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Fresh Ginger: 5 Proven perks of ginger powder, uses, and risk

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From antiquity to date, ginger has been one of the greatest medicinal household cooking spices.

A native to Southeast Asia, ginger is a very common food and medicine used across the globe. The ginger root is rich in natural chemicals that promote the wellness of the entire body health.

Ginger has been proven over the years to aid relieve soreness of the throat, nausea, and vomiting and also speed up digestion.

Benefits of Ginger

Ginger is shown to be loaded with some anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties.

Here are some of ginger’s medicinal hacks you can pick from.

Ginger Tea Health Line.com October 13, 2024

Aid in relieving nausea

The word ‘nausea’ is used medically to describe this uncomfortable, queasy feeling you get in your stomach that makes you feel like you’re going to throw up.

It could be triggered by a virus, a digestion issue, pregnancy, or even an unpleasant odor. Ginger has been proven to relieve anyone with such feeling/symptoms

To back this claim, a conducted [1] review indicates that ginger can help alleviate morning sickness and relieve nausea following cancer treatment.

Also, a 2016 [2] research indicated that the odor-producing principles gingerols and shogaols are effective in preventing nausea and vomiting. However, the amounts of those compounds can vary, depending on the form of ginger. The researchers determined that dried ginger, followed by fresh ginger and powdered ginger tea had the highest concentrations of gingerol. – Health Line.com

Gaseous Reduction and digestion

Inciting a [3]study carried out in 2018, investigated ginger’s effects on the gasses found in the intestinal tract during digestion.

This extensive research suggested that enzymes in ginger can assist in breaking up and expelling this gas, offering relief from any discomfort the individual is facing.

Furthermore, the research shows that ginger can help boost the movement of food through the digestive tract, suggesting that it may relieve or prevent constipation.

Ginger also has been seen to have beneficial effects [4] on the enzyme pancreatic lipase, which boosts digestion in the small intestine.

Enhance the immune system

ginger water Health Line.com October 13, 2024

Various people use ginger to help recover from a cold or the flu, but the evidence supporting this use is mostly not scientifically proven.

Furthermore, in an older study [5] from 2013 researchers discovered the effects of fresh and dried ginger on one respiratory virus in human cells. The survey suggests that fresh ginger may help protect the respiratory system, while dried ginger did not have the same impact.

Also, a large cross-sectional [6] study from 2017  revealed that daily ginger consumption may support the immune system. This can protect against severe disease and enhance recovery from other illnesses, such as the common cold or flu.

A small group study carried out in 2019 [7]  showed the effects of ginger extract on smokers and nonsmokers and found that daily consumption of ginger extract was associated with a stronger antibody response in nonsmokers.

This was confirming ginger’s effects on the immune system but will require further research.

To reduce inflammation

Inflammation is part of the process by which the immune system fights the body from harmful agents, such as bacteria and viruses. In the process of healing itself, an uncomfortable reaction can be visibly seen.

In this scenario, A  review concluded in 2015 suggested that taking ginger by mouth is “modestly efficacious and reasonably safe” for treating inflammation caused by osteoarthritis or bronchitis.

However, the authors noted that the studies in their meta-analysis were quite small and might not represent the general population.

Relieving aches

It has been proven [8] that ginger might ease pain through the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of its gingerol compounds.

Research also concluded that ginger may specifically help reduce dysmenorrhea — pain right before or during the menstrual period. The researchers however acknowledged that the studies they reviewed were often small or of poor quality.

For cardiovascular health

Cardiovascular health simply refers to the health of the heart and blood vessels.

Cardiovascular disease is, however, a group of diseases of the heart and blood vessels, including coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, heart arrhythmias, and heart valve problems.

There is some evidence that ginger extract may help prevent cardiovascular disease.

In a 2017 research of about 4,628 people found that daily ginger consumption may protect against coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, cerebrovascular disease, and fatty liver disease, among other chronic conditions. The various writers concluded that ginger may have potential as a preventive therapy.

Determining whether ginger may support treatment for those with cardiovascular disease will require extensive research.

Although, another 2016 study showed that ginger extract could help reduce the occurrence of heart abnormalities in rats with diabetes. The writers of this research noted that this reduction may stem, in part, from the antioxidant properties of the extract.

Reduces the risk of cancer

Ginger does not provide protein or other nutrients, but it is a perfect source of antioxidants. A study has shown that, for this reason, ginger can reduce various types of oxidative stress – Oxidative stress is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in your body

When this stress builds up in the body, free radicals can cause cellular damage, which can lead to conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, heart attack, chronic inflammation, and cancer. Dietary antioxidants can help the body get rid of free radicals.

Another study suggests that ginger can be very potent against certain cancers of the gastrointestinal system, including colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, and liver cancer.

The study concludes that ginger might inhibit the growth of certain types of cancer cells or contribute to the death of cancer cells in other types of cancer.

Consuming ginger can support your health and may also help treat many health problems. Drinking ginger water is also a great way to stay hydrated, which is important for your overall health.

Disclaimer: The above information published in this article is solely for informational and educational purposes only. The article written/published does not intend to diagnose, treat or cure any disease and should not be treated as medical advice. Seek the direction of your doctor before any consumption!

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