As one of the healthiest spices, ginger contains nutritional and bioactive compounds that are extremely beneficial for the health of your body and brain. Many people around the world consume ginger to enjoy its benefits. Itās often processed into herbal medicine which is not only healthy but also tasty. Here are 8 benefits of eating ginger that has been scientifically proven.
Gingerās Gingerol Has Strong Medicinal Properties
Originated in southern China, ginger has been among the most widely used ingredients for traditional medicine. People use it to treat health issues such as flu, indigestion, nausea, and many others.
Ginger is known for its distinctive fragrant and flavor which comes from its chemical compounds, the most prominent of which is gingerol.
This primary bioactive substance in ginger is the main reason why the spice is so healthy and medically useful. Gingerol features strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that are good for inhibiting inflammatory process.
May Alleviate Muscle Ache and Soreness
Ginger is effective for treating muscle soreness induced by exercise, as shown by a study that consuming around 2 grams of it every day for 11 days can drastically reduce muscle ache in people doing elbow exercises.
The impact caused by the consumption of ginger may not be immediate, but it can be effective at lessening the daily progression of muscle ache. The anti-inflammatory properties are believed to be the factors that bring these alleviating effects.
May Significantly Bring Down Blood Sugar Levels
A study in a relatively new area found that ginger may contain strong anti-diabetic properties. This has been proven by giving 41 people with type 2 diabetes 2 grams of ginger powder per day, which reduced their fasting blood glucose by 12%.
In addition, those participants also experienced a 10% decrease in Hemoglobin A1c over a 12-week period, as well as a 23% reduction in markers of oxidation in lipoproteins and a 28% decline in the ApoB/ApoA-I ratio. With all these reductions, the risk for heart disease also drastically decreases.
Can Help Relieve Chronic Indigestion
The symptoms of dyspepsia or chronic indigestion include recurrent pain and discomfort in the upper abdomen. Slow emptying of the stomach is believed to be the main cause of indigestion.
This is where it can help by accelerating the emptying of the stomach. A study showed that consuming 1.2 grams of ginger powder before meals can speed up stomach emptying by 50%.
May Bring Down Cholesterol
The higher the level of bad cholesterol a person has, the higher that personās risk of heart disease. 3 grams of daily ginger consumption is enough to significantly lower the majority of cholesterol markers.
In terms of effectiveness in lowering cholesterol, ginger is considered almost the same as atorvastatin oral tablet. Besides, it can also reduce blood triglycerides.
Has an Anti-Cancer Substance
According to studies, ginger can be used as an alternative treatment for some types of cancer. Itās all thanks to the large amount of 6-gingerol found in fresh ginger.
A study has shown that taking 2 grams of ginger every day could greatly reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines in the colon, although a different research involving participants at a high risk of colon cancer didnāt corroborate such a result.
Nevertheless, thereās some evidence that ginger may be good for treating ovarian cancer, breast cancer and pancreatic cancer.
May Support Brain Health and Prevent Alzheimerās
Among factors that can speed up the aging process are chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, which are also believed to be the primary causes of Alzheimerās disease and age related declines in cognition.
As proven in some animal studies, apparently it can suppress inflammatory reactions in the brain, which is thanks to the bioactive compounds and antioxidants found in the spice.
Furthermore, it has been evidenced that ginger can directly support brain function. At least 60 middle-aged women who took ginger extract had shown improvement in memory performance and reaction time. More studies also found that the spice can help prevent age-associated decline in brain function.
Gingerās Active Ingredient Can Lower the Risk of Infections
Gingerol that is found in raw ginger can help your body fight infections, since it can significantly inhibit bacterial growth.
Ginger extract can effectively fight the oral bacteria responsible for inflammatory diseases in the gums. It can also be effective in fighting against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) which causes infections of the lungs and respiratory tract.
Watch Video Below For Even More Benefits
Source: Feature Image from silviarita-3142410 via Pixabay
Fun facts – What is Ginger in Spanish? = Jengibre Pronounce henĀ·hiĀ·bre – Ginger en EspaƱol
DISCLAIMER:
*This statement has not been evaluated by FDA. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always ask your doctor before making any changes to your diet.
