Ginger is a plant root with multiple benefits for the body and for overall health. For centuries it was used in the typical diet of different cultures thanks to its natural and nutritional properties. If you include ginger in your daily diet it will increase body temperature in cold weather, accelerate metabolism, increase libido or help prevent nausea and dizziness during pregnancy.
After reading this article we came to know about the benefits that ginger brings to the human body as well as the different ways we have to ingest it, which can be both liquid and solid.
What is ginger?
Ginger is an aromatic plant that has been studied for centuries, thanks to its healthy and healing effects. It belongs to the tuber family and is an underground rhizome (root) with a remarkably spicy flavour, which also makes it a good gastronomic seasoning.
Since ancient times, ginger was one of the most popular and important plants in the east, especially in the Arabian countries, China and India. This is the result, in part, of its properties: it is a natural anti-inflammatory that helps fight various heart, digestive or respiratory diseases.
Its composition
Ginger means finding in a single food a whole concentration of benefits and compounds, such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids or essential oils for our health.
Within the family of oils that it contains, we find some types of citronellal, lemongrass and caffeine. Gingerol is another essential oil of the plant since it is responsible for giving it that spicy flavour that characterizes it.
As for vitamins, this tuber is rich in Vitamin B and C, as well as being rich in minerals such as aluminium, phosphorus, calcium and chromium.
READ MORE: The Importance of Superfoods for Your Better Health
The most important ginger benefits
Below we will briefly review the benefits of ginger that can help significantly improve our health if we maintain a regular consumption:
- Nausea
During pregnancy it is ideal to consume ginger as a natural antiemetic, especially for the first few months of pregnancy because it is a beneficial supplement for both the fetus and the mother. It also helps deal with the difficulties of chemotherapy for patients suffering from cancer.
- Digestive
Ginger is highly recommended for those who suffer from digestive problems such as gastritis, flatulence or diarrhoea, among others. It also works as a stomach protector, although it cannot replace the medication dedicated to this.
- Natural anti-inflammatory
The use of ginger is recommended to help go through painful or inflammatory diseases, and effectively combat problems of osteoarthritis, arthritis or chronic fatigue.
- Sore throat
Professional singers are great fans of ginger because of its benefit to treat throat infection.
- Helps increase body heat
Ginger is highly recommended for those who are cold or who have problems maintaining body temperature, especially in winter. It has a very powerful calorific component.
- Accelerate the metabolism
It also helps to speed up the metabolism, so it is an ideal complement if we need to lose weight.
- Increase libido
Ginger is considered as a natural aphrodisiac. It is recommended to take it as a drink almost every day.
- Prevents heart disease
As we have commented previously, ginger has benefits for cardiovascular problems, maintains an optimal rhythmic level and helps regulate the pumping of the heart.
- Improves circulation
Ginger also makes blood circulation better adapt to what we are doing.
- Fight migraines
Scientific studies have shown that ginger blocks the effects of prostaglandin, a substance that causes inflammation of the blood vessels in the brain that causes acute headaches (migraines).
- Anti-stress
Thanks to the properties that it contains in cineole, ginger helps reduce anxiety levels, controls stress in seasons that suffer from ups and downs and gives the body a feeling of calm.
- Decreases muscle problems
It is food especially recommended for those who practice sports consistently and high performance. It will help relax the muscles after subjecting them to a lot of pressure.
- Avoid congestion
Effectively combat congestion and constipation discomfort. It is advisable to take ginger infusions.
- Calms menstrual cramps
For those women who suffer from ovarian pain, it is highly important to take liquid ginger. It is the only natural remedy that does not have significant side effects.
- Prevents colon cancer
The properties of gingerols are beneficial to prevent colon cancer. Its effects seem to inhibit the growth of cancer cells in this area.
- Strengthen the defences
Ginger has tremendous benefits for the immune system, so it helps make colds and acute flu develop.
- Dermatological treatment
Ginger root can be applied directly to the skin, and effectively fights minor wounds and burns if it suffers sunstroke.
- Reconcile the dream
As we have seen, the relaxing effects of ginger help regulate stress. In this way, if we have the trouble of falling asleep, studies suggest taking ginger before going to sleep.
What is the best way to take it?
As mentioned earlier, consuming ginger on a regular basis, if possible, on a daily basis, will bring excellent benefits for our body and health. It is not very relevant how the plant is taken, but there are various ways to suit the consumer: fresh or raw, powdered with tea or liquefying it in the form of a drink.
READ Also: 13 ways to reduce high blood pressure
Information Sources:
1. https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-of-the-health-benefits-of-ginger
2. https://www.extremehealthtips.com/health-benefits-of-ginger/
Bibliographic references:
- Ravindran P, Nirmal Babu K (2016). Ginger: The Genus Zingiber. Boca Raton: CRC Press.Â
- Watt JM, Breyer-Brandwijk MG (1962). Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and Eastern Africa. E&S Livingstone.
- Lee J, Oh H (2013). “Ginger as an antiemetic modality for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: A systematic review and meta-analysis”.
