I love cooking and juicing with ginger, it is also great diced up on a cup of hot water for stomach discomfort.
Originating from China, it is one of the most powerful and extremely beneficial spice that has been consumed for many generations. Ginger can be found in various forms – fresh, dried, ground/powdered, or juiced.
It is one of the healthiest spices in the world due to its plethora of nutrients and bio-active ingredients.
On top of everyday consumption of ginger, it can be used for traditional and alternative medicinal purposes as well.
If you don’t use ginger in your kitchen, here are 8 reasons why you might want to start:
1. GINGER RELIEVES DIGESTIVE ISSUES
The phenolic compounds in ginger have been shown to help relieve irritation in the gastrointestinal tract. They help to stimulate saliva and bile production while allowing food and fluids to move through the GI tract more smoothly.
A study that had been conducted, with 24 people included who were all in a healthy condition.
They consumed 1.2 grams of the herb’s powder and the amount was taken just before their meal. The results showed that it speeded up the processing of food and lowered indigestion by 50%.
2. SOOTHES NAUSEA
Traditional medicine tells us how it was consumed in the past, raw unsweetened ginger is totally safe to be consumed as ginger tea. If experiencing nausea it can be of great help, also it is useful for those who feel nausea due to chemotherapy or morning sickness.
A review of 12 studies that included a total of 1278 pregnant women found that 1.1-1.5 grams of ginger significantly reduced nausea.
3. GINGER CAN RELIEVE PAIN
University of Georgia conducted a study which proved that, if ginger is consumed daily, it can reduce the muscle aches by 25%. Also, it can be of great help with menstrual pain.
4. IT MAY REDUCE THE RISK OF HEART DISEASES
In a recent study involving participants with type 2 diabetes, researchers found that 2 grams of ginger powder each day lowered blood sugar and led to a 10% overall reduction over a period of 12 weeks. The high blood sugar is a major risk factor for heart disease. With the effects of this root on blood sugar, your risk of heart disease may be lowered by at least 10%.
. REDUCTION OF CHOLESTEROL LEVELS
Study that was going on for 45 days and 90 people were participating with high cholesterol, provided proof that 3 grams of this herb in the form of a powder can lower the cholesterol levels.
6. GINGER REDUCES INFLAMMATION
Osteoarthritis is very common disease and what it does, it leads to deterioration of different joints in the body. The people who have this medical issue, feel harp pain in the joints and stiffness.
In a trial of around 250 people with osteoarthritis of the knee, those who took ginger extract had less pain and required less pain medication.
7. ANTI-CANCER PROPERTIES
The substance called 6-gingerol has been put on a lot of testing and researching for finding alternative methods of treating different types of cancer.
Research on this theory is still being conducted, but one study found that 2 grams of ginger extract each day significantly reduced pro-inflammatory signalling molecules in the colon.
8. IMPROVES BRAIN FUNCTION
Aging process can be accelerated by many factors, like chronic inflammation and oxidative stress which can bring you a step closer to Alzheimers disease and other age-related cognitive impairments.
Some studies suggest that the antioxidants and bio-active compounds can inhibit inflammatory responses that occur in the brain. In a study of 60 middle-aged women, ginger extract was shown to improve reaction time and working memory, suggesting that it supports brain health in many ways.
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