Spice for thought: Ginger

Ginger is in the family Zingiberaceae, and is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used as a spice or in medicine. It is closely related to turmeric, cardamom and galangal.

Aromatic, pungent and spicy, ginger adds a special flavour to dishes, and is among the healthiest and most delicious spices on the planet. The flesh of the ginger rhizome can be yellow, white or red in colour, depending upon the variety. It is covered with a brownish skin that may be either thick or thin, depending upon whether the plant is harvested mature or young.

It is loaded with nutrients and bioactive compounds that have powerful benefits for your body and brain. It is a very common ingredient in lots of recipes.

Find out more about the health benefits of ginger below.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this post is not medically verified, and should not be interpreted as medical advice, or used as a substitute to medical advice.

Ginger (Ginger Root)

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Ginger has a very long history of use in various forms of traditional/alternative medicine. It has been used to help digestion, reduce nausea and help fight the flu and common cold. It has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

The unique flavour and fragrance of ginger comes from its natural oils. The most important is gingerol – a bioactive compound which is responsible for much of its medicinal properties.

There are a number of health benefits associated with ginger, such as

Ginger boosts the immune system, and immune responses to viruses, thereby improving your recovery time. It is not only warming on a cold day, but can help promote healthy sweating, which is often helpful during colds and flus. A good sweat may do a lot more than simply assist detoxification.
Ginger can help to soothe sore throats by providing some pain relief as an anti-inflammatory, as well as it also boosts immunity to help fight infections that cause sore throats.
Ginger can treat many forms of nausea, including sea sickness, chemotherapy-related nausea, nausea after surgery, and especially morning sickness.
Ginger helps to relieve pain. The gingerol is a potent anti-inflammatory compound that is believed to help reduce pain levels and improve mobility in people with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, when they consume ginger regularly.
Ginger soothes the digestive system. It is thought to be very effective in alleviating discomfort and pain in the stomach, and promotes the elimination of excessive gas from the digestive system, soothing the intestinal tract
Ginger is thought to drastically lower blood sugars and improve heart disease risk factors in patients with Type 2 Diabetes.
Ginger appears to be very effective against menstrual pain when taken at the beginning of the menstrual period.
Ginger can help reduce cholesterol. There is some evidence, in both animals and humans, that ginger can lead to significant reductions in LDL cholesterol and blood triglyceride levels.
Studies suggest that ginger can protect against age-related damage to the brain. It can also improve brain function in elderly women.