Health
5 Amazing Things That Happen When You Consume Ginger Everyday
Ginger is a flowering plant native to Southeast Asia which has several amazing health benefits. It’s one of the world’s healthiest (and most delicious) spices.
It is a member of the Zingiberaceae family and is related to turmeric, cardamom, and galangal.
The rhizome (underground stem part) is the most commonly used spice. It’s also known as ginger root or simply, ginger.
Ginger can be eaten fresh, dried, powdered, or in the form of an oil or juice. It’s a common ingredient in cooking. It is occasionally found in processed foods and cosmetics.
As of late, it has become a trend to add more and more spices to our food, and that is because they improve the taste and also because some of them are great for our health.
Every day we’re finding out that ginger has health benefits, and in turn, it has become a must-have item in every household.
Seven major benefits of consuming ginger everyday include the following:
1. Reduces Cancer Risk
Ginger, according to some studies, helps to reduce the risk of cancer and also helps to prevent colon inflammation. While this is only the beginning of research into how ginger can help prevent cancer, one thing is certain: the effects are positive, and we should start eating more of it.
2. Contains gingerol, which has powerful medicinal properties
Ginger has a very long history of use in various forms of traditional and alternative medicine. It’s been used to aid digestion, reduce nausea, and help fight the flu and common cold, to name a few of its purposes.
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. It’s responsible for much of ginger’s medicinal properties. Gingerol has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, according to research.
3. Can Help with Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common medical condition.
It is characterized by joint degeneration, which causes symptoms such as joint pain and stiffness.
According to one review of the literature, people who used ginger to treat their OA experienced significant reductions in pain and disability.
Only minor side effects were observed, such as dissatisfaction with the taste of ginger. Despite this, nearly 22% of study participants dropped out due to the taste of ginger and stomach upset.
Participants in the study were given 500 milligrams (mg) to 1 gram of ginger every day for 3 to 12 weeks. The majority of them had been diagnosed with knee OA.
Another study from 2011 found that a combination of topical ginger, mastic, cinnamon, and sesame oil can help reduce pain and stiffness in people with OA of the knee.
4. May drastically lower blood sugars and improve heart disease risk factors
Although this field of study is still in its early stages, ginger may have potent anti-diabetic properties.
In a 2015 study of 41 type 2 diabetes patients, 2 grams of ginger powder per day reduced fasting blood sugar by 12%.
It also significantly improved hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), a long-term blood sugar level marker. Over a 12-week period, HbA1c was reduced by 10%.
There was also a 28% decrease in the Apolipoprotein B/Apolipoprotein A-I ratio and a 23% decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA), an oxidative stress byproduct. A high ApoB/ApoA-I ratio, as well as high MDA levels, are both significant risk factors for heart disease.
In somewhat encouraging news, a 2019 literature review found that ginger significantly reduced HbA1c in type 2 diabetes patients.
5. May help lower cholesterol levels
High LDL (bad) cholesterol levels have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
The foods you eat can have a significant impact on your LDL levels.
In a 2018 study of 60 people with hyperlipidemia, 30 received 5 grams of ginger-pasted powder daily and saw their LDL (bad) cholesterol levels drop by 17.4% over a 3-month period.
While the reduction in LDL is impressive, it is important to note that study participants were given extremely high doses of ginger.
Many people dropped out of an OA study where they were given doses of 500 mg-1 gram of ginger because they had a bad taste in their mouth.
The doses taken during the hyperlipidemia study are 5–10 times higher. It’s likely that most people may have difficulty taking a 5-gram dose for long enough to see results.
In an older study from 2008, people who received 3 grams of ginger powder (in capsule form) each day also saw significant reductions in most cholesterol markers.
Their LDL (bad) cholesterol levels dropped by 10% over 45 days. These findings are supported by a study in rats with hypothyroidism or diabetes.
Ginger extract lowered LDL (bad) cholesterol to a similar extent as the cholesterol-lowering drug atorvastatin. Study subjects from all 3 studies also experienced drops in total cholesterol.
Participants in the 2008 study, as well as the lab rats, also saw reductions in their blood triglycerides.
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