{"id":1860,"date":"2018-12-27T04:26:05","date_gmt":"2018-12-27T04:26:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/veryhealthy.life\/?p=1860"},"modified":"2021-07-15T18:29:48","modified_gmt":"2021-07-15T18:29:48","slug":"20-healing-benefits-of-ginger-root","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/veryhealthy.life\/20-healing-benefits-of-ginger-root\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Healing Benefits of Ginger Root"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Ginger is one of the most common ingredients in our food and its popularity spans multiple different countries and regions. Ginger has been used to help add flavor in cooking for hundreds of years and likewise, its use as a health aid and natural remedy also dates back that far.<\/p>\n

As with many of the natural remedies of old though, more recent research is now demonstrating that these uses are backed by science. In fact, ginger may have even more uses than we once thought and act as a powerful health agent for fighting aging and cancer, for reducing inflammation, to helping to calm the nerves and help you feel at ease.
\nThe best part is that ginger can be enjoyed in a number of ways \u2013 added to food or stirred into tea \u2013 and it is easy and affordable to find as well.<\/p>\n

Without further ado then, read on and we\u2019ll explore some of the most impressive benefits of ginger.<\/p>\n

1. Nausea<\/h3>\n

Ginger is perhaps best known for its ability to fight nausea<\/a>. Whether you are suffering from travel sickness, morning sickness or vertigo, ginger may be able to help.<\/p>\n

In one study looking ag 1,278 pregnant women, ginger was found to be effective in minimizing the effects of nausea with very minimal risk of side effects. Another study found that the same effect could be beneficial for those suffering from chemotherapy.<\/p>\n

Other studies suggest that ginger will help to ease and reduce vomiting, but not nausea itself. Whatever the case, this will surely be highly welcome news for a large number of people. And this is also one of the uses that date back furthest \u2013 ginger was used to treat stomach pain, aches, nausea, and diarrhea in Asia and elsewhere.<\/p>\n

\"\"2. Antiviral<\/h3>\n

Ginger is not only antibacterial but also antiviral and has the ability to fight off invasions that lead to unwanted symptoms. This makes it very useful in combating infections and means it might work as a natural antibiotic<\/a>. The best part of natural antibiotics is that they don\u2019t harm the beneficial bacteria that you want in your stomach!<\/p>\n

Ginger is often recommended to people with a cold or flu. These conditions are caused by different viruses that penetrate the mucus layer of the nose thereby causing inflammation, pain, and discomfort. It can also do the same thing in the throat and elsewhere. But when you consume ginger, as a tea or in any other format, it can help aid you in the battle against these invaders and thereby encourage more rapidly healing from any related condition. What\u2019s more, is that drinking ginger tea is warming and soothing. And if you are feeling sick and nauseous with your viral infection, then you\u2019ll benefit from that too!<\/p>\n

\"\"3. Perspiration<\/h3>\n

Something that is lesser-known about ginger, is that it can be useful for increasing perspiration<\/a>! In other words, ginger can make you sweat, and while this might not sound like a nice thing (it may even sound slightly gross!) it can actually be useful for fighting a temperature.<\/p>\n

You see, sweating is actually beneficial for helping to reduce the temperature. That\u2019s because the liquid will sit on top of your skin and there it will rob your body of heat energy in order to evaporate. This is the whole reason that sweat is naturally associated with an infection!<\/p>\n

There are other reasons that you may want to sweat too \u2013 in order to help you to open up your pores and detox your skin for instance. Just be careful around the term \u2018detox\u2019. This is a word that is often overused and taken out of context!<\/p>\n

\"\"4. Anti-inflammatory<\/h3>\n

Ginger is anti-inflammatory<\/a>, which means that it can help to reduce swelling. It does this in a number of different ways and can help to reduce the number of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the body. These are the molecules our bodies use in order to signal that inflammation should occur.<\/p>\n

Of course, inflammation is not a bad thing itself and is actually useful for helping to protect an area and to make it less habitable for bacteria and other types of infection. But when inflammation is too much, it can cause severe pain and even negatively impact mobility \u2013 as we see in cases of arthritis. This is why using ginger is so important and beneficial for those with arthritis and is commonly recommended as a natural supplement on top of medication. You can also add other herbs and spices to your routine, like turmeric which is also anti-inflammatory!<\/p>\n

