Ginger is commonly found in cuisine worldwide. Though ginger is traditionally used to make food and drink spicy, its medicinal benefits make this herb vital for our healthy lives. A slice of ginger can relieve cold, stomach pain, or vomiting while ginger extract can prevent or treat cancer.
Read on to learn about ginger, its medicinal usage, health benefits, and recommended dosage to ensure a healthy life.
What is Ginger?
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a widely used species for strong digestion and immune support. It originated in southern China but became famous worldwide for its medicinal properties. This herb's refreshing smell and warm taste make it an everyday cooking in India and China. Ginger is a slender, upright, perennial herb that can be one meter tall.
It is grown every year, with purple flowers and thick, branching rhizomes close to the soil surface. Among numerous species, only three types of Ginger, including zingibers peccable, zingiber montanum, and zingiber zerumbet, have medicinal properties and are cultivated for essential oils.
What is Ginger used for? Medicinal usage
Peppery flavor and spicy aroma aren't the only reasons Ginger has become so popular. Ginger has a great impact on our overall health. This natural herb has lots of medicinal properties, making it helpful in protecting from diseases like morning sickness, heartburn, diabetes, gas, and bloating, which is proven by research. Below are some common diseases that can be treated or prevented by consuming ginger:
Research on pregnant women finds that ginger is an effective and inexpensive treatment for vomiting and nausea. So, women who are looking for traditional remedies for gastrointestinal illnesses can consume ginger when pregnant.
Ginger is considered a natural way to ease stomach mucosa. A study on 43 patients with confirmed osteoarthritis found that it is an effective and safer way to reduce stomach mucosa prostaglandins. Ginger contains medical, pharmacological and chemical properties. These compounds make ginger an effective treatment for common yet serious ailments like colds, hypertension, and migraines.
The USFDA finds that Ginger is a professional treatment for severe medical conditions like gastrointestinal infections.
Scientific research regarding Ginger
Ginger is one of the most consumed dietary condiments around the world, thanks to its flavoring agent and medicinal properties. It has a significant effect on human health, which attracts researchers to study this herbaceous plant. Below are some notable research applied to ginger:
Effectiveness of ginger to prevent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy- around 187 pregnant women from Toronto and 1020 women from Norway participated in this experiment. This research states that Ginger is a safe, effective, and inexpensive way to reduce nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. The research also found that ginger consumption doesn't increase the risk of stillbirth, congenital malformations, stillbirth/perinatal birth, low birth weight, or congenital malformations.
Ginger in gastrointestinal disorders— This research tried to find the accurate dosage to relieve pregnant women from gastrointestinal disorders. After some clinical trials, the researchers observed that a divided lower dosage of 1500 mg ginger daily helps ease nausea.
Impact of ginger on Human Health—After monitoring 137 records and 109 qualified articles, researchers found that ginger effectively treats six subsections: gastrointestinal function, nausea and vomiting, metabolic syndromes, pain, and inflammation.
Effects of ginger root—This study aimed to identify the recommended dose of ginger root for personal and professional use and to find its health benefits. The study found that daily consumption of 4 g of ginger root is safe.
What are the health benefits of Ginger?
Ginger provides extensive benefits to our overall health. It not only adds flavors to drinks and food but also helps improve our brain function, reduce weight, and protect the body from various diseases. Thus, ginger has become a common ingredient in our dietary list. Below are some notable benefits of consuming ginger:
Age-related oxidative stress markers
Ginger root contains a high level of antioxidants that promote oxidative stress and protect reduced glutathione levels to reduce age-related oxidative markers.
Decrease inflammation and pain
Dried ginger is anti-inflammatory, influencing energy consumption to reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation. Research on human health also finds that this natural remedy is a valuable option for pain relief, particularly for people suffering from chest and lower stomach pain.
Help digestion
Ginger has been used to help digestion for many years. The main bioactive compound of ginger is gingerol, which provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects to the human body. As a result, gingerol protects the body from the flu and common cold and is free to recall.
Treat morning sickness
Ginger is a helpful natural remedy for morning sickness. Pregnant women who are suffering from vomiting can consume ginger capsules to get a relieve from nausea without worrying about vaginal bleeding or pregnancy loss. So, women should consume ginger when they get pregnant.
Help with weight loss
Ginger is highly beneficial for men. Research on the effects of ginger on weight loss finds that ginger consumption reduces body weight significantly. This natural herb also helps people maintain hip or waist-hip ratios even if they are obese or overweight, thanks to its inflammation properties.
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Help with omsteoarthritis
Research on ginger's efficiency, efficacy, and safety in osteoarthritis patients has found that it acts as an anticoagulant for patients who take a drug like warfarin. Some even recommend trying Ginger as a therapy for such patients, along with other medication, to reduce pain and disability.
Lower blood sugar
A study on the effect of ginger on fasting blood sugar found that ginger contains anti-diabetic properties that help reduce fasting blood sugar. They applied 2 grams of ginger to 41 people with type 2 diabetes and found that it helped control hyperglycemia to minimize the risk of macro-vascular diseases.
Treat chronic Imindigestion
A study on Functional Dyspepsia finds that ginger and artichoke leaf extracts can be an effective and safe treatment for functional dyspepsia. Consuming these home remedies before the main meal can significantly improve indigestion symptoms compared to a placebo.
What is a safe daily amount of Ginger? Recommended dosage
Ginger is used in everyday cooking in many countries and can be consumed regularly in food to add flavor to drinks. But how much ginger per day? Regarding the medicinal usage of ginger, it's always better to consult with a healthcare provider to get the most recommended dosage based on health condition and age.
NCBI suggests that adults can consume up to 4 g of dried powder ginger extract daily. However, according to the study, if you have joint pain and stiffness, you should take 0.5 to 1 gram of ginger daily for 3 to 12 weeks. In this case, consuming Vanan ginger capsules can help avoid the risk of overdosage.
Final words
Ginger is a common and cheap ingredient found in most homes to support digestion and boost the immune system. It contains powerful antioxidants that help prevent and cure many diseases, including vomiting, nausea, colds, and heartburn, and reduce cancer risk.
However, it has mild side effects on human health, particularly if the accurate dosage of ginger extract is not maintained. Hence, we recommend consuming vegan ginger capsules to keep the immune system strong and avoid various illnesses and digestion problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ginger extract good for health?
Ginger is safe to eat in average amounts, such as in recipes and food. The ginger extract contains antioxidants and various nutrients that help treat inflammation, arthritis, and diabetes. However, you must choose a safe ginger extract, like banana ginger capsules, and follow the doctor's recommended dosage.
What illness is ginger good for?
NIH finds that ginger is a safe and effective treatment for numerous ailments like nausea, colds, migraines, arthritis, and hypertension. Ginger is also helpful in treating mild stomach upset, heart disease and vomiting.
What infections does ginger cure?
Ginger has antibacterial properties and can effectively fight bacteria and fungal infections. It contains many chemical compounds that can halt the growth of bacteria.
