When it comes to health, ginger is an all-star. It’s been shown to improve gut health, lower blood sugar levels in those that have diabetes, and help speed up metabolism. And that’s just scratching the surface!
In this blog post, we’re going to go into more detail about some of the specific benefits of ginger and how you can maximize them for yourself.
What is Ginger?
Zingiber officinale, more commonly known as ginger, is a flowering plant that belongs to the Zingiberaceae family. It first originated in South Asia, but today it can be found in tropical and subtropical climates all around the world, including North America!
The root of the ginger plant is used in cooking and also has some health benefits. It’s light brown or yellow and has a spicy, sweet taste.
The root contains terpenoids, which are compounds naturally occurring in plants. Ginger also contains volatile oils, which aid in digestion.
The main component of ginger – known as gingerol – is where most of the health benefits are.
Gingerol and Its Benefits
Gingerol is a spicy, astringent, volatile oil that’s found in ginger root. It has several health benefits when consumed as part of your diet, although it can be either added to food or taken alone.
If you’re concerned about consuming too much ginger in the form of supplements or tinctures, in moderation you have little to worry about. Ginger is well known for its safety and there are few side effects if you ingest it CORRECTLY.
Practical Pluses:
1. Ginger Improves Digestion
Studies indicate that ginger affects digestion in multiple ways. It’s been shown to help ease nausea and improve digestion. According to a case study done in 2003, ginger was able to relieve postoperative pain from surgical procedures. In the study, participants were given 3 grams of ginger powder intravenously for six hours after undergoing abdominal surgery. The results showed that their pain was greatly reduced. The researchers concluded that the pain was due to the effect of ginger on digestive enzymes and gut motility.
2. Ginger Reduces Inflammation
Inflammation is a normal physiological response of your body in times of injury or infection, but it can also occur as a result of chronic illness. Inflammation can happen in both acute and chronic situations. Acute inflammation occurs after an injury or illness, and it’s usually reversible (but sometimes involves surgery). Chronic inflammation develops over a long time and can go away without treatment; this kind of inflammation is more problematic.
Ginger has been used to treat inflammatory conditions in humans, including rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic fever, multiple sclerosis, and others. In some cases, it may take 2-3 months for patients to see results from ginger use.
3. Ginger Relieves Nausea
Ginger has been used to help ease nausea and side effects from various medications. In studies, ginger was shown to relieve nausea due to chemotherapy and also to prevent nausea associated with pregnancy.
4. Ginger Relieves Pain
Ginger has also been shown in studies to alleviate pain due to several conditions including arthritis and menstrual cramps, as well as post-operative pain (not abdominal surgery though).
5. Ginger Reduces Blood Sugar
It is well known for its ability to improve blood sugar levels. A study done in 2016 found that ginger extract helps reduce blood glucose levels. In the study, participants took 1 gram of ginger powder or a placebo powder daily for 45 days. The results showed that those who took the ginger extract had lower fasting blood glucose and lower hemoglobin A1c levels. Hemoglobin A1c is an indicator of blood glucose control over the past two to three months.
6. Ginger Improves Immunity
Due to its strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, ginger may boost immune health. Further and perhaps even more importantly, ginger has shown to have antiviral and antibacterial properties.
One test-tube study found that fresh ginger had antiviral effects against human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV), which causes respiratory infections, and helped boost immune response against HRSV.
Conclusion
Those are the main benefits of ginger that you should know about. Ginger is a simple spice in cooking, but it also has amazing health benefits if you consume enough of it. However, you need to be careful not to consume too much, as with anything, overdoing it can have adverse effects. For specific cases, you should consult with your health physician.