At the same time, reducing inflammation can help you to improve cognition and mood. Brain fog and depression have both been linked to inflammation in the brain!<\/p>\n

\"\"5. Micronutrient Source<\/h3>\n

One of the less exotic but no less important benefits of ginger is that it can be a useful tool for adding more micronutrients to your diet. That means more vitamins and minerals. Among others, ginger will provide you with extra vitamin C<\/a>, extra zinc, extra vitamin B6, extra potassium, and more.<\/p>\n

All these things serve different important roles in the body. The best known perhaps is vitamin C, which of course can strengthen the immune system, help act as an antioxidant, help to increase the production of the mood-boosting serotonin, and much more.<\/p>\n

If you were to consume 100 grams of ginger, you\u2019d get 5mg of vitamin C. That\u2019s about 8% of your DV. Likewise, you\u2019d get about 415mg of potassium. Now, these are very small amounts and especially when you consider that most people will only eat a tiny amount of ginger. But consider too that 100mg of ginger only adds 80 calories and you\u2019re adding much less than that. By adding ginger to tea and to other meals, it will all add up and over time you\u2019ll have added a lot of extra nutrients to your day\u2026 all without filling yourself up or adding too many calories!<\/p>\n

\"\"6. Anti-Cold<\/h3>\n

I\u2019ve already mentioned a few ways in which ginger can help you to combat the effects of a cold. For one, it is good for killing bacteria<\/a> in the sinuses. At the same time, it is soothing and relaxing when consumed as a warm tea. Then there\u2019s the fact that it is anti-inflammatory and can help to open up the airways when breathing is difficult. It also contains vitamin C, which may help to protect against colds in the first place.<\/p>\n

But did you know that ginger will also directly combat the very types of viruses that cause colds? These are called rhinoviruses and the active ingredient that makes ginger so effective at this is the \u2018sesquiterpene\u2019. You likely never heard of it, but just know that it directly targets colds and flu \u2013 making it even more effective in this battle than other antibacterial herbs and spices like garlic.<\/p>\n

\"\"7. Fights Fungal Infection<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s not just colds and flu that ginger is specifically effective at targeting \u2013 it can also help to fight yeast infections, jock itch, and athlete’s foot<\/a>. These are all infections that are caused by fungi rather than viruses or bacteria and they can have a number of nasty symptoms.<\/p>\n

Ginger has powerful anti-fungal properties specifically and has been shown in several studies to safely and effectively kill the fungi that lead to these conditions.<\/p>\n

For instance, one test-tube study conducted in 2016 found that ginger extract could kill two fungi that are responsible for infections in the mouth. Even more exciting was a study that compared ginger to 28 other plants and found that it was the most effective out of all of them when it came to killing fungus.<\/p>\n

\"\"8. Combats Stomach Ulcers<\/h3>\n

Ginger<\/a> can help to fight stomach infections but will also combat ulcers that form here, generally making them great for your tummy health! Stomach ulcers are sores that will appear on the lining of the stomach and which can lead to indigestion, fatigue, heartburn, stomach pain, and more.<\/p>\n

Other studies have shown that ginger can prevent stomach ulcers from forming in the first place! One study looking at animal subjects in 2011 discovered that ginger was able to prevent ulcers that are normally caused by ulcers. It did this by decreasing the levels of the inflammatory proteins in the stomach and by blocking the activity of enzymes that lead to the formation of ulcer development. This is a double whammy and a great win for the herb!<\/p>\n

\"\"9. Antioxidant<\/h3>\n

Ginger is packed with antioxidants, which makes it anti-cancer and anti-aging.<\/p>\n

You likely already know, but antioxidants<\/a> are substances in our diets which act against free radicals. Free radicals meanwhile are molecules that are reactive when they come into contact with the cell walls. They cause damage to the walls and eventually this bombardment is enough to cause macroscopic (visible) changes to the quality of our skin!<\/p>\n

Eventually, free radicals can penetrate all the way through the cell walls and reach the nuclei of the cells \u2013 which is where the DNA is housed. When this happens, the damage to the DNA can cause defects in the cell which prevents it from operating properly. Then, when the cell splits and multiplies via the process of mitosis, it can eventually lead to those imperfections being copied over and over again. This can eventually lead to cancerous tumors and cause entire organs to cease functioning correctly.<\/p>\n

