10 Health Benefits of Ginger

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Ginger is one of the most healthy and delicious spices of the world. Ginger is related to cardamom and turmeric as they belong to the same family of plants and share many health benefits. Ginger is full of nutrients beneficial for both your mind and body. What’s interesting is that, ginger, despite growing underground, is a part of plant’s stem not roots. Ginger is available in many forms but its benefits depends on what form and how it is consumed.

Let’s know what are its health benefits:

1. Nausea: Ginger is famous among people traveling on water who usually suffers from sea sickness. It is as good as any doctor prescribed medicine. Ginger is also helpful for patients experiencing nausea after surgery or cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Though, ginger is quite safe, pregnant women should only consume it after consulting a doctor.

Direction for use: Take ginger juice with powdered black pepper and rock salt. To stop continuous vomiting consume ginger juice with onion juice.

2. Muscle and body pain: Ginger is used as a reliever from various pains. It's quite helpful in muscle pain due to exercise. It doesn’t provide instant relief, but it controls the growth in intensity of pain. Women suffering from cramps during menstrual period can also consume it for pain relief. It is as effective as a medicine and should be used at the starting of periods.  

3. Heart related diseases: Ginger has anti-diabetic property which controls the blood sugar and controls the factors causing heart related diseases. Though, level of bad cholesterol greatly depends on your eating habits, ginger also decreases the level of bad cholesterol in the body and prevents heart diseases.

Direction for use: Mix equal amount of ginger juice and water and drink.

4. Digestion: Ginger is very helpful in the digestion process. The sugar level in the blood increases just after the meal which slows down the metabolism of the body. Ginger’s anti-diabetic property helps in the digestive process by controlling the sugar level and increasing the production of saliva in mouth and bile juice in liver. Ginger provides relief from inflammation in the intestine. Ginger is also helpful in relieving constipation. Constipation makes bowel motion difficult and causes pain in the upper abdomen. Ginger is effective in making bowel motion easy and quick and increases appetite. Additionally, the compounds present in ginger help the body absorbs vital nutrients from the food. Ginger consumption also prevents flatulence. The unwanted gas not only causes inconvenience but also damages your delicate organs. It removes the excess gas from the body and prevents it from building up again.

Direction for use: Consuming small pieces of ginger mixed with bishop’s seed, rock salt and lemon juice helps in treating indigestion. Including ginger in soup increases its taste and adds benefits to it. Eating two to three pieces of ginger before meal increases appetite.

5. Peptic ulcer: Peptic ulcers can result in irritation in the stomach, pain in the chest or upper abdomen, heartburn, belching, indigestion, nausea, passing excessive gas and internal bleeding as slow blood loss or as severe blood loss causing black or bloody vomit or black or bloody stools. Ginger prevents peptic ulcers and further inhibits the growth of ulcer promoting bacteria. The anti-inflammatory property of ginger helps in treating dangerous diseases like crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

6. Common infectious disease: Ginger is very helpful in treating common cold and cough caused due to the change in weather. It protects you from common cold and cough causing virus  and gives relief if you are already suffering from the infection. The compound gingerol present in ginger inhibits the growth of various types of viruses. It kills the inflammation causing virus present in the gums and keeps the gums and teeth healthy.

Direction for use: For relief in cold and cough, drink ginger tea. The ginger tea warms up the body and helps excrete the toxins through perspiration.

7. Asthma: For years, ginger has been traditionally used as medicine for respiratory diseases. The reason for asthma is inflammation in the respiratory tract which causes difficulty in breathing. The anti-inflammatory property of ginger provides relief from inflammation.

8. Removes toxic substance: The medicines taken for the treatment of tuberculosis increases cadmium metal in the body. The increased cadmium content in the body is harmful for the body and damages the liver. Ginger excretes the cadmium out of the body and protects the liver.

9. Sexual Activity: Ginger increases the sexual activity by increasing the flow of blood in the middle portion of the body. The scent of ginger is capable of making sexual connection and it also increases the male fertility.

10. Stiffness and pain in joints: Ginger is very helpful in relieving joint pain in arthritis and its anti-inflammatory properties reduces the inflammation in the knees. Make a lotion by mixing fresh grounded ginger with camphor and apply it on the place of pain and inflammation.

Ginger also has following benefits:  

• Ginger regularize the digestion process, increases your exercise capacity and reduces tiredness. All these factors helps in reducing weight and keeps obesity away.
• The gingerol aur zerumbone present in ginger is effective against liver cancer, breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
• For years, ginger has been used for the treatment of diarrhea. It removes excess gas and relieves from cramps in stomach which are the major cause of diarrhea.
• Ginger is helpful in common age related disease like decrease in cognitive power. It also prevents the onset of diseases like demetia aur alzheimer’s.
• Immune System: The anti-oxidant property of ginger makes your immune system stronger.
• Stress: Drinking ginger tea reduces the stress level and makes you feel fresh.
• Ginger helps in hair growth.
• Hiccups: Ginger provides relief even from chronic hiccups. Take one or two small pieces of ginger and suck on these for a few minutes, you will feel relieved. 
• Bad Breath: Gargle with a mixture of lukewarm water and ginger juice. Do this in the morning and after meal. 
• Fever: In high fever, mix ginger juice and honey equal to one-fifth of it and take it every three hours for relief.
• Taking a piece of ginger with lukewarm water makes your skin glow.

Ginger is a very beneficial spice which is tested by time and it is helpful in many diseases. You can consume it in various forms; you can have it fresh, powdered, in dried form, its oil or its juice. You can make ginger tea, cut small pieces or crush it and use it in soup or various dishes. Ginger is also used in sweets, mouth fresheners or in the form of pickle.

Things to be kept in mind:

• Over-consumption of ginger may lead to diarrhea, irritation in chest, allergy and inflammation.
• Ginger can cause acidity in some people.
• Diabetic patients should consult their doctors before its use as it alters the level of blood sugar.
• Avoid using it if you are taking blood thinning medicine.
• Pregnant women should consult their doctors before use.