11 health benefits of ginger in 2023

The health benefits of ginger come from its bioactive substances that benefit your body and brain. If you want to prevent cardiovascular diseases, improve your digestive functions, lose some body weight, and manage osteoarthritis, then include ginger in your diet plans.

Key Points:

Ginger has numerous medicinal properties that aid in improving the body’s immunity and fighting against infections.
Ginger does not contain bad cholesterol, so it can help in weight loss.
Ginger has a protective barrier against diseases caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
Taking ginger for the first three days of your menstrual cycle can help reduce the pain and bloating that are associated with menstruation.
The gingerol contained in ginger serves as a natural pain reliever.
Ginger helps to manage and reduce chronic indigestion.

health benefits of ginger — *Credit: Thinkstockphotos*

Ginger, with the Latin name Zingiber officinale, comes from a yellowish-green flowering plant in the Zingiberaceae family. The ginger root, which is the rhizome, has enormous health benefits, and it is also commonly used to add flavour to meals. The benefits of ginger prompted its use in cosmetics, in the beauty industry, food industries and in home remedies as well. You can have ginger in various forms including juice, oil, dried, or fresh.

Ginger is safe for your consumption even during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but should be used in moderation. However, when consumed in large quantities, ginger may affect you with symptoms such as:

Diarrhea
Heartburn
Abdominal irritation

Ginger does not contain bad cholesterol or fat but contains vitamins and minerals such as potassium, calcium, and selenium that are essential for your body.

If you want to prevent cardiovascular diseases, improve your digestive functions, lose some body weight, and manage osteoarthritis, then include ginger in your diet plans. Below are the health benefits of ginger.

Amazing health benefits of ginger

Gingerol in ginger has powerful medicinal attributes

The health benefits of ginger lie in its anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-fungi attributes known as gingerol, found in raw ginger root. Gingerol is the substance in ginger’s natural oil, and that gives ginger its flavour and aroma.

These properties of ginger aid in improving your immunity and fighting against infections, abating fevers, alleviating headaches, and some symptoms that are related to flu and cold.

Ginger has a protective barrier against diseases caused by Staphylococcus aureus (a bacteria found on human skin, armpits, noses, groins and other areas of your body), Escherichia coli AKA E. coli (a bacteria present in the lower part of the warm-blooded human intestine), and Candida albicans (a yeast found among the gut flora). Ginger can also help keep some viruses away.

Alleviate osteoarthritis

The gingerol contained in ginger serves as a natural pain reliever. Osteoarthritis causes bodily discomfort such as joint stiffness and pain. However, ginger has an anti-inflammatory property that helps reduce arthritis pain in your body and raises mobility in your joints. This health benefit of ginger replaces anti-inflammatory medication that is usually prescribed for arthritis as a natural option. Ginger can help reduce migraines.

May help lower cholesterol levels

Your health can benefit from ginger consumption when trying to lower your cholesterol level. High levels of bad cholesterol are related to cardiovascular problems, and ginger has been shown to aid in reducing bad cholesterol (Low density lipoprotein) and, in turn, increasing High density lipoprotein (HDL).

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health benefits of ginger in 2023 — *Credit: ALR*

May reduce menstrual pain

Ginger aids in reducing menstrual pain, also known as dysmenorrhea, during a woman’s monthly cycle. Taking ginger for the first three days of your menstrual cycle can help reduce the pain and bloating that are associated with your monthly cycle. Among the over-the-counter medications for relieving menstrual pain, ginger is considered the best remedy for reducing menstrual pain.

Can help treat chronic indigestion

The health benefits of ginger extend to your small and large intestines. Ginger helps to manage and reduce chronic indigestion by making food movement and absorption in the stomach easier. Ginger also reduces the abdominal pain, belching, and bloating that you experience with chronic indigestion. A study suggested that taking ginger before meals can ameliorate food indigestion symptoms, help digest food fast, and promote the healthy intestinal tract enzymes.

