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It’s a new year and everyone is looking for easier ways to live a healthier lifestyle. That’s why I wanted to do a post on 24 Incredible Health Benefits Of Ginger.
Today, ginger root has become very popular with certain recipes. Some even use it with lemon in their morning routine, but people have been using ginger in cooking for centuries. Ginger is a part of almost all recipes in the Indian Subcontinent, not just because it adds a certain taste to the food, but because of all the health benefits we get from this superfood.
Ginger is mainly a spice, one of the healthiest in the world. Regular use can not only benefit your body but also your mind and psychological health.
But first, what is ginger root?
It is the root of the ginger plant that we use as spice, not the parts that grow above the ground. The roots are extracted whole from under the ground, peeled and pasted to add to cooking. Ground ginger powder is one of the main ingredients in ginger tea and other health drinks, made from drying and then, crushing the ginger roots into a powdery form.
What health benefits can ginger roots offer us?
Oh, so many!
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Here are 24 Incredible Health Benefits of Ginger
1. Reduce Nausea in Pregnancy
Did you know that chewing on ginger can instantly reduce nausea? Pregnant women love the tanginess of ginger for their morning sickness, and it doesn’t harm the baby at all.
2. Helps with Motion Sickness
Besides, people who have motion sickness can also feel better by chewing dried ginger roots. You can try crystallized ginger, too, if you are going on a tour or worried about taking a long flight.
3. A form of Painkiller
Directly eating ginger roots can be as powerful and effective as popping a few painkillers for period pains, cramps or even headache, backache and migraine.
4. Helps with Osteoarthritis
Even pain in the knees in older people because of osteoarthritis.
5. Helps with Chronic Pain
It helps in chronic pain too, much better than taking painkillers all day since ginger doesn’t have any side effects.
6. Reliefs Muscle Pain
If your muscles are on fire after running or playing or any other physical activities, you can try ginger instead of painkiller for a more soothing effect on your body.
7. Aids with Digestion
Also, if you’ve overeaten over the holidays, try a piece or two of ginger instead of digestion medicine. Chewing ginger reduces gas, acid reflux, and heartburn.
8. Reduces Gas
Burping too much because of gas? Try a piece of ginger.
9. Speed up your Metabolism
It will actually speed up your metabolism and help you to empty your bowels faster.
10. Helps with Dyspepsia
If you are suffering from dyspepsia, ginger in your diet can help.
11. May lower bad Cholesterol
The health benefits of adding ginger to your daily diet are just too many, including lowering bad cholesterol and reducing your blood sugar level, but only if you eat a little bit every day.
12. Fight Fungal Infections
Ginger fights any fungal infection inside your body, especially after an illness.
13. De-Stress
As for your mental and emotional health, you can try eating ginger if you are feeling stressed or unable to focus.
14. Helps with Concentration
Ginger tea or a piece of ginger in your morning health drink will give you the focus you need to concentrate on your day.
15. Ginger Oil for Massage can help with Joint and Muscle pain
If have joint or muscle pain, you can also apply ginger oil tropically for instant relief against inflammation.
16. Helps with Colds & Flu
Ginger tea or ginger in warm water may reduce your cold and flu symptoms and shorten your sick days.
17. Helps with Chemo & HIV treatment
Some people undergoing chemotherapy or HIV treatment has found relief – both for nausea and for pain – from chewing on ginger roots.
18. Helps with Vertigo
Suffering from annoying vertigo? Try some dried ginger roots when you are attempting your next adventure.
19. Helps with Seasickness
Ginger helps in reducing nausea from seasickness, too.
20. Improve your Immune System
Regularly eating ginger, including a bite or two every day, strengthens your immune system much more than any supplement would.
21. Ease a Sore Throat
Ginger tea, or ginger-boiled water, several times a day, works miracles with a sore throat.
22. Reduce Hangover
Ginger root is usually an important ingredient in concoctions made for reducing hangover.
23. Speed up Delivery in Pregnancy
In alternative medicine, women in labor are usually advised to bath in water heavily mixed with ginger oil to speed up delivery
24. Helps with Dieting
Although there are not many studies that suggest it, ginger – taken in pieces directly – can help in losing weight and fighting obesity.
How’s that for a superfood?
These amazing ingredients that we find in nature are exactly what we need for a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. But not many people are very excited about directly chewing on ginger pieces, hence the need to make it a part of your food.
So, how to include ginger in your diet?
Ginger has quite a unique, spicy taste that may take some getting used to. It’s not very hard to simply chew on a piece or two of ginger every day. Replace your daily dose of caffeine with ginger tea which is quite easy to make, simply by adding a few pieces of ginger in your tea water and let it boil for 5 minutes before adding tea leaves.
Besides, you can add ginger to your soups, curries or any other Oriental/Asian/Indian recipes that you are trying. Did you try ginger jam? It’s available in the markets if you want to give it a go. Ginger jams don’t taste as strong as you think it would; it’s quite savory. Or, ginger syrup instead of maple syrup. There are some great recipes for ginger that you’ll find all over the internet.
Are there any side effects?
Not really, unless you overdo it. Too much every day can actually cause a little heartburn, stomachache, and diarrhea, but it is safe overall, even for pregnant women. A little bit of ginger is great every day, but don’t eat a whole root in one sitting. Instead, make ginger a regular part of your life and if there’s any side effect, stop immediately.
Ginger is definitely a great ingredient to include in your everyday life. It is proven to better your overall physical and mental health than about pain management or nausea.
It’s time to start living experiencing the health benefits of ginger.
How do you plan on incorporating ginger into your lifestyle?
Right, ginger brings us a lot of great benefits. A warm glass of water with a slide of ginger in the morning would be really for our health.