AMAZING HEALTH BENEFITS OF GINGER

Do you love ginger? Or do you find that you can’t stand the taste or sight of it? Would you like to know why you should incorporate this healthy spice in your diet?

Ginger is one of the healthiest and tasty spices one can ever find in the globe. It has loads of nutrients and active compounds; all of which has wonderful benefits for one’s body and brain.

Ginger, commonly used in cooking and as an active ingredient in medicine since the earliest of days, has wide ranging benefits for health that is not widely known.

Ginger, scientifically known as Zingiber officinale, has a spicy and peppery flavour. It has numerous medicinal values. It is commonly used in the preparation of ginger juice which cures sore throats.

In this article, we would be pointing out those amazing benefits one can enjoy by adding ginger to his/her foods:

• IMPROVES DIGESTION

One of ginger’s superpowers is its ability to help improve digestion. It helps the body to digest the food since it has beneficial effects on the enzymes trypsin and pancreatic lipase, which are important enzymes for food digestion.

Also, one cup of ginger tea would greatly relieve you of constipation, and also help your stomach empty the food in it quicker.

• LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE

High blood pressure, more commonly known as hypertension, is a common disease in the world. Most adults tend to suffer from it. If hypertension is left untreated, it could eventually cause damage to the arteries, heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes and in some cases could eventually lead to death. But do you know that using this spice could help you naturally lower your blood pressure?

Ginger contains potassium, which according to research, can help lower the blood pressure. It is generally believed that banana has high potassium. But according to the United States Department of Agriculture, (USDA), ginger contains more potassium as it contains 415mg per 100g.

Not only that, another study has shown that ginger when used with prescribed medications can help improve blood pressure. It helps in expanding the blood vessels thereby increasing blood circulation in the body. This function greatly reduces the overall blood pressure of an individual.

• MAKES YOU LOOK YOUNGER

One of the most common functions amongst face creams is keeping the face clean and younger. This is achieved using antioxidants ingredients that can help achieve the desired result.

According to Ansel, ginger has antioxidant contents that can help maintain the skin’s collagen production, which would promote skin elasticity and smoothness. This means that by regularly using ginger, one is sure to have a very smooth skin which makes one appear younger.

• REDUCES NAUSEA

Ginger has proven to be effective with reducing nausea. Everyone dreads the nauseating feeling that comes with either being sick, seasick, particularly pregnant or even recovering from surgery. It has also been proven to be an effective remedy in helping to drastically reduce the nauseous feeling one may have when going through any of those experiences mentioned above.

Asides postoperative nausea, this spice is generally effective in treating nausea. This is especially true for adults and children that may be undergoing chemotherapy.

• REDUCES INFLAMMATION

Inflammation can happen to almost anybody. Healthy people at one time or the other have had cause to treat an inflammation before. When left untreated, inflammation can be chronic. It can leave its victims more susceptible to common diseases like heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and even cancer. Ginger has some active constituents like; gingerol, shogaol, and paradol. These constituents are responsible for the natural anti-inflammatory effects that ginger provides.

A group of researchers have also concluded that taking this spice orally is one of the efficacious and reasonably safe method for treating inflammation caused by osteoarthritis. Another group of researchers, after carrying out a review of 16 clinical trials held in 2017, concluded that phytochemical properties in ginger may also be able to combat inflammation. However, these authors also called for further research into the most effective dosages and types of ginger extract to help their patients.

• PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH

A scientific study has found that a dosage of 5g of ginger or more can cause a significant beneficial antiplatelet activity thereby boosting the cardiovascular health of its users.

Another study showed that the antioxidants extracts from this spice can play an active film in stemming the reduction of the heart abnormalities.

• PROTECT AGAINST CANCER

Ginger has an enormous amount of antioxidants that can help protect the body from cancer. This is because the spice and other flavorings that ginger has may drastically reduce cellular activity that causes DNA changes, cell death, and proliferation of cancer cells. It could also help to sensitize tumors for treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.

However, ginger – as yet – does not cure any chronic disease. But using it regularly and consistently with other spices and plant-based foods can help benefit the overall health of individuals.

• HELPS EASE MENSTRUAL PAIN

According to researchers, ginger can help to relieve pains in individuals. It has been proven to have pain-relieving properties that are effective in helping to reduce menstruation induced pain.

According to a study carried out on the effectiveness of ginger in easing menstrual pain, it was as effective as ibuprofen in reducing pain associated with painful menstruation in women.

It really is advisable for women who have a constant battle with their monthly cycle to add this spice to their diet. It can help them drastically reduce the pain associated with menstruation.

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