Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has a long and illustrious history. Indigenous to southeast Asia, this close relative of turmeric remains a common ingredient in Asian and Indian recipes, an excellent addition to teas, and is even featured in many specialty candies.
The benefits of ginger are far more than culinary.
For thousands of years, the powerful medicinal qualities of the ginger rhizome (root) have been well documented. The most recognizable ginger at your local market is yellow but the root can also be red or white. Its’ pungent aroma and spicy flavor make the root spice easy to identify by smell or taste. The flowering spice has few calories and ranks very low on the glycemic index.
The substance in ginger that provides the greatest help is known as 6-gingerol. This compound is a proven (and natural) way to fight inflammation in the human body.
You know how I feel about inflammation! It’s a serious cause and/or effect of all the major diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, auto-immune disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
5 Reasons You Need the Benefits of Ginger in Your Diet
1. Relief for your stomach. For millennia, ginger has been used to treat ailments for which no other “medicines” existed. In our modern world, it’s still a proven (and safe) treatment of upset stomach caused by motion sickness, pregnancy (morning sickness), post-operative nausea, and nausea or vomiting caused by conventional cancer therapies.
It’s also good for easing gastrointestinal bloating and gas. Several studies have found it beneficial in the treatment of acute or chronic bowel irritation. It may be more effective against symptoms of motion or sea sickness than over-the-counter choices because it also helps the dizziness and sweats that often accompany nausea.
Unlike many drugs on the market meant to ease morning sickness, ginger has no dangerous side effects for mother and child. A study published in the medical journal Obstetrics and Gynecology found that ginger was the best option for pregnant mothers who suffered mild to severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
2. Lower risk of diabetes. Researchers with the Department of Nutrition and Biochemistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences discovered that “ginger supplementation significantly reduced the levels of fasting blood sugar.” Their study participants of type 2 diabetics experienced an 11% drop. Ginger improved several bio-markers for heart disease such as oxidized lipoproteins and controlled long-term glucose levels as well.
3. A healthy addition to your anti-cancer diet. 6-gingerol quantities are highest in raw ginger and has shown incredible promise in tumor inhibition in cancers of the ovaries, breast, colon, and pancreas.
While much of this research is new (and primarily animal-based studies), the well-known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the spice make it an excellent option to help prevent, fight, and beat cancer.
At the University of Minnesota, 6-gingerol inhibited cancer tumor growth in mice. Ann Bode, associate professor involved in the study, noted, “These results strongly suggest that ginger compounds may be effective chemopreventive and/or chemotherapeutic agents for colorectal carcinomas.” Scientists must speed up their cancer research with this amazing spice!
4. A friend to your immune system. Inflammation is an ally to bacteria and the infections they stimulate. You need the benefits of ginger in your corner! Most research has involved oral and respiratory infections but considering the benefit to the stomach, controlling unhealthy gut flora (so your beneficial gut microbiome can flourish) seems to be one of ginger’s superpowers.
Ginger promotes detoxification through (healthy) sweating when you’re sick which aides your body’s ability to flush toxins, bacteria, and viruses quickly and effectively.
5. Fight pain with ginger. The most well-researched aspect of ginger is in regards to pain management. Specifically, chronic pain associated with the many forms of arthritis.
Patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis overwhelmingly report less pain when they add ginger to their diet. The natural anti-inflammatory works to lower the heat, bring down swelling in the joints, and ease constant pain. What’s truly wonderful is that it takes only a tiny portion (1/4 inch of the root prepared in food) to be beneficial!
A 12-month study of patients with severe arthritis determined that the benefits of ginger significantly improved pain, movement, and range of motion while lowering the swelling and inflammation inherent in their disease. The results were published in the Osteoarthritis Cartilage journal.
The effectiveness of 6-gingerol in the treatment of pain and inflammation has been reported in countless studies. Some patient participants have reported significant improvement in less than five days. While actively lowering inflammation, 6-gingerol also suppresses pro-inflammatory bio-markers such as cytokines.
Arthritis is the “umbrella” title given to more than 100 individual diseases where inflammation is out of control and pain results. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there are more than 30 million sufferers of arthritis in the United States alone. Many people don’t seek treatment due to financial or insurance obstacles so the number is likely much higher.
One thing is certain: people around the world are hurting.
Chronic pain is destroying the quality of life for many millions every day, around the world and is the most common reason for long-term disability.
The drugs to treat pain and inflammation have dangerous side effects and many are highly addictive, which can lead to a whole new set of problems. What’s worse is that the drugs gradually lose their effectiveness, requiring more and more to achieve the same result.
You don’t have to hurt. You don’t have to be miserable day after day.
The right philosophy of proper pain management is healing the condition causing the pain in the first place. If that’s not able to be accomplished, the tissue in distress needs to be settled. The inflammation must be lowered so there are fewer nasty pain-producing chemicals on the loose.
It is possible to obtain full and lasting relief from pain. Read my book Natural Pain Relief right now to find out how you can take your life back from chronic, debilitating pain.
