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Health
Ginger has many health benefits due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and other properties, including helping you lose weight, control arthritis, reduce menstrual symptoms and much more.
Originally from Southeast Asia, ginger is a plant with a strong flavor, widely used in cooking in sweet and savory recipes and has a number of health benefits.
Belonging to the Zingiberaceae family, ginger (Zingiber officinale) is related to turmeric, cardamom and galangal.
The rhizome (root), which is the underground part of the stem, is usually used as a spice. Ginger can be used fresh, dried, powdered, in oil or juice.
Our old acquaintance ginger has a long history of use in various forms of traditional and alternative medicine. It contains gingerol, which has potent medicinal properties
Gingerol is the main bioactive compound in ginger. It is responsible for many of ginger's medicinal properties.
1. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
Gingerol has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, according to the search, for example, can help reduce oxidative stress, which results from excess free radicals in the body.
They can help your body fight chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease and lung disease, as well as promoting healthy aging
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2. Reduces blood sugar
A recent small study suggested that ginger may help your body make better use of insulin. Larger studies are needed to see if ginger can help improve blood sugar levels. (studies 1, 2, 3)
3. Fights germs
Certain chemical compounds in fresh ginger help your body ward off germs. They are especially good at stopping the growth of bacteria such as E.coli and shigella, and can also keep viruses away (study) and fungi:
aphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), responsible for a number of diseases
Escherichia coli (E. coli), a cause of intestinal infections
Candida albicans (C. albicans), which causes fungal infections in the mouth, vagina, etc.
4. Relieves menstrual pain
Ginger can help reduce menstrual cramps. Studies, showed women who took 1500 milligrams of ginger powder once a day for 3 days during their cycle experienced less pain than women who didn't take it.
5. Reduces cholesterol
A daily dose of ginger can help you fight your "bad" or LDL cholesterol levels.
In one recent Study by taking 5 grams of ginger a day for 3 months reduced people's LDL cholesterol by an average of 30 points.
6. Limits cancer growth
Some studies show that the bioactive molecules in ginger can slow down the growth of some types of cancer, such as colorectal, gastric, ovarian, liver, skin, breast and prostate cancer. But more research is needed to confirm this. (4, 5)
In one study, 20 people with a high risk of colorectal cancer took 2 g of ginger daily for 28 days. At the end of the study, the lining of the participants' intestines showed fewer cancer-like changes than expected.
7. Healthy mouth
The antibacterial power of ginger also affects your mouth. The active compounds in ginger, called gingerols, prevent the growth of oral bacteria. These are the same bacteria that can cause periodontal disease, a serious infection of the gums. (6)
8. Relieves arthritis symptoms
Ginger is an anti-inflammatory, which means it reduces swelling. This can be especially useful for treating the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
One review concluded that ginger can help reduce pain and disability. Participants took 0.5-1 gram of ginger a day for 3–12 weeks, depending on the study.
You can get relief from pain and swelling by taking ginger orally or by using a ginger compress on your skin.
9. Soothes nausea
Ginger helps relieve a queasy stomach, especially during pregnancy (but not recommended for pregnant women at the end of pregnancy or with blood clots).
It also works by breaking down and eliminating accumulated gas in the intestines. It can also help calm nausea caused by chemotherapy . (9, 10)
10. Relieves indigestion
If you suffer from chronic indigestion, also called dyspepsia, ginger can bring some relief. Ginger before meals can cause your system to empty more quickly, leaving less time for food to settle and cause problems. (study 12)
11. Soothes sore muscles
Ginger doesn't eliminate muscle pain immediately, but it can calm the pain over time. In studies, people with muscle pain caused by exercise who took ginger had less pain the next day than those who did not.
Ginger reduces muscle pain caused by eccentric exercise. Studies show that the use of 2 g of raw or heated ginger can reduce arm pain in humans after eccentric elbow action. (13)
12. May help with weight loss
Ginger can play a role in weight loss, according to human and animal studies.
One review concluded that ginger supplementation significantly reduced body weight, waist-to-hip ratio and hip ratio in people who were overweight or obese(14)
Ginger's ability to influence weight loss may be due to certain mechanisms, such as its potential to reduce inflammation. (15)
13. Improving brain function
Some studies suggest that two compounds present in ginger may help prevent degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis.(16)
Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation may be the main factors in Alzheimer's disease and age-related cognitive decline.
Some animal studies suggest that the antioxidants and bioactive compounds in ginger may inhibit the inflammatory responses that occur in the brain. This could help prevent cognitive decline. (17)
Disclaimer: This content, including advice, provides generic information only. Do not replace a medical opinion in any way.