Health Benefits of Ginger
Facts About a Rhizome That is More Than Just a Spice
Whether in salad dressings or Asian stir-fries and curries, in a hot cup of tea or as an accompaniment with sushi, ginger is a favourite spice and is used to add that special flavor and zing to many vegetable and fruit dishes. But apart from adding culinary appeal, it has also been widely used for its medicinal properties by ancient and modern medicine alike.
Ginger tops the list of ingredients that especially relieve common colds according to an ancient form of Indian medicine, ‘Ayurveda’. Even today, a lot of Indians follow the tradition of having a concoction of ginger, lemon and honey in hot water as a healthy drink almost everyday. Modern medicine has proven that ginger has anti cancer properties due to its ability to kill cancer cells.
Ginger For Digestive Aliments
Ginger's spicy tang and healing properties are attributed to its composition of volatile oils, gingerols and shogaols. These oils cause more digestive enzymes to be produced that in turn aid digestion and neutralize the acids that can cause nausea, cramps and even diarrhoea.
Ginger also cures motion sickness and seasickness, as gingerols block the body’s natural reflex to vomit. Some studies also show ginger to have a greater potency than ‘Dramamine’, an over-the-counter anti-emetic. Ginger relieves intestinal gas, soothes and relaxes intestines and has anti-oxidant properties that reduce inflammation, thereby relieving intestinal distress.
Ginger For Pregnancy Related Symptoms
Ginger cures Hyperemesis gravidum- a condition in pregnancy wherein nausea and vomiting are severe and may require hospitalisation. Studies have shown reduced vomiting in 7 out of 10 pregnant women after 6 days of taking ginger syrup. Ginger capsules reduced dry retching in two days of treatment. While researchers are still trying to find the active ingredient in ginger that helps relieve morning sickness, they are certain that consumption of ginger in limited quantities is safe for the baby and does not cause birth defects like some anti-emetics.
Ginger For Arthritis
As mentioned above, ginger has anti-inflammatory properties, wherein it blocks the action of certain prostaglandins that cause pain and inflammation of joints in arthritis. For effective arthritic relief, researchers recommend half a teaspoon of ginger or a cup of ginger tea in a day.
Ginger for Lowering Cholesterol
Spice in ginger has shown to reduce the amount of cholesterol absorbed by the body. Additionally, ginger is known to have effects similar to aspirin, thereby thinning blood and preventing clots. These actions put together reduce LDL cholesterol levels in the blood.
Ginger For Ovarian Cancer
Gingerols, the main ingredient in ginger, induce death of ovarian cancer cells by apoptosis (programmed cell death) and self-digestion. Research performed by treating ovarian cancer cell lines to whole ginger extracts containing 5% gingerols showed a steady decline followed by death of cancer cells.
Unlike conventional chemotherapy, ginger does not allow cancer cells to become resistant to its cancer destroying effects. In more than 50% of cases, women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer only once the disease has spread beyond the ovaries. Therefore, regular intake of ginger is recommended to all women form an early age to prevent ovarian cancer in their later years.
Ginger For Colds And Improving Immune Action
Ginger not only keeps you warm on a chilly day, but also promotes sweating. Researchers have isolated a compound ‘dermicidin’ in sweat, which when transported to skin’s surface, fights invading bacteria like E. Coli and other microorganisms.
Sometimes, natural remedies work the best. They have the fewest side effects and often work on more than one condition at a time. Ginger is one such wonderful natural cure for many ailments and is available as capsules or syrup. But it is best to have ginger in its natural form or as ginger tea, which not only is easy to prepare but also a refreshing drink. So, go ahead and spice up your lives!
Healthy Ginger Tea
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