This week Ginger is the spice of choice. Ginger is a popular choice for food flavouring, making tea, and is included in the baking and cooking of many pastries and dishes. But do you know how powerful a spice Ginger is? Let’s check out the benefits contained in Ginger.

Ginger is among the healthiest and most delicious spices on the planet! It is loaded with nutrients and bioactive compounds that have powerful benefits for your body and brain. It belongs to the Zingiberaceae family, and is closely related to turmeric, cardomon and galangal. The rhizome (underground part of the stem) is the part commonly used as a spice. It is often called ginger root, or simply, ginger. Properties of Ginger have a very long history of use in various forms of traditional/alternative medicine. The properties of Ginger have been used to help digestion, reduce nausea and help fight the flu and common cold.

The Ginger root can be used fresh, dried, powdered, or as an oil or juice, and is sometimes added to processed foods and cosmetics. It is a very common ingredient in recipes.The unique fragrance and flavor of ginger come from its natural oils, the most important of which is gingerol. Gingerol is the main bioactive compound in ginger, responsible for much of its medicinal properties. It has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects

Properties of Ginger appears to be highly effective against nausea. It has a long history of use as a sea sickness remedy. Ginger may also relieve nausea and vomiting after surgery, and in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. But it may be the most effective when it comes to pregnancy-related nausea, such as morning sickness. According to a review of 12 studies that included a total of 1,278 pregnant women, 1.1-1.5 grams of ginger can significantly reduce symptoms of nausea.

Chronic indigestion known as dyspepsia is characterized by recurrent pain and discomfort in the upper part of the stomach. It is believed that delayed emptying of the stomach is a major driver of indigestion. Interestingly, the properties of ginger has been shown to speed up emptying of the stomach in people with this condition. In a study of 24 healthy individuals, 1.2 grams of ginger powder before a meal accelerated emptying of the stomach by 50%.

Gingerol, the bio-active substance in fresh ginger, can help lower the risk of infections. In fact, ginger extract can inhibit the growth of many different types of bacteria (29, 30). It is very effective against the oral bacteria linked to inflammatory diseases in the gums, such as gingivitis and periodontist (31). Fresh ginger may also be effective against the RSV virus, a common cause of respiratory infections (32).

Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation can accelerate the aging process. They are believed to be among the key drivers of Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline. Some studies in animals suggest that the antioxidants and bio-active compounds in ginger can inhibit inflammatory responses that occur in the brain (24). There is also some evidence that ginger can enhance brain function directly. In a study of 60 middle-aged women, ginger extract was shown to improve reaction time and working memory (25). There are also numerous studies in animals showing that ginger can protect against age-related decline in brain function (26, 27, 28).

And finally, Ginger’s helps to lower cholesterol. High levels of LDL lipoproteins (the “bad” cholesterol) are linked to an increased risk of heart disease. In a 45-day study of 85 individuals with high cholesterol, 3 grams of ginger powder caused significant reductions in most cholesterol markers (15). This is supported by a study in hypothyroid rats, where ginger extract lowered LDL cholesterol to a similar extent as the cholesterol-lowering drug Atorvastatin (16). Both studies also showed reductions in total cholesterol and blood triglycerides.

I am sure that there are more health benefits to be derived from consuming Ginger frequently and I encourage you to do some more research into it and have some ginger. It could be a bit strong for some people’s taste but can be used moderately and combined with other tasty roots or herbs to make tea daily.

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