Most of us know that ginger is the strange looking, knobbly food that it is now common to see in stores and markets. We usually refer to it as a root of ginger but it is in fact a rhizome of a plant of the Zingiberaceae family that is often used in Asian cooking. It is now recommended as part of a healthy diet and some say it should be regarded as a Superfood. So exactly what are the health benefits of ginger? And are there times when you should never take it?
The unique fragrance and flavor of ginger come from its natural oils, the most important of which is gingerol. It is this gingerol that is responsible for the many health benefits of ginger which include anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
Ginger is a source of carbohydrates, fiber, protein and many minerals and vitamins. The minerals include sodium, iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. You will also get many important vitamins including vitamin C, folic acid and B vitamins including vitamin B6, riboflavin, and niacin.
Here are the main health benefits of ginger
Fight infection
The gingerol compounds in ginger may help eliminate bacteria and stop the growth of E.coli for instance. There are also some viruses that are inhibited; in particular the RSV group of viruses that can cause colds and flu. You may want to try taking ginger in the winter months to ward off winter illnesses.
Healthy mouths
This is a by-product of the antibacterial properties as it may get rid of bacteria in your mouth and stop the gum disease that these can cause. This could help keep your breath fresh and cut down the chance of tooth decay.
Stop nausea
You may find it stops you feeling sick, no matter the cause. It has long been used for preventing seasickness. You can try it for other travel related sickness also.
Many women find it helps in dealing with morning sickness in pregnancy. However as with most things in pregnancy you should speak to your doctor if you plan to take high levels of ginger.
Some patients also find relief post surgery or post chemotherapy treatment.
Relief from indigestion
Ginger can relieve dyspepsia. Taken before meals it can speed up the time it takes the food to leave your stomach. This seems to reduce the chance of indigestion occurring and reduces bloating. If you want ways to reduce acid reflux naturally it is definitely worth a try.
Help stop period pains
I suffered for many years with period pain. You know how miserable that can make you if you are a fellow sufferer. If taken prior to, and for the first 3 days of, your period ginger helps stop the misery of period cramps and pain for many women.
Anti-inflammatory properties
The anti-inflammatory properties mean it can reduce swelling. This makes it useful for treating symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. You might get relief from pain and swelling by eating ginger or by using a ginger compress or patch on your skin.
Help post-exercise recovery
Some personal trainers recommend ginger as a way to stop the muscle soreness that may result after a gym session. You should try taking ginger and see if it reduces your muscle pain the day after your training session.
Anti-cancer
There is some research that suggests the gingerol can slow down the growth of some cancers. It’s been suggested for gastric, ovarian, breast, and prostate cancer.
Regulate blood sugar
You know about the growing problem of the increase in Type 2 Diabetes that exists today. Did you know that when you add ginger to your diet you may reduce your risk? Ginger improves insulin function which can help lower blood sugar and protect against Type 2 Diabetes.
Lower cholesterol levels
Take 3- 5g of ginger each day to lower your LDL levels. This is the bad cholesterol so when you take ginger you may lower your risk of heart disease.
Anti-aging
The antioxidants in ginger may slow down the aging process. It may reduce the chance of chronic diseases that are associated with aging like high blood pressure and heart disease.
In some studies it has been shown to increase brain function so may offer some protection against Alzheimer’s.
Ginger supplements for health
So how do you get the health benefits of ginger if you don’t like the taste? There is no denying that ginger has a pungent and very distinctive taste. Not everyone likes the taste. If that’s you, there are alternatives. Now that the health benefits are well known you can buy ginger supplements online or from a health store. You can take ginger dried, powdered, or as capsules, oil or juice.
If you are more interested in natural health, you may like this book of herbal remedies.
Warnings about taking ginger
So we can see the many health benefits of ginger but are there any contra-indications? As stated above if you are pregnant you should speak to your doctor before taking any supplement.
The other major consideration is if you are taking anticoagulants (blood thinning drugs like Coumarin, Warfarin). Ginger has an anticoagulant effect and inhibits platelet function.
This may be seen as a benefit generally as it can reduce the chance of cardiovascular disease but you should definitely consult your doctor if you are on any of these blood thinning medications. You may need monitoring more frequently and may find that your dose needs to be adjusted.
I ate two chunks of ginger for the first time…Very strong and eased my mind attempting to ward off illness