Why Is Drinking Ginger Good For You?

 

 

 Ginger is a plant, the root of which has been used in cooking and traditional medicine since ancient times. It is a very popular remedy used for nausea, stomach pain, and many health problems.

People generally use fresh or dried ginger for cooking, some take ginger supplements for its potential health benefits.

The antioxidants in ginger can help treat or prevent arthritis, inflammation, and various types of infections. Researchers have also studied its potential to reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer, and other health problems.

In this article, you will learn about the possible health benefits of drinking ginger and the research behind them.

 Why Is Drinking Ginger Good For You?

Ginger may have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties, in addition to other healthful properties. Below are some of the possible medicinal uses for ginger.

1. Reduces Gas And Improves Digestion

There are studies that have investigated the effect of ginger on the gases that form in the intestinal tract during digestion . Research indicates that "ginger enzymes" help the body break down and expel gases, giving relief from any discomfort.

Ginger also appears to have beneficial effects on the enzymes trypsin and pancreatic lipase, which are important for digestion.


 
Additionally, ginger helps increase movement through the digestive tract, indicating that it can alleviate or prevent constipation.

2. Relieves Nausea

Some research indicates that ginger may help relieve morning sickness and nausea after cancer treatment.

A  2010 study examined the "effects of ginger root powder supplements" on nausea in 60 children and young adults who underwent chemotherapy. The results showed that the supplement reduced nausea in most of the people who took it.

Results from other  2011 studies came to similar conclusions, reporting that taking a daily divided dose of 1,500 milligrams of ginger extract helps relieve nausea symptoms.

More human studies are underway to fully understand ginger's effects on nausea, and other gastrointestinal problems.

3. Cold or Flu Relief

Many people use ginger to help them recover from a cold or the flu. Despite the fact that the evidence supporting this remedy is mostly anecdotal.

Researchers in a 2013 study studied the "effects of fresh and dried ginger on a respiratory virus" in human cells; obtaining as results, that "fresh ginger can help protect the respiratory system ", while dried ginger did not have the same effect.

Many people use herbal medicines, and most find these remedies effective, among which is ginger as an ingredient.

4. Relieves Pain

Researchers behind a study , which included 74 volunteers, found that a daily dose of 2 grams of raw or hot ginger reduced exercise-induced muscle soreness by approximately 25%.

Another review  of studies in 2016 concluded that ginger may help reduce "dysmenorrhea," pain before or during menstruation. However, the authors acknowledge that more detailed and better quality research is required.

5. Reduce Inflammation

A group of researchers concluded that ginger intake in moderation is safe and effective in treating inflammation caused by osteoarthritis.

However, reconocie rum that the studies included in the meta - analysis were small and could not represent the general population.

A 2017 review of 16 clinical trials found that ginger's "phytochemical properties" can fight inflammation. The authors called for more research on the most effective doses and types of ginger extract.

6. Supports Cardiovascular Health

There is evidence that ginger extract can help with cardiovascular disease. For example, it was found that a dose of 5 grams or more can cause beneficial and significant antiplatelet activity.

The authors acknowledge that many investigations did not involve human participants or that the number of participants was too small to ensure reliable results.

However, they suggest that with more research, ginger may prove to be a safe way to treat cardiovascular disease .

Another investigation , found that "the ginger extract" helped reduce the occurrence of cardiac abnormalities in rats with diabetes. The authors noted that this reduction may be due to the antioxidant properties of ginger.

Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay

7. Reduces Cancer Risk

Ginger does not provide protein or other nutrients, but "it is an excellent source of antioxidants .  " Studies have shown that, for this reason, "ginger can reduce various types of oxidative stress ."

Oxidative stress  occurs when  too many free radicals build up in the body. "Free radicals are toxic substances" produced by metabolism and other factors.

The body needs to eliminate free radicals to prevent them from causing cell damage that can lead to a number of diseases, including cancer. "  Antioxidants help the body to eliminate free radicals . "

In a  2013 trial with 20 participants given 2 grams of ginger for 28 days, all participants were at high risk of developing  colorectal cancer .

The biopsies of the participants who had consumed ginger, had fewer negative changes in the healthy tissue of the colon. This group had also reduced cell proliferation.

The findings indicate that "ginger may play a role in the prevention of colorectal cancer."

About Nutrition

The great thing about ginger is that "it's a good source of antioxidants, " but it doesn't provide many vitamins , minerals, and calories .

According to the United States Department of Agriculture nutrients, 2 teaspoons of ginger provides only  4 calories, an amount that does not provide a significant amount of any nutrient.

Risks

The  Food and Drug Administration  (FDA) considers ginger to be safe to include in the diet, but does not guarantee or regulate its use as a drug or supplement.

Regarding the compounds in ginger, more research is needed, as scientific evidence does not support some of the claims about the healing qualities of ginger.

Before adding more ginger to your diet or taking a ginger supplement, you should consult a doctor, as this can interact with medications or cause other health complications.source: source (1)

 

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