BENEFITS OF GINGER

If you think ginger is just a brown thing stuffed in a corner of your refrigerator, think again.

There is a reason why the vegetable vendor sells it to you like it is gold. A popular spice, the health benefits of ginger will probably take a blog to compile! And hence this humble effort.

The main protagonist in this power root is gingerol - a substance with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The unique flavor and fragrance of ginger come from its natural oils, with gingerol being the most important of them.

The roots of this root go far down in our history. Ginger is rich in Vitamin B3 and B6, iron, potassium, vitamin C, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, folate, riboflavin and niacin.

Let’s take a look at the advantages of consuming this power root:

The Many Benefits of Ginger

• A Blessing In Migraine

Ginger can help control nausea and vomiting - the two major symptoms of migraine, making it an ideal remedy for migraine headache treatment. Apart from migraine, ginger can also help prevent seasickness and motion sickness. People who have undergone chemotherapy as part of cancer treatment can find relief from nausea and vomiting with the use of ginger.

• Goodbye Cold And Flu

Ginger has been used to fight infections like cold and flu since ages. When added to tea, ginger keeps the body warm and induces sweating. This helps to flush out the toxins from the body and improves one’s health.

• Aids in Digestion

Increased sugar levels after a meal can slow down the stomach’s natural rate of clearing its contents. Ginger helps in controlling the high sugar levels and soothes the stomach. It also has many compounds which help in the absorption of minerals and nutrients from what we eat. This is why ginger is used commonly in appetizers as it helps to stimulate appetite and prepare the digestive system for the incoming food.

• Removes Excess Gas

Excess gas can prove to be increasingly uncomfortable for you (and in many cases for the people around you as well!). Chewing a small piece of ginger can help relieve you of any excess gas in a healthy way and also keep additional gas from forming again.

• Keeps Away Stomach Ulcers

The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger help prevent the formation of ulcers in the stomach which are known to cause bleeding and acute gastric irritability. Thus it keeps your stomach healthy.

• Reduces Arthritis Pain

Ginger helps in relieving joint pain and boosting bone health [1] Gingerol present in ginger has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. It helps improve osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and knee inflammation.

• Breathe Easy in Asthma

Traditionally, ginger has been used in the treatment of respiratory ailments. Ginger helps in reducing the allergic airway inflammation [2] thus working to provide relief in asthma.

• Keep Obesity At Bay

As we have seen before, ginger helps improve the digestive system. It also helps boost one’s metabolism and hence can prove effective as a natural means for obesity treatment.

• Relief in Menstrual Pain

We try all kinds of medicines to find relief from menstrual pain. Turns out, the solution was in the little brown spice stored in your kitchen the whole time. Regular consumption of ginger can help in reducing the intensity and duration of menstrual pain.

• Treats Diarrhea

Since ancient times, ginger has been relied on to treat diarrhea as it helps control stomach spasms and gas.

In addition to the above, regular consumption of ginger can help in skin care, preventing infections, boosting the heart rate, controlling diabetes, liver protection and detoxifying the body. Ginger also has a prominent place in the homeopathic system of medicine. One of the homeopathic remedy known as Zingiber Officinale is made of ginger. It is used in the cases where the genito-urinary and respiratory systems are strongly affected. Homeopathic medicines are natural and free from side effects. The way ginger is used to treat a variety of health conditions, similarly homeopathy is used in the treatment of a range of health problems in a natural and safe manner.

India happens to be the largest producer of ginger in the world. It can be consumed fresh, dried, powdered, in the form of juice and oil as well. Make ginger a part of your daily diet in the form that suits you the most and say hello to good health.

You never know may be this was the spice your life was lacking!