Ginger Facts And Health Benefits:

If you’ve ever taken ginger ale for an upset tummy, you understand the health benefits of ginger. Going back more than 2,000 years in China, the herb has been used to treat nausea, upset stomach and help with digestion and diarrhea.

Used in stir fries and Asian cooking, the spicy, pungent underground rhizome of the ginger plant is firm with a striated texture. It may be yellow, white or red, depending on the variety, and is covered with a thin or thick brownish skin, depending on whether the plant was harvested mature or young.

Why Ginger?

As it turns out, plenty. A 2009 study found ginger supplements when taken alongside anti-vomiting medicine reduced chemotherapy-induced nausea in patients by 40 percent. “Therapeutically, it’s also used for poor circulation and lower back pain. On an emotional level, it can act as a catalyst if you are procrastinating and lack the drive to take action,” says Laurie Steelsmith, a licensed naturopathic doctor and author of “Natural Choices for Women’s Health.” So in what areas can ginger helps us? There are numerous ways lets take a look at a few!

Cold and Flu Season:

Cold and Flu Prevention. Ginger has been used for thousands of years as a natural treatment for colds and flu around Asia. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that to treat cold and flu symptoms in adults, steep 2 tbsp. of freshly shredded or chopped ginger root in hot water, two to three times a day

Ginger And Immunity:

Ginger helps improve the immune system. Consuming a little bit a day can help foil potential risk of a stroke by inhibiting fatty deposits from the arteries. It also decreases bacterial infections in the stomach, and helps battle a bad cough and throat irritation.

Upset Stomach:

Ginger is ideal in assisting digestion, thereby improving food absorption and avoiding possible stomach ache. Ginger appears to reduce inflammation in a similar way to aspirin and ibuprofen, but a much healthier alternative.

Respiratory Ailments:

Ginger’s antihistamine property helps in treating allergies. It is also known to inhibit airway contraction and help stimulate the secretion of mucus. It is the herb of choice for persistent cough and sore throat associated with colds. A teaspoon of ginger juice with honey is effective against sore throat. And ginger tea is an all-time favorite to get rid of congestion in the throat and nose.

Ginger and Digestion:

Had a large meal? Ginger improves absorption and assimilation of essential nutrients and aids in digestion. It also helps break down the proteins in your food. Ginger protects your stomach against ulcers by promoting mucus secretion.

These are just some of the associated health benefits to ginger. How it can be taken is up to you, some people will say that 2 tablespoons of shredded ginger in a cup 2-3 times a day is ideal when you are feeling under the weather. A lot of people will mix ginger and honey to help soothe a cold and drink it many times a day. Naturally, it’s used in cooking and candy, so it’s difficult to measure to say exactly how much you should consume. Your best bet, talk to your doctor for proper dosing.

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Thanks for Reading!

Chris