7 Benefits Of Ginger

Ginger is a wonderful herb root that has been used for centuries as a food, spice and medicine. It is known to produce miracles when trying to fight off a cold, and it also promotes digestion and stimulates metabolism, which leads to increased calorie burning. With so many health benefits to it, it makes sense to start adding ginger to some of your dishes, or to start brewing a daily glass of ginger tea by simply adding boiling water to slices of ginger root. You may also want to add green tea and / or lemon to make it taste better and get more benefits from it.

Strengthens Immunity

Lots of research has confirmed the effects on your immunity by this all-natural remedy. This means you get sick less often, recover more quickly when you do get sick, and that even if everyone else around you is coming down with flu or cold you can stay healthy.

Provides Pain Relief

No matter what type of pain you’re suffering from, ginger can act as a natural pain reliever. Ginger can also help with delayed-onset muscle soreness, as it has been concluded in a study published in the Journal of Pain. It shows ginger acting as a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory without the negative side effects of normal pain relievers. Ginger is better at treating delayed onset muscle soreness, because it doesn’t affect pain immediately after it’s consumed, but is actually more effective the next day.

Improves Digestion And Nutrient Absorption

Ginger promotes the production of bile and may stimulate the production of gastric juices, both of which enhance digestion and make more energy available to burn. This will make you better at absorbing the sort of nutrients that will help you moving towards your goals and getting results more quickly with the same amount of effort.

Helps Manage Glucose Levels

Research out of Australia suggests that ginger can help keep blood sugar levels in check. It may be able to increase the uptake of glucose into muscle cells independently of insulin. This has a direct impact on your weight, as well as how energetic or lethargic you feel throughout the day. If you’ve noticed that you get a midday crash it’s likely due to your blood sugar levels, and adding ginger to your meals may help you stay focused on your tasks.

Improves Circulation

Ginger is a vasodilator, meaning it increases the diameter of small arteries and enhances circulation of the blood. Better circulation usually leads to a small increase in body temperature, called the thermogenic effect, boosting your metabolism in this way. This will give you a feeling of having more energy, and minimise fatigue during the day.

Increases Testosterone In Males

With an increased function in the circulatory system, it’s no wonder that ginger has been referenced as an aphrodisiac for thousands of years. In addition, research on male rats has suggested that ginger compounds reduce free-radical damage to the testes, and thus help to increase the production of testosterone and sperm. The dose in this study was up to 100mg per kg of bodyweight. However, no studies have been done on humans.

Keeps Your Breath Fresh

Unlike another superfood garlic, ginger can actually help to improve the status of your breath. When eaten towards the end of your meal it can cleanse the palate and leave your mouth feeling refreshed. You can also use ginger tea for this purpose. It’s a great way to neutralize a bad taste in your mouth, like the dreaded “coffee breath” from drinking coffee.

Ginger is available year-round in your local supermarket. The brown-skinned rhizome usually has yellow flesh, but some varieties are white or red. Adding fresh ginger to a dish is as easy as peeling and mincing it. Whichever way you choose to consume it, ginger can improve the quality of your life. If you are not a fan of the strong taste, it is also available as ginger extract in capsules.