May help with weight loss

You can also get the benefit of ginger when you want to lose weight. Inculcating ginger in your weight loss plan may help with your weight loss, as ginger perfectly promotes your body’s metabolism and controls your body’s insulin level. It makes you feel full, and this helps prevent you from eating more than you should.

Soothes morning sickness and other forms of nausea

health benefits of ginger 2023 — *Credit: Canva*

The health benefits of ginger can be witnessed in its ability to ease the nausea and morning sickness that pregnant women experience. Ginger might help to reduce chemotherapy-related nausea, and vomiting, and nausea associated with some surgery procedures.

Ginger may not be suitable for you if you are pregnant, and in your third trimester, especially if you have vaginal bleeding, it will be best to consult a healthcare professionals in this regard.

Improves brain function

The antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances in ginger benefit the brain through the removal of free radicals and a reduction in inflammation. The brain can decline over time with the presence of chronic inflammation; inflammation generally has adverse effects on your mental health, and a study asserted that it can lead to Alzheimer’s disease.

Ginger’s healthful substances increases the release of dopamine and serotonin, according to a study. These chemicals aid with depression and anxiety. The antioxidants in ginger aid in cognitive performance and memory conditions by increasing the neuron’s ability to transmit information in the brain.

Prevent cardiovascular disease

The health benefits of ginger can be found in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Ginger contains a substance that thins blood, reducing the risk of blood clots and thereby abating your risk of experiencing strokes or heart attacks. Ginger also benefits your health by improving blood circulation and lowering your blood sugar levels, which aids your heart to optimally function at its best.

The benefits of ginger in your body can be ascertained by lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure levels. An increase in cholesterol levels can increase the risk of heart disease by clogging the arteries.

Younger and healthier skin

Healthy and younger skin is the benefit of consuming ginger. Ginger, with its antioxidant and antiseptic components, improves your skin by increasing your blood circulation. Antioxidants protect your skin from the ultraviolet rays coming from the sun, help to heal any irritated skin, and reduce the rate at which your collagen breaks down in your body, and thus leave your skin looking younger.

The antiseptic compound contained in ginger also helps with acne and acne scars on your skin.

May help fight cancer

Numerous medicinal attributes in ginger may help fight cancer cell growth in the body. The anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory components of ginger help to fight and reduce any kind of cancer risk.

Side Effects of Consuming Ginger

There are no known risks to consuming ginger unless you are allergic to it. It is also safe to consume ginger in any form you desire, but in moderation. However, if you are on blood-thinning medication, you will need to consult your healthcare professionals before consuming ginger.

Ginger can be consumed raw, cooked, or as a dietary supplement, and it can be used in the preparation of many dishes ranging from savoury to sweet. Ginger is safe to apply to your skin, especially when it is used to soothe aching muscles.

To take advantage of the health benefits of ginger, you can add:

To tea by grating ginger into your tea.
With a fresh lemon squeeze, make ginger lemonade.
In your candy recipe, as ginger candy.
In soda water and lime as ginger ale.
In your main dish, as a food spice
In your vegetable salads.

Conclusion

Incorporating ginger into your diet is an effective way to improve your bodily functions. Ginger contains a substance called gingerol that has powerful medicinal attributes such as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant, antiseptic, and antimicrobial. Consuming ginger may help relieve nausea, and pregnancy-related nausea known as morning sickness. Ginger also alleviates joint pain and stiffness and reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Weight loss is also one of the health benefits of ginger.

Ginger can help reduce migraines, and its anti-inflammatory properties can aid stomach ache, and improve digestion, and dissipate gas in your intestine. You can add ginger to most of your dishes, and it can be consumed raw as well. The health benefits of ginger can still be accessed in making your own ginger tea, ginger lemonade and ginger ale.

There is no known risk associated with the consumption of ginger except in cases where your healthcare professional is against it as a result of your medical history or allergies. .