HEALTH BENEFITS OF CONSUMING GINGER

Nausea, vomiting, joint pain and even cancer – ginger root, which is available to us all year round in every supermarket or market, can work wonders when it comes to our health.

This medicinal plant has not only taste, but added value. In this article you will discover what types of problems it is suitable for, how to consume it and how to store it at home.

Ginger has been known for over two thousand years as a medicinal herb effective in treating digestive problems, nausea, hangover and gases. Modern studies have found that it is effective in the treatment of vomiting, protects the gastric mucosa and improves inflammatory conditions.

Ginger improves the absorption of food nutrients and increases the availability of active ingredients in body tissues.

The taste and aroma of fresh ginger are intensified the more mature the plant is, and it is considered non toxic and safe for everyday use.

Here are 6 reasons to consume ginger to improve your health:

1. Soothes the digestive system

Ginger improves the digestive system, stimulates, helps in the absorption of nutrients, absorbs gases and toxins and helps the skin to release toxins.

2. Reduces nausea and vomiting

Recent studies show that ginger is very effective in preventing nausea, especially sea sickness. Ginger has a great effect that has been proven to be very effective in preventing vomiting during pregnancy.

Compared with conventional drugs that may harm the foetus, ginger is completely safe to use without side effects and you need a relatively small amount of it.

3. Anti-inflammatory

If you suffer from arthritis pain in the knees, consuming ginger on a daily basis can definitely help. Ginger contains powerful anti-inflammatory substances called gingerols.

These have been tested in various research of rheumatic diseases such as 

osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. The participants in the research reported a gradual reduction of pain, improving agility and movement and reduction in swelling when using ginger regularly.

4. Protects against colon cancer

These gingerols, the main active ingredient in ginger, that are also responsible for the special taste, may prevent the growth of colon cancer cells, according to a 2003 study.

This study showed that ginger is effective in preventing and treating colon cancer.

5. Kills ovarian cancer cells

Studies at the University of Michigan showed that gingerols also cause death to ovarian cancer cells.

The ginger ingredients have been proven to have antioxidant, anti- inflammatory and anti- cancer properties. Ginger has the ability to reduced inflammatory in cell components attributed to the development of ovarian cancer, as well as components responsible for cell proliferation and distribution.

Conventional chemotherapy treatments do the same action, but may cause the cancer cells to develop immunity against drugs.

6. Stimulates the immune system

Ginger not only warms us on a cold day, but it can also help in causing healthy sweating which is good to reduce fever in colds and flu.

This sweating can stimulate the immune system and help the body cope better with the disease.

German researchers recently found that the sweat triggers substances in the immune system that help fighting against various infections. Find here more ways to boost your immune system.

How much ginger should be consumed?

Ginger is so concentrated with active ingredients that you don’t need to use much of it to enjoy its health benefits.

As for nausea for example, tea with 1-2 inches of fresh ginger in hot water may be all you need to calm the stomach.

For rheumatic arthritis pain you need even smaller amount of ginger in food or tea each day

How to buy and store ginger?

If possible, choose fresh ginger and not the dry spice, as fresh ginger is more powerful because it not only tastes stronger but its health effect is stronger as well, and contains much more gingerols and anti-inflammatory ingredients.

When you buy ginger, notice that it is stiff to the touch and has smooth skin.

Young fresh ginger doesn’t require peeling of the skin and can be grated as it is. However ginger that was left on the shelf for a long time will have a hard skin that needs to be peeled, and it will also be more fibrous.

Fresh ginger can be stored in the refrigerator up to three weeks when it is not peeled, or in the freezer up to six months.