was found that digestive movement was increased through the stomach and duodenum.
The Japanese use ginger as an antidote for fish poisoning. Ginger fights harmful intestinal bacteria like E. Coli, streptococcus, and staphylococcus and prevents their growth. It also helps the growth of lactobacillus in the intestines and kills Schistosoma and Anisakis parasites.
The health benefits of ginger are not limited to digestive and anti-bacterial properties. Other health benefits of ginger are anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-carcinogenic, and reduces cholesterol levels.
Ginger Boosts Your Immunity
You must have used Kadha (Joshanda) during the Covid-19 outbreak to improve your immunity and fight the virus. Every Kadha preparation includes ginger because it has anti-viral, antibacterial, and anti-parasitic properties. Ginger improves your immunity and restricts the growth of viruses and bacteria.
It is very helpful in stress assistance, and DNA reconstruction, and helps enhance, your body to produce vitamin B12. The health benefits of ginger are a proven fact in modern medicine now.
Ginger Helps You Maintaining Your Oral Hygiene
The pungent taste and aroma of ginger help you in keeping away the bad breath. Gingers stop bacteria growth in your mouth and gums which also helps in healing the ulcers and reducing inflammation of your gums.
Since ginger has Vitamin C, it helps in maintaining gum health even a very effective supportive therapy for scurvy treatment.
To get the health benefits of ginger, chew a small piece of ginger daily which will act as a mouth freshener, and there is no need to use synthetic or harmful chemicals to get rid of the bad breath.
Ginger Helps in Digestion
A study in India published in 2000 reported the effects of ginger in a combination with other spices. The study reported that one single dose of ginger with other spices stimulated several digestive enzymes including pancreatic enzymes.
Ginger juice or if used in salad or in vegetables helps in reducing the symptoms of flatulence, indigestion, nausea, and vomiting. It is an active constituent in many Ayurveda and Unani digestive preparations (Jawarish Zanjbeel).
Ginger juice is very effective for nausea and vomiting symptoms and gives ultimate health benefits of ginger. It also helps in reducing the nausea symptoms during pregnancy. Also very helpful in chemotherapy-induced nausea.
Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory properties
Ginger soothes sore muscles and muscular pain. Its anti-inflammatory properties promote the healing process of the cells and are very effective in gastric ulcer treatment. In some studies, people with tired muscles and muscle pain from exercise who took ginger had less pain the next day than those who didn’t.
It also helps in the treatment of joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis. You might get relief by taking ginger orally or by using a ginger compress on your skin.
Ginger Prevents Cancer Growth
Recent studies suggest the usage of ginger helps in the prevention of cancer. The chemical compounds or bioactive molecules in ginger help in repairing the cancer cells and prevent the growth of cancer further.
People who use ginger regularly in their diet either in the form of juice, powder, salad, or vegetables are less prone to the risk of cancer. It’s very effective in reducing the cancer cell growth in almost all types of cancer.
People who have been given ginger with the active chemotherapy treatment have fewer complications and side effects. Also shown good control of the disease with lower doses of chemotherapy drugs.
Medical Oncologists suggest that ginger may slow down the growth of some cancers like colorectal, breast cancer, skin, prostate lungs, liver, and stomach cancer. But more research and scientific evidence are needed to see the results, health benefits of ginger, and if all claims are true or not.
Ginger Helps reducing Blood Sugar
This has been observed that people who consumed ginger regularly are found better blood sugar control. The effects of ginger are very evident on the pancreas as it promotes the activity of the pancreas and increases digestive enzymes. It may also be considered that ginger improves insulin sensitivity by acting on Beta cells of the pancreas and releasing glucagon.
Moreover, ginger has a good amount of fibers and reduces glucose absorption from the intestine.
Ginger reduces Cholesterol Levels
This is an important function of ginger, it reduces the risk of coronary artery disease and brain stroke if used along with garlic. Lipids found in ginger increase the production of HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) a good type of cholesterol. On other hand, it reduces the production of triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). This action of ginger reduces the risk of cholesterol deposits in arteries, resulting low risk of Heart Attack and stroke.
How to Use Ginger
Ginger can be used in the form of juice, soup, powder, salad, and vegetables; ginger tea is used worldwide just to enhance the taste but you get the medicinal benefits of ginger too.
Take small pieces of ginger, put them into one cup of water, and boil them for 5 minutes. Filter it and add one teaspoon full of honey and one teaspoon full of lemon juice into the filtrate. Use this preparation twice a day morning and evening. This will reduce your respiratory and sore throat symptoms too.
Use this preparation for 30 days, give a gap of 2 weeks and then restart and take it for 30 days. Repeat this cycle, you may use this for years without any side effects. If you are diabetic, then please do not use honey.
You can also use a soup by adding ginger into it either tomato soup, corn soup, or chicken soup.
Diabetics can use ginger in the form of salad and in vegetables. You may chew a raw piece of ginger daily which will also give you equaling benefits.
