Top 7 Ginger Health Benefits

GINGER

Ginger is a plant that belongs to the botanical family of Zingiberaceae. Other example of plant in this family includes turmeric and cardamom. The plant has yellowish green flowers with leafy stem. Ginger is well known for its medicinal property apart from it being used for seasoning food. It originated from Asia, India and China. It is now highly produced in Jamaica, Fiji, Indonesia, Australia and India. It is commonly used in adding flavor to drinks and food.

Ginger is available as a whole fresh root, dried root, powder, and crystallized ginger.

What are the Ginger Health Benefits?

Ginger contains a number of compounds that makes it a good medicinal, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound. These compounds include gingerol, capsaicin, caffeic acid, beta carotene, salicylate and curcumin.

Here are the nutritional components of ginger including the vitamins and minerals per 100g of ginger:

Carbohydrate- 17.77g

Protein- 2g

Dietary fiber- 2g

Sugar- 1.7g

Vitamin B6- 0.16mg

Calcium- 16mg

Sodium- 13mg

Potassium- 415mg

Magnesium- 43mg

Phosphorus- 33mg

Iron- 0.6mg

Niacin- 0.75mg

Zinc- 0.34mg

1. In Digestive System

Ginger has a soothing effect on the digestive system. It helps in alleviating stomach pains and discomfort. It helps to excrete excess gas in the digestive system; hence it helps in healing dyspepsia and bloating. It helps to treat motion sickness and diarrhea.

Ginger helps to reduce symptoms of nausea like dizziness, vomiting, and cold sweating. It is thus helps in alleviating symptoms of pregnancy sickness.

Chewing raw ginger is a good home remedy for nausea and vomiting.

2.  Anti-inflammatory Property

Ginger contains gingerols which is a strong anti- inflammatory agent. Ginger thus controls osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis well. It reduces joint pain and stiffness. It is also a powerful anti- oxidant.

3.  For Skin Care

Oil make from ginger helps to soothe skin burn and increase circulation when apply on skin. It is also used in treating baldness. Sometimes, the fresh juice is used. It is also use on insect bites and other poisonous bite.

Ginger has a powerful effect in healing muscle pains. The action is not immediately, but it reduces the pain progressively. In a study carried out on people performing elbow exercise, consumption of 2 grams of ginger daily for 11 consecutive days significantly reduce muscle pain. 

4.  In Cancer Treatment

Ginger has an anti-cancer property mainly due to its gingerol content. Cancer is a condition whereby there is uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells. Examples include mouth cancer, breast cancer, and lot more. Taking ginger tea or chewing raw ginger helps to reduce the risk of having cancer.

5. On Respiratory System

Ginger is used in treating different respiratory infection like bronchitis, cough and upper respiratory tract infection. It also helps in alleviating chest and low back pain. 

6. For Pain Relieve

Ginger has been fund useful in reducing different pains in the body. Drinking warm ginger tea helps to reduce menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea). It reduces muscle pain as well. To make ginger tea, slice your ginger into hot water. You can add lemon, or honey to improve taste and nutritional value.

7. To Boost Immune System

Gingerol present in ginger help to fight infection by boosting the immune system.

Other conditions where ginger is found helpful include: cholera, malaria, toothaches, diabetes, inflamed testicles and anorexia.