The Health Benefits Of Ginger
Ginger has been used for thousands of years to treat minor illnesses. It originated in Southeast Asia but was also cultivated in many other countries. Ginger is considered to be one of the oldest spices traded throughout history. Its medicinal stature is what gave this spice its rich value.
In modern day, ginger is now easily accessible to everyone and can be commonly found at many local supermarkets. You can find ginger in its fresh form, a ground powder, as a essential oil and in a capsule form as a dietary supplement. We have researched 12 amazing benefits that ginger could offer you. Not only does this spice provide many health benefits but it can also add a wonderful flavor to many dishes and make for a relaxing beverage.
1. High In Antioxidants
Our bodies come into contact with free radicals both through a normal metabolic process in the body and also through external sources such as air pollutants, cigarette smoke, industrial chemicals and many other external factors. We need foods rich in antioxidants to help fight off free radicals.
We can thank gingerol, the powerful compound that makes ginger have medicinal properties. This compound is what makes ginger rich in antioxidants and is why it would truly benefit our bodies if we consumed it regularly. That being said, it can’t hurt to add some ginger into your daily routine for optimal health benefits!
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2. Curb Motion Sickness
Continuing on the topic of health, ginger is well known for its medicinal properties. One of these amazing benefits would be its ability to help curb nausea. Some over the counter medications for motion sickness contain ginger in their ingredients but simply drinking ginger tea could seriously benefit you too.
You can find two chemicals in the ginger root that is responsible for helping nausea. These are, gingerols and shagaols. The chemicals work by slowing an upset gastrointestinal tract which can really help with motion sicknesses such as in the car, airplane or boat. Perfect solution for your next road trip!
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3. Curb Morning Sickness
To some, motherhood is one of the most rewarding steps to take in life. However, many Mothers experience morning sickness during pregnancy. Often, Doctors will recommend expectant Mothers stay away from any over the counter medications such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen and the like as it could be harmful to the baby.
If you’re looking for a natural remedy that would be safe for you and the baby you may want to consider ginger. However, make sure to always consult with your medical professional first. Like motion sickness, the same chemicals found in the ginger root, gingerol and shagaols can help curb the nauseating feeling of morning sickness.
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4. Reduce Muscle Pain
Muscle pain can be an extreme nuisance, especially for those who enjoy training at the gym or doing any sort of physical activity. Several studies have shown that ginger too can help reduce the pain many of us experience the day(s) after physical activity.
You can obtain the benefits simply by sipping on tea with freshly shaved ginger. Alternatively, add fresh ginger to a stir-fry or if you aren’t fond of the flavor you can consume it in a capsule form too. You may want to consider having ginger before and after your workouts to help relieve muscle pain.
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5. Reduce Menstrual Pains
Any woman who experiences monthly menstrual pain understands the utter agony it can produce on the body. While popping Advils or Ibuprofens can often be a quick fix to help subside the pain, not everyone enjoys putting medications in their bodies when they don’t necessarily have to.
Once again as a natural remedy, you may want to try ginger. Prostaglandins are pro-inflammatory chemicals that are part of which triggers muscle contractions to help the uterus shed it’s lining, hence menstrual cramping. Studies show that by drinking fresh ginger tea or taking dietary ginger supplements could help reduce the pain during this process.
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6. Lower Blood Pressure
High blood pressure should always be taken seriously especially because it can put a serious strain on your heart and blood vessels. Further, high blood pressure could also cause heart and kidney disease. Some studies have shown due to ginger’s medicinal properties it could also lower blood pressure.
Ginger can help lower blood pressure because it is a natural blood thinner and an anti-inflammatory agent. To attain its benefits you’ll want to either sip on homemade ginger tea or store-bought organic ginger tea. High blood pressure is, however, a serious matter so make sure to speak to your medical professional about natural remedies and your options before making any dietary changes on your own.
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7. Improve Brain Function
As we grow in age, maintaining our brain function is of the upmost importance. Especially once you start to realize your memory isn’t as good as it used to be. Some studies have shown that ginger could also improve brain function.
Neurotransmitters are the chemicals that are in charge of the communication between brain cells. We need this to maintain our ability to remember, concentrate, focus, regulate our moods and many more purposes. Ginger has been shown to increase the levels of these crucial chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin which are in charge of keeping us focused, productive and happy.
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8. Lower Cholesterol
High cholesterol levels can increase the risks of stroke, heart disease, and peripheral artery disease. Taking control of our cholesterol levels are important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Luckily, ginger poses as a natural remedy that may help keep your cholesterol levels in check.
Listed among its many medicinal benefits, ginger’s ability to help lower cholesterol is one of the most helpful. As we have talked about earlier ginger comes in many forms which makes it easy to digest for everyone. Once again make sure to consult your doctor to ensure trying ginger as a remedy is right for you.
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9. Promotes Gut Health
A healthy and happy gut can put our mind at ease and put us in a positive mood too. Ginger has been known to promote a healthy gut for a few reasons. Firstly, it has been shown to help reduce bloating. Bloating can make you feel uncomfortable and can cause your clothes to fit improperly.
Further, ginger could benefit those who have poor digestion or IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) by helping stimulate digestive acids and secretions. This, in turn, supports the digestion of food and our bodies ability to absorb the nutrients from food. It can’t hurt for people with stomach issues to add a little ginger into their daily routine.
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10. Help The Common Cold
The common cold can be an extreme annoyance especially when it interferes with your everyday tasks. If you want to try and get over the cold as quickly as possible with natural remedies then you might want to try having ginger as soon as you’re feeling a bit under the weather.
The anti-inflammatory elements of ginger can help soothe a sore throat quickly so you may want to consider sipping on homemade ginger tea. Gingerol and shagaol are once again what we have to thank to relieving a cold. They have also been found to kill rhinoviruses which are what cause colds in the first place.
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11. Relieve Stress
Busy lifestyles and hectic jobs with deadlines are all external factors that can lead up to tremendous stress. When you’re dealing with stress, it can negatively impact both your mind and body. Ginger relieves stress by relieving the underlying layers that add to stress such as fatigue and or gastrointestinal issues which both can cause increased stress.
Furthermore, some studies say sipping on ginger tea can be just as effective as taking an aspirin. If your head is feeling fuzzy from all the stress you’ve been experiencing you may want to drink ginger tea to help you feel refreshed, and calm.
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12. Anti-aging
Before we get into this next point, it’s important to know that aging is completely natural and normal! But if you’re looking for ways to slow down the process, some people believe that consuming ginger regularly could show anti-aging qualities. This can be another easy habit to implement into your beauty routine.
Once again, thanks to gingerol, a powerful antioxidant that could protect the collagen in our skin Further, gingerol could also help reduce skin damage and inflammation. To maintain healthy glowing skin you may want to add ginger to your daily diet more often. You could reap the benefits for years to come.
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