6 Amazing Health Benefits Of Ginger

Ginger has wonderful health benefits and medicinal uses, it has been used for thousands of years both as a spice and in remedies. It is used for the treatment of various diseases like cold, nausea, periods pain, arthritis and headache, it also aids weight loss.

Here in our village, we use all forms of ginger in remedies. Ginger coffee made with dry ginger as a base is very famous for treating indigestion. We also make ginger poultice for treating headache and inflammation and ginger infusion for treating cold and cough.

# Antioxidant properties

Ginger root contains very high levels of antioxidants and it helps decrease age-related oxidative stress. Ginger effectively fights off free radicals which cause premature ageing. Due to its high antioxidant properties, it also has a protective effect on our brain, liver and kidneys.

Oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and protein misfolding are the reasons for age related neurological disorders and since ginger helps reduce inflammation, prevent oxidative stress and cell death, it greatly helps prevent age related neurological problems.

# Anti-inflammatory Properties

Ginger has been used as a remedy for reducing inflammation for centuries, gingerol and shogaols have been proven to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Here in our village, we apply ginger poultice to reduce inflammation and pain. People who are suffering from arthritis will greatly benefit consuming ginger in therapeutic dosages.

# Anti Nausea Properties

Ginger is used world over for treating nausea and vomiting. Here in our village, we use it all the time. When I was pregnant, I had severe vomiting sensation the entire pregnancy and only ginger tea helped. Ginger is also recommended for treating nausea and vomiting associated with certain illnesses. In a study, patients who took ginger before gynaecology laparoscopy experienced less nausea and vomiting.

# Anticancer Properties

Zerumbone, gingerol and shogaol present in ginger have powerful anticancer properties against many cancer cell lines including lymphoma, hepatoma, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer, bladder cancer and liver cancer! It does this by causing cancer cell cycle arrest, decreasing multiplication of cancer cells and causing cancer cell death.

# Metabolic Diseases

Metabolic diseases are diabetes, high triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. Ginger is helpful for all these diseases. A study was done on 85 patients who were divided into two groups, one group were given ginger extract and the second group were given placebo.

The group that consumed ginger experienced significant reduction in triglyceride, LDL cholesterol and VLDL levels compared to placebo group. Ginger components are platelet activation inhibitors and since anti platelet therapy is an effective approach for preventing coronary heart disease, ginger greatly helps just like aspirin but without any of its side effects.

Gingerol and shogaol present in ginger greatly helps bring down high blood sugar levels. Ginger also helps bring down high blood pressure levels and you can read the study that supports the claim here.

# Ginger Benefits For Asthma

Ginger is very famous for treating respiratory illnesses like asthma which is characterized by inflammation and hypersensitivity to different substances. Ginger helps by suppressing allergic reactions to the substances and reducing inflammation.