Ginger has been in use since ancient times, for both medicinal and cooking purposes. It has been used to relieve nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, throat aches, cold, and other health ailments. It is also added to various supplements, such as Grandma’s Kadha and more, thanks to its wide list of amazing benefits. In this article, we take a look at the health benefits of ginger in detail.
Health Benefits of Ginger
Ginger is a good source of various nutrients such as antioxidants like gingerol, vitamin B, C, thiamine, riboflavin, calcium, iron, and phosphorus among others. Due to the presence of these nutrients, ginger is loaded with health benefits including weight loss, nausea, blood sugar regulation, digestion, and fighting infections. Let’s take a look at ginger benefits below.
Prevents & Treats Cold & Flu
Gingerol in ginger helps in fighting infections in your body by inhibiting the growth of the many different types of bacteria. It is also shown to be effective in cases of oral and dental issues. Studies also show the benefits of ginger for respiratory ailments such as cold, cough, and flu. Having ginger and honey in hot water is known to be extremely soothing for a sore throat.
Fights Oxidative Stress
Fresh ginger, being rich in antioxidants, and especially gingerol, helps in fighting oxidative stress in the body - thereby relieving indigestion, fighting nausea, and improving overall health. Gingerol is the main bioactive compound found in the ginger plant, with amazing ant-inflammatory and antioxidant properties - giving ginger its medicinal powers.
Relieves Nausea
Research suggests that ginger can help alleviate the symptoms of morning sickness and relieve nausea - it is also known to have beneficial effects on those undergoing chemotherapy. It is known to be good for pregnant women who are experiencing the symptoms of nausea.
Promotes Weight Loss
Ginger juice promotes weight loss, according to various research studies, as it helps in reducing body weight, waist-hip ratio, and body mass index (BMI). People who have obesity also usually suffer from high blood insulin levels, which is further controlled by the consumption or supplementation of ginger. Ginger also directly helps in burning calories and reducing inflammation.
Reduces the Risk of Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis leads to the degeneration of the joints and bones in our body, causing various aches and pains and joint stiffness. Consumption of fresh ginger shown to have reduced the stiffness in the joints of participants in a study conducted over people with osteoporosis. In another study participants were given a topical application of ginger, cinnamon, mastic, and sesame oil over a period of time - which resulted in decreased pain and stiffness among those people.
Improves Heart Health
Ginger extract can help improve heart health by fighting oxidative stress and reducing the development and progression of any cardiovascular abnormalities. It also is shown to be beneficial for antiplatelet activity, thereby reducing the risk of clotting and boosting heart health. Ginger also reduces the cholesterol levels in your body or rather helps fight LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol, which can directly affect the heart and turns out to be a major contributor to heart attack and stroke cases.
There are many different ways in which you can add ginger to your routine to avail all of these benefits. The best way, however, is to supplement it with the amazing Grandma’s Kadha, which comes with not just ginger but also with tulsi, turmeric, amla, and more such essential ingredients. It has natural antibiotic and immunity-boosting properties to prevent and ease cough, cold, headaches and infections. It can be consumed for quick relief from the early signs of sickness like a runny nose, itchy throat, body aches and weakness. Simply drop a tab in hot water to sip on this pure, effective and time-trusted remedy.
References:
- Anh NH, Kim SJ, Long NP, et al. Ginger on Human Health: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of 109 Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. 2020;12(1):157. Published 2020 Jan 6. doi:10.3390/nu12010157 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7019938/)
- Townsend EA, Siviski ME, Zhang Y, Xu C, Hoonjan B, Emala CW. Effects of ginger and its constituents on airway smooth muscle relaxation and calcium regulation. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2013;48(2):157-163. doi:10.1165/rcmb.2012-0231OC. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3604064/)
- Bode AM, Dong Z. The Amazing and Mighty Ginger. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 7. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92775/
- Marx W, Kiss N, Isenring L. Is ginger beneficial for nausea and vomiting? An update of the literature. Curr Opin Support Palliat Care. 2015 Jun;9(2):189-95. doi: 10.1097/SPC.0000000000000135. PMID: 25872115. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25872115/)
- Mashhadi NS, Ghiasvand R, Askari G, Hariri M, Darvishi L, Mofid MR. Anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of ginger in health and physical activity: review of current evidence. Int J Prev Med. 2013;4(Suppl 1):S36-S42. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3665023/)
- Mao QQ, Xu XY, Cao SY, et al. Bioactive Compounds and Bioactivities of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). Foods. 2019;8(6):185. Published 2019 May 30. doi:10.3390/foods8060185. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6616534/)
- Mohd Sahardi NFN, Makpol S. Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) in the Prevention of Ageing and Degenerative Diseases: Review of Current Evidence. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019;2019:5054395. Published 2019 Aug 20. doi:10.1155/2019/5054395. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6721508/)
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