Abracadabra! The Magic of Ginger on Our Health

Ginger is a Must-have at the kitchen place. Aside from its wonderful culinary advantages, it has great medicinal and health benefits. Ginger contains numerous nutrients and a bunch of bioactive compounds that play a key role in mental and brain development.

The flowering plant has its origins in China and belongs to the Zingiberaceae family. It is closely related to cardamom, galangal, and turmeric. Historically, it has been used in numerous applications in traditional medicine. It helps in the treatment of nausea, common cold, and digestion, just to name a few.

Rhizome is a root-like stem that is part of the ginger makeup which is responsible for the medicinal benefits of the plant. Rhizomes grow underground and are a rich source of zingerones and shogaols. Ginger also exhibits a unique flavor and scent that originates from gingerol, a natural oil. Gingerol is responsible for most of the medicinal properties of ginger. As the key bioactive compound in ginger, it contributes to the powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory uses of ginger.

Nausea

Crews and voyagers aboard ships have long used Ginger as a cure for seasickness. In recent times, research has suggested that it could be just as effective as a prescription drug.

It helps in relief against nausea and for those who are pregnant, it may help in handling morning sickness as well. However, it is important to take prenatal care by contacting a physician before partaking in Ginger consumption.

Muscle Pain & Soreness

Exercising plays a key role in helping us stay healthy. After intense workout sessions, we may at times feel a little bit fatigued and sore from all the muscle strain. A good way to tackle this would be by ingesting some Ginger products.

Although it does not have an immediate impact, it is effective in the reduction of muscle pain. Naturally, the body protects itself from illnesses, infection or injury by causing inflammation in different areas. Ginger has the ability to reduce the soreness by making utility of its anti-inflammatory properties.

When compared to ibuprofen, ginger has been found to be just as effective in relieving menstrual cramps in women. It can also reduce migraine headaches with lesser side effects.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis involves degeneration of body joints and has symptoms like stiffness and joint pain. It is a common ailment among people. Consumption of small doses of Ginger helps in the fight against the osteoarthritis disease.

Cancer & Diabetes

The anti-inflammatory component of ginger helps in chronic inflammatory maladies like cancer. Research has shown that Ginger demonstrates in vivo and in vitro anticancer activity that is essential in managing cancerous growth in the prostrates.

Ginger also has anti-tumor properties that are essential in combating various other cancer types like pancreatic, lung, breast, colon and skin. Ginger contains components that help fight the toxicity of substances including cancer drugs, which may be helpful when used to complement cancer treatments.

Diabetic patients exhibit reduced blood glucose, LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride after consuming about 3 grams of dry Ginger powder for 30 days. Thus, ginger is quite effective in treating Diabetes since it helps in the prevention of the disease through insulin release and action, lipid metabolism, and improved carbohydrate metabolism.

Ginger can be consumed in an assortment of ways. It can be taken as fresh, as extract, as fries additive, in chicken soup, cooked dishes, or even as tea. Thus, by including ginger in meals, we can all make a healthy addition to the dining experience.