Ginger – a spice typically found in most kitchen cupboards well-known for flavoring gingersnap cookies and pumpkin pies along with other cooking and baking uses.  It first originated in the tropical jungles of southern Asia and is used as a common ingredient in cuisine in Asia, India, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. 

Ginger come from a perennial plant that grows about 1-3 feet in height.  The plant is unusual in that it sprouts green spears not from a root but from what is called rhizomes, which are the underground portion of the individual spears.  The rhizome is the most commonly used medicinal part of the plant containing a rich source of antioxidants including gingerols, beta-carotene, capsaicin, caffeic acid, curcumin, zingerones and salicylate. 

The rhizome can be used fresh, powdered, dried into a spice, in an oil form or as a juice.

Health benefits of ginger

Ginger has a reputable medicinal past dating back 2,500 years ago.   Many of the compounds in ginger appear to have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities.  Studies have suggested consuming ginger may be associated with reducing the risk of many lifestyle-related health conditions.

·         Digestive issues – morning sickness, nausea and indigestion

One of the more well-known medicinal uses of ginger is for treating nausea, motion sickness, and an upset stomach.  Ginger is your go-to remedy if you’re looking for a more natural source of alleviating these issues.   Research has shown one gram of ginger to be effective in relieving morning sickness in pregnant women, reducing the severity of nausea brought on with chemotherapy, and may help reduce vomiting and other symptoms of motion sickness. 

 If indigestion is a common ailment, ginger helps stimulate the emptying of the stomach and is an antispasmodic agent helping to relieve pain.  Ginger can also inhibit H. pylori a type ofbacteria that can live in your digestive tract possibly leading to ulcers.  The use of ginger may prevent ulcers from developing while also protecting gastric mucosa, the mucous membrane layer of the stomach. 

·         Pain reduction

Athletes may want to consider ginger as an ergogenic aid in reducing muscle soreness associated with exercise.  A 2015 study found 60 mg of ginger extract taken before exercise resulted in a significant reduction in pain suggesting that ginger may have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects on delayed-onset muscle soreness.

Women suffering from dysmenorrhea (severe pain during menstruation) may try ginger as a pain reliever.  A study looking at the use of ginger to relieve dysmenorrhea found approximately 83% of women who used ginger in a capsule form reported improvements in nausea symptoms and reduction in pain severity.

·         Osteoarthritis reduction

Ginger is known for its anti-inflammatory activities along with having a small amount of analgesic property that may be helpful for treating osteoarthritis of the knee.  A study showed that using a ginger combination was as effective and was considered safer than diclofenac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used in treating osteroarthritis. 

Best ways to use ginger

Ginger is versatile in how it can be used.  Ginger tea is one option and can be enjoyed on a regular basis.  To make fresh ginger tea simply cut about two inches off a ginger root and steep in hot water.  Peeling the root can also be added to tea or cooked dishes or soups. To store fresh ginger, leave the ginger root unpeeled and keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks or store in the freezer for up to 6 months. 

Starting today, give ginger the go-ahead in improving your health.