10 Incredible Health Benefits About Ginger You Need To Know
Ginger is a flowering plant, but its root is widely used as a spice and for its medicinal properties. Interestingly, Ginger belongs to the same family as Turmeric, which is another magnificent spice with incredible health benefits. But for now, let’s get right into what ginger has to offer for our health.
Here are 10 amazing health benefits to ginger that you might know have known before:
1. Can Help Treat Indigestion
Some people face discomfort and recurrent pain in the upper part of their stomach, and this condition is referred to as chronic indigestion. For people with chronic indigestion, ginger has been proven to speeden up the emptying of the stomach which helps ease their discomfort and pain(1).
2. Relieves Uneasiness
Nobody wants to feel nauseous due to motion sickness or gastrointestinal issues. Patients who faced this uneasiness after their cancer chemotherapy felt better after consuming a few milligrams of ginger extract daily(2,3). Pregnant mothers can also have ginger in small amounts to ease morning sickness(4).
3. Relieves Cold & Flu Symptoms
If you regularly get cold and flu, fresh ginger extracts may relieve some of your cold symptoms and even help protect your respiratory system(5).
4. May Reduce Soreness & Muscle Pain
Muscle pain is a common problem, especially for those who exercise regularly. Studies show that ginger has been effective in reducing the day to day progression of such muscle pain, especially when consumed on a daily basis(6).
5. May Reduce Inflammation & Joint Pain
Joint pain and stiffness is a common health problem that the elderly suffer from. As ginger has anti-inflammatory properties, it can be useful in relieving such pain caused by diseases like osteoarthritis(7).
6. May Lower Cholesterol Levels & Protect Against Heart Diseases
Your cholesterol levels, especially high levels of the bad cholesterol (LDL), can increase the risk of heart disease. Studies on both animals and humans have shown that regular ginger intake may lead to considerable reductions in bad LDL cholesterol and blood triglyceride levels(8,9).
7. Contains Gingerol That May Help Prevent Cancer
Ginger contains a substance called gingerol that may have protective effects against cancer(10). Moreover, the antioxidant effects of ginger also help protect against such diseases.
8. Can Help Fight Infections
The compound gingerol is also analgesic, antibacterial, and antipyretic This means that ginger can prevent the growth of harmful bacteria in your body and fight against certain viruses such as the RSV virus(11). This property of ginger is one reason why ginger tea is well-known for its medicinal value in many countries including India.
9. May Protect Against Alzheimer's Disease
Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are key drivers of Alzheimer’s disease and age related cognitive decline. As ginger has strong anti-inflammatory properties, it is believed to also inhibit inflammatory responses that occur in the brain(12).
10. Regulates Blood Sugar Levels
According to a study on diabetic patients with type 2 diabetes, a few grams of ginger daily was found to lower fasting blood sugar significantly(13). Having lower blood sugar also reduces the risk of heart disease.
Despite the numerous health benefits of ginger, some may be turned off by the taste of ginger if consumed alone. That is why, we at Hearty Spices, have integrated ginger with numerous other extremely beneficial spices such as turmeric and cardamom, and put it all together into our Hearty Spices Turmeric Latte Spice Mix. So, now you can enjoy the benefits of ginger and 6 other spices in a single drink you can whip up within minutes with a big smile!