Health Benefits of Ginger

Ginger is one of the most commonly consumed condiments in the world. It not only adds a flavorful pop to your food; it’s also good for your health. It’s widely documented that ginger can help treat and prevent a wide range of common ailments and diseases.

Thanks to its rich phytochemistry and antioxidative properties, ginger fights against conditions ranging from muscle ache to cancer. Ginger is proven to be powerful as a supplementary treatment against:

Degenerative Disorders

Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties similar to ibuprofen that help alleviate pain associated with arthritis and rheumatism. And, coupled with its anti-oxidative abilities, ginger is effective in slowing the overall effects of aging. Dried ginger may even have beneficial effects in treating dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Digestive Health

In addition to treating indigestion, constipation and ulcerative colitis, ginger is also proven to alleviate nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy and chemotherapy.

Cardiovascular Disorders

Research shows that ginger may have benefits to heart health. And, it can be used as an alternative to aspirin, which has potential side effects in patients with coronary heart disease who are undergoing antiplatelet therapy. Ginger has also been shown to lower bad cholesterol and improve aortic atherosclerosis.

Respiratory Illnesses

Ginger has been used to treat respiratory complications like asthma for centuries. Again, because of its anti-inflammatory properties, ginger helps reduce inflammation of muscles in the airway.

Diabetes

In clinical trials, ginger proved effective in treating diabetic rats. The research suggests that treatment with ginger helps control blood sugar levels and reduce the effects of insulin resistance.

Cancer

In addition to its powerful anti-oxidant properties, ginger contains components believed to fight cancer. In lab studies, ginger was effective in suppressing chemokine receptor 4 in cancers of the pancreas, lung, kidney, and skin. Further studies indicated that ginger can be beneficial in preventing cancer-associated bone loss and osteoporosis.

Don’t Be So Ginger About It

It’s easy to add ginger to your diet. Try it in hot tea, blend it into juices and smoothies or add it to soup and stir-fry. For the less adventurous, powdered ginger and ginger extract are available in pill form.