May 27, 2017
1. Ginger Can Treat Many Forms of Nausea,
Especially Morning Sickness
Ginger
appears to be highly effective nausea.
For example, it has a long history of use as a sea sickness remedy, and there
is some evidence that it may be as effective as prescription medication. Ginger
may also relieve nausea and vomiting after surgery, and in cancer patients
undergoing chemotherapy.
Although
ginger is considered safe, talk to your doctor before taking large amounts if
you are pregnant. Some believe that large amounts can raise the risk of
miscarriage, but there are currently no studies to support this.
2.
Ginger May Reduce Muscle Pain and
Soreness
Ginger
has been shown to be effective against exercise-induced muscle pain. Ginger
does not have an immediate impact, but may be effective at reducing the
day-to-day progression of muscle pain. These effects are believed to be
mediated by the anti-inflammatory properties.
3.
The Anti-Inflammatory Effects Can
Help With Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a common health problem.
It involves degeneration of the joints in the body, leading to symptoms like
joint pain and stiffness. In a controlled trial of 247 people with
osteoarthritis of the knee, those who took ginger extract had less pain and
required less pain medication.
4.
Ginger May Drastically Lower Blood
Sugars and Improve Heart Disease Risk Factors
This
area of research is relatively new, but ginger may have powerful anti-diabetic properties.
In a recent 2015 study of 41 participants with type 2 diabetes, 2 grams of
ginger powder per day lowered fasting
blood sugar by 12%.It
also dramatically improved HbA1c (a marker for long-term blood sugar
levels), leading to a 10% reduction over a period of 12 weeks.
5.
Ginger Can Help Treat Chronic
Indigestion
Chronic
indigestion (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,
ginger has been shown to speed up emptying of the stomach in people with this condition.
After eating soup, ginger reduced the time it took for the stomach to empty
from 16 to 12 minutes.
6.
Ginger Powder May Significantly
Reduce Menstrual Pain
Menstrual
pain (dysmenorrhea) refers to pain felt during a
woman’s menstrual cycle. One of the traditional uses of ginger is for pain
relief, including menstrual pain. In one study, 150 women were instructed to
take 1 gram of ginger powder per day, for the first 3 days of the menstrual period.
Ginger managed to reduce pain as effectively as the drugs mefenamic acid and
ibuprofen.
7. Ginger
Contains a Substance That May Help Prevent Cancer
Cancer is a very serious disease that
is characterized by uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Ginger extract has
been studied as an alternative treatment for several forms of cancer. The
anti-cancer properties are attributed to 6-gingerol, a substance that is found
in large amounts in raw ginger
8. Ginger May
Improve Brain Function and Protect Against Alzheimer’s Disease
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 bioactive compounds in ginger can
inhibit inflammatory responses that occur in the brain. 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. There are also numerous studies in animals showing that ginger can
protect against age-related decline in brain function.
9. Ginger May Lower Cholesterol Levels
High levels of LDL lipoproteins (the “bad” cholesterol) are linked to
an increased risk of heart disease. The foods you eat can have a strong
influence on LDL levels. In a 45-day study of 85 individuals with high
cholesterol, 3 grams of ginger powder caused significant reductions in most
cholesterol markers.