\"\"10. Anti-Allergy<\/h3>\n

Ginger may offer the perfect combination of effects for fighting allergies<\/a>. That\u2019s because ginger is considered to be a natural antihistamine. This means that it is able to combat the effects of histamine, which is the neurotransmitter\/hormone that is produced in the body in response to foreign substances. This is how the body drives out allergens, infections, and toxins and it is what leads to many unwanted symptoms and side effects such as swelling, sneezing, streaming eyes, etc.<\/p>\n

When you reduce histamine, you reduce these symptoms. And because allergens are not actually toxic, there is no downside to this. This works just like over-the-counter antihistamines but is less powerful and more natural.<\/p>\n

At the same time, we\u2019ve already discussed many ways in which ginger can help to ease symptoms associated with colds and related conditions. So, this can address the symptoms and the root causes of allergies.<\/p>\n

\"\"11. Eases Joint Pain<\/h3>\n

Ginger has very interestingly been shown to be effective at easing pain felt in the joints and the muscles. It may do this in the same way that it helps to ease inflammation \u2013 as it may be inflammation that causes joint and muscle pain in the first place!<\/p>\n

In particular, this may make ginger very beneficial for DOMS<\/a> or \u2018Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness\u2019. When you consider these benefits, it becomes a very appealing substance for bodybuilders and athletes dealing with fatigue and pain following their training. It may allow those who train regularly to reduce their downtime between sessions and get back in the gym sooner!<\/p>\n

\"\"12. Arthritis and Neuromuscular Conditions<\/h3>\n

Many of these same benefits make ginger a great option for combating osteoarthritis and similar conditions. Osteoarthritis<\/a> is a condition that is caused by the gradual degeneration of the joints in the body over time. This eventually leads to impaired movement and pain which is worsened by swelling and inflammation. By using ginger, it may be possible to reduce the swelling and pain and to improve mobility and flexibility.<\/p>\n

In one study with 247 participants, ginger was found to be able to reduce not only pain but also the need for medication among sufferers.<\/p>\n

\"\"13. Reduces Blood Sugar<\/h3>\n

As well as being potentially effective against osteoarthritis, ginger may also be useful for combating another common chronic disease \u2013 that being diabetes. That\u2019s because it can help to lower blood sugar, which in turn may be able to offer a whole host of other benefits.<\/p>\n

Diabetes is caused either by an inability to produce insulin, or an inability to use insulin (insensitivity). This is a problem seeing as insulin<\/a> is what the body uses in order to absorb sugar from the blood and then store it as fat or use it for energy.<\/p>\n

When insulin is low, this leads to a build-up of sugar in the blood, and that in turn can cause low energy levels, nerve damage, and a range of other symptoms.<\/p>\n

By lowering blood sugar then, you can reduce the negative effects of low insulin\/insulin sensitivity. At the same time, this could also potentially help you to lose weight as it reduces the amount of sugar in the blood to be stored as fat. This is why so many diets revolve around lowering blood sugar.<\/p>\n

\"\"14. Aiding Sleep<\/h3>\n

Did you know that taking antihistamines<\/a> can be a useful way to increase sleep? You may well be familiar with the notion that they leave you feeling dozy and sleepy, and this is actually one reason that many people will avoid using them.<\/p>\n

But ginger\u2019s effects are less potent than store-bought medications meaning that it won\u2019t cause undue drowsiness. But by reducing the excitatory neurotransmitter histamine, it may be enough to help your brain quieten and to ease stress \u2013 thereby helping you to doze off to sleep more easily.<\/p>\n

And seeing as we also know that ginger can help to relax the muscles and ease discomfort, it follows that this too can aid and benefit sleep. For all these reasons, a mug of ginger tea might be the perfect choice for getting off to sleep.<\/p>\n

\"\"15. Reduces Menstrual Pain<\/h3>\n

Another of the many benefits of ginger that will be very welcome is its ability to fight menstrual pain and period cramps\/headaches<\/a>. This was demonstrated in a study that was published by the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Here it was found to be as effective to this end as medications such as ibuprofen and mefenamic acid. A similar study published in 2009 also had similar findings.<\/p>\n

When you consider that ginger is also useful for easing muscle pain, cramps, nausea, headaches, and more, it becomes apparent that ginger is a very useful weapon in the fight against this type of pain and discomfort.<\/p>\n

