Ginger or ginger root has some amazing culinary and medicinal properties. While it looks like a rounded, brown cactus with a slightly pungent smell, it certainly has some impressive ingredients that promote good health. Many people ask about the benefits of ginger. Let's find out more about the reason why it makes great sense to include ginger in your diet.
What Is Ginger Good For?
Ginger has been an important part of Asian cultures for centuries, and that is mainly because it has potent medicinal properties. Here are some interesting benefits of including ginger in your diet.
1. It Helps Treat Vomiting
If you are feeling nauseous, simply have a cup of ginger tea and you will feel much better in no time. Several clinical studies have shown that ginger is very effective at calming vomiting and nausea. In fact, it may also prove effective against chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
2. It Improves Bone Health
Several scientific studies have confirmed that ginger may help relieve joint pain and reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis. Ginger proves effective because of many unique organic compounds it has. It contains gingerols that has anti-inflammatory properties. By suppressing chemokines, cytokines, and other anti-inflammatory compounds, it helps improve knee inflammation and associated pain. Regular use of ginger may actually help prevent the onset of bone disease.
3. It Improves Digestion
What is ginger good for, you ask? It is extremely beneficial for your digestive system. Regular consumption of ginger helps regulate blood sugar levels, especially after a meal. This helps promote digestion and keep your digestive system in the best condition. Ginger also provides you with a number of important compounds that improve the absorption of minerals and other nutrients. Moreover, ginger can help stimulate your appetite and prepare your stomach for an influx of food.
4. It Protects from UV Rays
Some studies have shown that ginger comes with UV absorbing capabilities. Therefore, it effectively protects your skin from any damage caused by UVB light. Ginger extract proves especially beneficial because it increases your intake of antioxidants that eliminate free radicals from your body and prevent oxidative damage to cells.
5. It Relieves Heartburn
Yet another reason to include ginger in your diet is that it helps relieve heartburn. Many people with heartburn usually have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In this case, you have to take an acid inhibit drug to deal with painful heartburn and other GERD symptoms. There is some evidence suggesting that ginger can also help relieve heartburn and GERD by preventing the loosening of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). This in turn blocks acid from moving up the esophagus. Moreover, ginger has antibacterial properties, so it proves effective against bacteria responsible for causing acid reflux. Just have a cup of ginger tea 20 minutes before a meal to prevent painful GERD symptoms.
6. It Relieves Muscle Aches and Pain
If you have been dealing with muscle aches for quite some time, you do not always need to take a painkiller to keep things under control. You can include ginger in your diet to feel better. Some scientific studies have confirmed that ginger helps relieve muscle discomfort, especially in female athletes. It also helps decrease muscle soreness to make it easier to stick to your exercise routine.
7. It Prevents Cancer
What is ginger good for? Well, you may be surprised to know that it lowers your risk of cancer. There is some evidence that compounds in ginger may play a role in lowering your cancer risk. Gingerols possess anti-inflammatory properties and work to prevent carcinogenic activity. It is especially beneficial against colorectal cancer. Moreover, some studies show that compounds in ginger may also lower your risk for ovarian cancer.
8. It Relieves Menstrual Cramps
When you have menstrual cramps, you should not ignore them. It is fine to have a few every once in a while, but regular cramping indicates that there may be some underlying health issue. You are likely to experience increased menstrual cramps when there are high levels of hormones called prostaglandins in your body. These hormones serve as chemical messengers and lead to symptoms such as pains, cramps, and fevers. Ginger proves effective because it contains compounds that directly work by lowering the levels of prostaglandins.
9. It Lowers Risk of Alzheimer's Disease
This progressive neurodegenerative disorder affects your central nervous system and is quite common in people suffering from dementia. People over 65 years of age are more likely to develop this disease, but they can lower their risk by including ginger in their diet.
First of all, ginger works by slowing down the death of brain cells. Then, it provides you with antioxidants that prevent oxidative damage to cells in the body. There are other powerful compounds in ginger that help reduce inflammation in the body. Together, these compounds help lower your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Ginger also helps protect against other types of age-related cognitive decline.
Tips to Choose Ginger
What is ginger good for? You already know the answer, but you may be wondering if you should consider something when choosing ginger. Well, if you are interested in using nutritive qualities of ginger, you should opt for fresh ginger root only. Or you can use organic powdered ginger. You can refrigerate it and use it up to a year.
In case you are buying fresh ginger, you should pay special attention to the root. It should be smooth, firm, and free of mold. You can find young, tender ginger roots in Asian markets, but you may have to check the produce section of supermarkets to buy tougher, larger ginger roots. When frozen, both can last up to six months.