Introduction:
Spices are indeed a way to add zest and flavor to your favorite dishes. However, many spices also offer hefty doses of nutrients, minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins. For example, ginger, which originates from a flowering root plant, provides a wide range of great health benefits. Discovered first in Southeast Asia, this spice has been widely used in eastern medicine practices since the 9th century and is also a staple of Indian, Asian and Caribbean cuisines. Ginger is both delicious and highly nutritious, and it is a good idea to add this versatile spice to our daily diet. Continue reading as we go through the top ten health benefits of ginger.
What Are the Health Benefits of Ginger?
By appearance, ginger may not look like a body booster, but it packs a powerful punch. It contains magnesium, potassium, and vitamin C and provides numerous health benefits.
Here are some of the health benefits of ginger:
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Reduces Nausea: Eating ginger can reduce various forms of nausea, whether from migraines, motion sickness, morning sickness, or stomach problems. In addition, eating fresh ginger can help increase how food moves through the GI tract (gastrointestinal tract) and block serotonin receptors in the gut lining. This can help relax nerves that trigger the vomiting reflex.
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Prevents Heart Disease: Ginger can help lower the bad cholesterol in your heart. One can add it while tempering your food or vegetables or add it to your green tea. It helps reduce the bad fat levels in the body, like very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), which accumulates harmful cholesterol in the arteries, thus preventing atherosclerosis.
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Prevents Obesity: Many weight loss products in the market contain ginger as a weight loss ingredient, especially Garcinia cambogia extract, which aids in weight loss. This is because ginger helps break the body's fat cells and thus helps regulate normal body weight.
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Helps With Cancer: Research studies suggest gingerol (a potent compound in ginger) can prevent some cancers. Although it is not a cure, its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties can help protect the body. In addition, ginger is a safe choice to relieve the symptoms of nausea and pain following cancer treatment.
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Reduces Pain: Being a natural pain reliever, ginger is an excellent replacement for over-the-counter pain medications. The anti-inflammatory properties of gingerol compounds lessen the pain associated with arthritis and improve joint mobility. People living with arthritis are often prescribed anti-inflammatory medications to relieve their symptoms, but ginger works as a natural and safe option.
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Treats Cold and Fever: Ginger has certain bioactive compounds which help treat colds, sore throats, and fevers. One can add one-inch fresh ginger and some lemon juice and have it with warm water.
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Improves Immunity: Gingerol promotes immunity with its antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Ginger also contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. The combination of these properties has multiple benefits, including improving coughs, lowering fevers, fighting off infections, reducing headaches, and alleviating other symptoms of the common cold and flu.
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Improves Skin: Ginger enhances skin health with antioxidants, improved blood circulation, and antiseptic properties. The antioxidants shield the skin from harmful ultraviolet rays and delay the breakdown of collagen, making the skin look youthful, radiant, and tauter. The antiseptic properties of ginger help improve acne symptoms, and anti-inflammatory properties also help heal irritated skin. Raw ginger can help clear away scarring caused by acne.
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Improves Digestion: Ginger helps accelerate digestion and empty the stomach more quickly. Individuals with digestive problems, including indigestion, constipation, ulcers, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), can get relief by including ginger in their regular diet. Studies suggest that people who consume ginger digest twice as fast as those who do not consume it.
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Alleviates Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) Symptoms: Menstrual pain is a common problem among women, but incorporating ginger into your diet might make it manageable. Using ginger in the first three days of the menstrual cycle helps relieve menstrual cramps and pain. Its anti-inflammatory properties reduce the bloating that is common with PMS.
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Aids in Weight Loss: Some studies indicate that incorporating ginger into a daily diet helps aid in weight loss. It controls insulin levels, promotes metabolism, and assists in workout recovery. It is not a fix-all, but when used with other weight loss measures, it can augment your results.
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May Inhibit Bacterial Growth: Studies suggest that certain elements in ginger, like gingerol, can have antibacterial properties. However, more research is required to draw definitive conclusions.
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Improves Brain Function: Over time, chronic inflammation can affect the brain and cause it to decline, resulting in cognitive disorders, Alzheimer's disease, or mental health issues. Ginger decreases inflammation and protects the brain from free radicals due to its powerful antioxidants. Further, it improves memory function by increasing the neurotransmitters in the brain responsible for memory, concentration, and reaction time.
How to Add More Ginger To Your Diet?
If you think about how to eat ginger for numerous health benefits, there are different ways to start incorporating it into your diet. Here are the methods you can add to your routine.
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Spice Up Your Meals: Add minced ginger to meals to get the health benefits and add extra savor. Ginger works best in soups, stir-fries, curries, and smoothies.
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Ginger Tea: This is the most common way to consume ginger. Add pieces of sliced or chopped ginger to water and steep it. To add more flavor, include things like honey or lemon.
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Ginger Juice: This is one of the most common and convenient ways to consume ginger which can be easily prepared at home.
Conclusion:
In addition to its fantastic taste, ginger provides many health benefits that you can enjoy in many forms. So, if you are rooting for good health, consider incorporating ginger into your diet. Adding ginger to your diet is the best yet simple way to improve your health. There are many ways to include it in your diet with minimal effort.