\"\"16. Anti-Cancer<\/h3>\n

I\u2019ve already mentioned that ginger contains powerful antioxidants<\/a>. This can prevent damage to cells and DNA caused by free radicals, which may make it powerfully beneficial for preventing cancer and mutations.<\/p>\n

At the same time though, ginger might also be highly beneficial for directly inhibiting the growth of cancer specifically. This is thanks to a particular compound that is called 6-gingerol. In test-tube studies, it was found that this substance could help to block the growth of cancer cells and the development of pancreatic, prostate, and ovarian cancer especially.<\/p>\n

We need more research in order to find out how these benefits would translate to human patients, but it is nevertheless a promising and encouraging sign.<\/p>\n

\"\"17. Mood<\/h3>\n

There are several ways in which ginger can help to improve your mood. For one, we\u2019ve already discussed that reducing inflammation<\/a> may be able to combat depression because it helps to fight inflammation in the brain.
\nAt the same time, the antihistamine effects of ginger may also be effective for improving the mood. That\u2019s because histamine is an excitatory neurotransmitter \u2013 this is the same reason that reducing histamine can help you to get to sleep more easily.<\/p>\n

And anything that reduces the constant \u2018chatter\u2019 of your brain can help you to fall asleep more easily but can also help to improve your mood. In fact, this is how a lot of anxiolytics \u2013 stress medications work \u2013 they work by increasing GABA which is a neuroinhibitory chemical.<\/p>\n

And finally, ginger may be able to improve blood flow to the brain \u2013 which can give you more energy and greater focus.<\/p>\n

In short, ginger may help to put you in a calmer and more relaxed state while at the same time relaxing the muscles and reducing brain fog. All these things can of course contribute to a better mood and definitely things to consider beneficial!<\/p>\n

\"\"18. Blood Pressure<\/h3>\n

Because ginger can help to reduce inflammation, this makes it effective in combating high blood pressure. It can do this because it relaxes the muscles around the blood vessels<\/a> and thereby makes it easier for blood to circulate around the body.<\/p>\n

At the same time though, ginger is also a highly potent blood thinner and this can also be very effective when it comes to helping blood get around the system. The best way to think about this is as being the difference between drinking a very thick milkshake through a very thin straw, versus drinking water through the same straw. It\u2019s much easier to get the thinner liquid through the smaller space and that of course reduces the amount of pressure that you need in order to mobilize the fluid.<\/p>\n

And this is the precise same way that you can lower your blood pressure by using ginger. It has been called the \u2018smart man\u2019s aspirin\u2019.<\/p>\n

\"\"19. Heart Disease<\/h3>\n

Seeing as blood pressure<\/a> is lowered by using ginger, it also follows that this would improve heart health and reduce the risk of heart disease. Of course, one of the biggest causes for heart problems is high blood pressure \u2013 as this essentially makes it difficult for the heart to keep pumping blood around the body effectively, effectively causing it to \u2018seize up\u2019 and thereby trigger an attack. High blood pressure can likewise lead to an increased likelihood of stroke, headache, and a range of other issues. It can also lead to other heart issues including such things as arrhythmia and angina (pain in the chest).<\/p>\n

If there is a history of heart disease in your family, then adding a little ginger to your diet may be no bad thing. At the same time though, you should also focus on improving other aspects of your overall health. Increasing fitness for instance can help you to lower your blood pressure by decreasing your resting heart rate. In short, if each pump of your heart moves blood around the body more effectively, then your heart doesn\u2019t need to beat as fast!<\/p>\n

\"\"20. Longevity<\/h3>\n

If you combine all of these different benefits, then it follows that ginger can help you to enjoy greater health well into old age and also live longer at the same time!<\/p>\n

The antioxidant<\/a> properties will first and foremost help to improve the appearance of your skin as you age keeping your complexion looking youthful and clear. At the same time, they will prevent damage to cells which can eventually lead to imperfections in the DNA and cancerous tumor formation. In fact, the division of cells and the associated degradation of telomeres might be one of the leading causes of aging! Suffice to say that antioxidants can slow this process and thus improve longevity.<\/p>\n

On top of all that, seeing as heart disease is the leading cause of death in the Western world along with infectious diseases, it only follows that ginger should be one of the best tools for living longer and feeling healthier!<\/p>\n\r\n

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