Health Benefits of Eating Ginger

Ginger is a very common ingredient in a large part of Asian cultures. Not just for cooking but also for its medical attributes. Ginger has a long history of usage for treating digestive problems like loss of appetite, nausea, motion sickness and pain. The roots of the ginger can be eaten fresh, powdered, or dried or as a juice. Ginger is a part of Zingiberaceae family or Ginger family, accompanying cardamom and turmeric and is commonly produced in Jamaica, Fiji, India, Indonesia and Australia.

Health Benefits of eating Ginger

Eating vegetables of all kind has proven beneficial over the period of time and reduced the risk of different lifestyle related health conditions. Studies have revealed that eating foods like ginger reduces the risk of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, overall mortality, overall lower weight and increased energy.

Solves digestive issues

The compounds present in ginger helps to relieve gastrointestinal irritation, stimulates saliva and helps bile production, and suppresses gastric contractions which helps in movement of food and fluids through the gastrointestinal tract. Researches have shown that in addition to the gastro-protective effects, eating ginger is also effective for stress related ulcers.

Calms Nausea

Eating ginger root raw or drinking ginger tea is a very common home remedy for nausea. During cold weather, having ginger tea keeps the body warm and fit. Ginger is diaphoretic which means that it promotes sweating. Therefore, during the cold, drinking ginger tea is particularly useful.

Reduces Pain

A study on 74 volunteers performed at the University of Georgia proved that eating ginger daily reduced exercise induced muscle pain by 25%. In addition, it was also founded that ginger reduces pain during a menstrual cycle. In another study, around 83% of women taking ginger reported improvements in pain symptoms.

Inflammation

Ginger has been used extensively over the centuries to reduce the inflammation and inflammatory conditions. A research study which was published in Cancer Prevention Research journal found that a ginger roots consumed by the volunteers reduced inflammation markers in the colon within a month. It is explained that with the decrease in inflammation, risk of colon cancer is also likely to reduce. Additionally, eating ginger has also treated inflammation related to osteoarthritis.

Ultraviolet Rays Protection

Strange but true, research data has shown that ginger contains UV absorbing capabilities which protects against DNA damage related to UV-B light. The extracts from ginger stimulates antioxidant production, suggesting protective effects against potentially damaging UV light.

Healthy Blood Pressure

Thailand medical practitioners have used herbs traditionally such as ginger to support healthy blood pressure. The extracts from ginger and other herbs were used in therapeutic recipes and they were evaluated for their effectiveness against hypertension. The result proved that ginger was found more effective.

Muscle Aches and Discomfort

A study conducted on female athletes in 2013 has revealed that eating ginger has helped them in relieving muscle discomfort. The study was conducted for a time period of Six weeks where the participants eating ginger reported a significant decrease in muscle soreness as compared to the placebo.

Eating Ginger

Ginger has extremely robust flavor which makes it little tricky to consume it directly, but it mixes well into tea or juice or it can be a great ingredient in a recipe and you can also find it as ingredient in some healthy snacks. So eat ginger and stay fit.