We have heard of ginger being an essential spice used in cuisines from many Asian, Middle Eastern and Ayurvedic cooking. However, did you know that there are over 20 health benefits of ginger, many of which most people aren’t even aware of?
The Zingiber officinale plant grows underground with its rhizomes being used as a spice that we know as ginger or ginger root. The many health benefits of ginger include its ability to act as an anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, liver protector, anti-tumor, and pain reliever.
These benefits are possible because Ginger contains several active components that help give the mentioned attributes to ginger. These active components include Singerol, Zingerone, Paradol, Shogaol, Terpenoids, Zerumbone, Flavonoids, and 1-Dehydro-(10)-Gingerdione.
The Health Benefits Of Ginger:
- Could Prevent Artery Hardening: The 6-Gingerol in ginger could prevent artery hardening by protecting the cells from free radical damage.
- Helps Regulate Levels Of Blood Sugar: Ginger helps lower the levels of your fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c).
- Improves Lipid Profile (Blood Cholesterol And Triglyceride): It improves blood sugar markers, blood CRP, and lipid profile while lowering blood pressure by blocking calcium channels and activating muscarinic receptors.
- Inhibits Angiogenesis In Skin Cancer: Ginger contains Zerumbone which blocks angiogenesis (a process where cancer cells produce new blood vessels).
- Combats Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: It helps protect your liver from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by reducing insulin resistance, inflammatory cytokines, and several liver enzymes.
- Prevents Cancer Cells From Growing: The component 6-gingerol in ginger helps prevent Hepatoma (liver) cancer cells and osteosarcoma (bone) cancer cells from growing.
- Helps With An Upset Stomach: If you have functional dyspepsia (upset stomach), you could take ginger to help improve the emptying of the stomach contents into the small intestine.
- Helps Protect Your DNA: Ginger can help protect your sperm DNA from free radical damage and mold toxin Aflatoxin B while improving sexual health.
- Combats Cold Viruses: Fresh ginger has been found to prevent cold viruses from infecting healthy cells in some cell-based studies.
- Helps Prevent Cancer Cell Migration: According to studies, 6-Gingerol prevents the migration of cancer cells (metastasis).
- Works As An Effective Painkiller: Ginger has been used as a medicinal herb which helps reduce muscle pain for better pain management.
- Helps With Osteoarthritis: This degenerative joint disease can be eased when you regularly include ginger in your diet.
- Is An Effective Anti-Microbial: Ginger can help your body fight infectious diseases by acting as an effective anti-microbial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral ingredient.
- Can Cause Cancer Cells To Die: Zerumbone and ginger terpenoids can help cancer cells to die by causing apoptosis in the cancer cells by p53 activation.
- Alleviates Eczema Reactions: 6-Shogaol in ginger helps relieve eczema or allergic dermatitis by assisting you to activate the Nrf2 pathway and inhibit Cytokine production.
- Helps Women Better Deal With Menstrual Pains: Women find ginger to be more efficient than Mefenamic acid when it comes to helping with menstrual cramp pains.
- Improves Radiation Therapy Effectiveness: Ginger contains Zerumbone which makes colorectal cancer cells more sensitive to radiation, enhancing the effectiveness of the therapy.
- Strengthens Your Stomach Lining: Ginger helps strengthen your stomach’s lining which can be weakened due to stomach issues from osteoarthritis patients that use NSAIDs frequently.
- Combats Allergies And Asthma: Ginger contains Zerumbone which helps suppress Th2, enhance Th1 response while reducing contractions due to acetylcholine for combating allergies and asthma.
- Helps Protect Your Liver And Kidney: Ginger contains potent antioxidants that help protect your liver and kidney from cadmium, aluminum, and liver toxicity.
- Combats Nausea And Vomiting: It helps prevent the triggering of nausea and vomiting by combating the serotonin production in the digestive tract. It can also help with morning sickness and side effects of chemotherapy.
- Improves Fat Burn And Combats Obesity: Studies have shown ginger to activate the PPARδ pathway which helps combat obesity and improves fat burn.
- Helps To Kill Bad Bacteria: Ginger contains tincture which can help kill harmful bacteria like Staphylococcus aureas, Staphylococcus pneumoniae, Salmonella typhimurum, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Escherichia coli, and Haemophilus influenzae with its anti-bacterial attributes.
Conclusion Regarding The Health Benefits Of Ginger:
Now that we have taken a look at the different health benefits of ginger, you should be aware that there are many other benefits of this spice which can be enjoyed by cooking, eating raw or preparing the spice. However, fresh ginger should be used when possible as this has shown to be more effective than store-bought processed ginger.
