Ginger

Published February 2010

To simply say that ginger is good for you would be to indulge in broad, generalized strokes. Until very recently, I was vaguely aware of ginger benefits but I wasn’t fully clued in to all the superb things that ginger brings with it.

While lunching with a friend two weeks ago, we started talking about natural remedies for ailments ranging from the common cold to sunburn. Ingredients like yoghurt and honey came up fairly often, as did ginger. My lunch partner shared that she follows a daily ginger juice regime and she vouched for its pros. I was intrigued and brushed up on my ginger knowledge, and I came away extremely impressed by what that little tuber packs.

I toyed with the idea of a daily ginger tea beverage and finally gave it a shot by boiling up a small nub of lightly pounded ginger in water and drinking it first thing in the morning. I’m now onto Day 10 of this regime and I’ve noted that this has helped with some minor heartburn and indigestion issues I’d been dealing with – largely due to overdoing it during the festive season.

Ginger has a strong reputation etched in the culinary and medicinal annals of history in almost all Asian countries. However, quite a few people I spoke to were either unconvinced or unaware - which left me a little stumped as this plant does more good than you could shake a stick at. Could it be that perhaps ginger isn’t as accepted or recognized for its beneficial properties over here as, say, in India or China, for example? Who knows, but it’s definitely food for thought.

WHAT IS GINGER?

Ginger is a tuber plant that comes from the same family as galangal, turmeric and cardamom. An underground stem offshoot of the Zingiber officinale plant, ginger is found mainly across Asia, the Caribbean and West Africa.

WAYS TO USE GINGER:

Ginger can be incorporated into your health plan in a number of ways. Ginger can be freshly grated and taken raw, or as a daily supplement in pill form available from most pharmacies. Crystallised ginger and pre-packaged ginger teas are also popular. As ginger oil isn’t as easy to find, it can be substituted with a fresh ginger paste when used for massage.

GINGER BENEFITS:

Nausea

Ginger is said to relieve nausea caused by motion sickness. Research suggests that the gingerols in ginger could be responsible for blocking the body’s reflex to vomit. Regular sipping of ginger tea prior to a car or boat journey is proven to be beneficial.

Migraine

Migraine sufferers also find ginger to be helpful as it blocks the effects of prostaglandins - responsible for the swelling of blood vessels in the brain. Though results are still not confirmed, taking 1/3 teaspoon of fresh powdered ginger upon the start of a migraine is said to reduce pain significantly.

Stomach Ailments

Ginger eases a vast number of ailments such as stomach upsets, bowel related problems, colic and spasms. As ginger is an antiseptic and carminative, it can also be used for treating food poisoning, bacterial dysentery and intestinal infections.

Respiratory Ailments, Colds, Sore Throats

Ginger packs a very powerful punch in keeping the common cold, coughs and a variety of other related illnesses, at bay. Ginger is also a good expectorant and is great for removing mucus from the throats and lungs. It should go without saying that the benefits of the ginger-honey-lemon tea combination in this area of health are very well known.

Inflammation& Pain

The presence of a substance called Zingibain is responsible for ginger’s anti-inflammatory properties. It is further believed that regular massage using ginger oil or ginger paste on those suffering from muscles aches, rheumatism and arthritis helps to reduce inflammation and blocks compounds associated with pain.

Others

Ginger reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, reduces cholesterol levels, alleviates high blood pressure, reduces stress and treats dandruff.

It has to be said though that a few words of caution are required. Large amounts of ginger increases bile activity, which may not be ideal for those suffering from gallstones. Also, pregnant women would do best to check with their doctors before using ginger to treat morning sickness nausea, especially during their first trimester.

Sources: NutritionalSupplementsHealthGuide.com/LifeMojo.com/FitnessAndFreebies.com/Wikipedia.com