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There are few spices in the world more useful or beneficial to human health than ginger, a root that’s typically available in most parts of the world at a remarkably affordable price. Belonging to the same family of spice as turmeric, cardamon, and galangal, it shares a tart but widely applicable flavor and a vast range of health benefits.
But what, exactly, can you expect ginger to do in terms of benefitting your overall health picture? In general, consuming ginger on a regular basis means giving your body a shot of nutrients, minerals and bioactive compounds that scientific research has shown can benefit both mind and frame. Now, let’s take a closer look at some of those individual benefits.
The primary bioactive component in ginger, a root that was originally found in China, is gingerol. The main benefit of gingerol, from a physical health perspective, is its demonstrable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which are capable of helping prevent or fight off a wide variety of infections and threats to the human immune system.
More specifically, any food that is high in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds can play a role in helping the body reduce swelling and prevent the spread of serious illnesses, from cancer to heart disease. That’s why health professionals regularly recommend people add these types of foods to their diet.
There are few feelings more upsetting than upset stomach and nausea. Whether it’s the result of a bout with influenza, the first few weeks of a pregnancy, or your body showing it’s not pleased with something you ate, nausea can make it impossible to carry out even the simplest of tasks, like getting up and dressed in the morning and leaving home for work. In a search for help with nausea, many of us regularly reach for easily accessible medications like bismuth. But bismuth has its own set of side effects, some of which can be problematic, such as constipation. And, generally speaking, pregnant women are discouraged from taking it.
That’s where a more natural alternative, like ginger, can be really helpful. Ginger has for centuries been used as a way to counteract upset stomach. For ages, it was used by sailors to prevent sea sickness, and by individuals overcoming surgery. Today, it remains in use for individuals dealing with minor nausea — perhaps because of the early stages of pregnancy — to those dealing with serious upset stomach, such as people going through chemotherapy.
One of the lesser-known benefits of consuming ginger — whether it’s in root form or powder — is that it can assist in overcoming muscle pain and soreness. Given that these types of pain are incredibly common and stem from a wide range of conditions — from lower back pain to whiplash to pulled groin muscles — there’s definitely a demand for a natural way to deal with the issue.
While more extreme fits of pain often require an individual to take a prescription drug medication, such as codeine, many of these pain medications have serious side effects, including upset stomach and constipation. Ginger is the natural alternative, and while somewhat less immediate in dealing with the pain, it can provide relief without introducing a wide range of nagging side effects. The improvement of these side effects are likely due to the anti-inflammatory effects of ginger.
Arthritis is a problem that affections millions of North Americans, with osteoarthritis being a particularly troublesome issue for women. Related to the progressive degeneration of the body’s joints, it often leads to pain and stiffness that can make any kind of movement incredibly difficult. In extreme cases, it’s enough to prevent individuals from participating in the simple activities they love, from playing with their grandkids to going for walks with friends.
Many individuals with osteoarthritis will reach out to their family doctors, who often respond by prescribing powerful pain medications. But these medications often come with their own side effects, some of which can be as problematic as the arthritis itself. In response, many individuals turn to natural remedies, at the forefront of which is ginger. Thanks to the presence of gingerol, an anti-inflammatory compound, ginger can have a significant impact on the pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis. In time, taking ginger on a regular basis could allow an individual to regain flexibility and return to physical activities they’ve come to love.
There are few, if any, organs more important than the heart. The engine of our bodies, the heart plays a central role in pumping blood throughout the circulatory system, bringing nutrients to all parts of the body. Unfortunately, there are a growing number of threats to the heart, from personal and professional stress to the regular consumption of high-fat, high-cholesterol foods.
That’s why it’s so important to regularly consume foods that have been shown to assist in preventing the development of heart disease and associated issues, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol. For its part, ginger has been shown to reduce levels of blood and fat in the blood, thereby limiting the chances that obesity and cholesterol will place excessive pressure on the veins, arteries, and heart itself. Overall, ginger’s impact can be a key factor in avoiding the development of heart disease.
