Gulf Coast Wellness

Tips to create an easy healthy lifestyle

  • Home
  • About
    • Start Here
  • Services
    • Nutrition Services
    • Massage and Bodywork Services
    • Yoga and Fitness Services
  • Blog
    • Recipes
    • Nutrition
    • Fitness
    • Healthy Lifestyle
    • Healthy Kids
  • Resource Library
  • Contact

9 Health Benefits of Ginger For Your Body and Mind

05/20/2018 By CTWellness

It’s no secret that ginger is incredibly good for you, and tasty too. But, maybe you didn’t know to what extent! With these 9 health benefits of ginger, this spice will be a staple in your kitchen, if it isn’t already.

9 Health Benefits of Ginger for the Body and Mind. Ginger contains so many health benefits that it truly needs to be a part of your natural health routine. It is one of those ancient herbal remedies that has survived the test of time for a good reason. Whether you make a tea, cook with it, use essential oils and extracts, and more, it is effective! What is your favorite way to heal with ginger? #naturalhealth #herbalremedies #ginger #healthyliving

Designed by Freepik

A Bit Of History

It’s no wonder ginger is so well loved and is the most widely cultivated herb in the world. The world has known for millennia how much it can help all sorts of diseases and ailments (1).

  • The earliest known record of using ginger is 5000 year old greek literature.
  • Did you know Confucius, back in 500 B.C., in his writings, claimed he could never be without ginger?
  • Traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic Indian healing practices claimed ginger is a gift from the gods.
  • 5th Century Chinese sailors used ginger to prevent scurvy.
  • Ginger, either by itself or in combination with other herbs, plays a part in over 50% of ALL traditional herbal remedies.
  • Numerous ancient medical texts and literature, including A Thousand And One Nights, rave about its qualities as an aphrodisiac

Health Benefits of Ginger

Some Basics

Ginger contains a chemical called gingerol.  It is related to capsaicin and piperine (2).  This chemical is what gives ginger its spicy, warming quality.

Ginger is a good source of Vitamin C, Copper, Magnesium, Manganese, and Potassium.

Ginger is also a vasodilator.  This means that it increases the diameter of blood vessels, which can increase body temperature very slightly due to increased circulation.

9 Health Benefits of Ginger for the Body and Mind. Ginger contains so many health benefits that it truly needs to be a part of your natural health routine. It is one of those ancient herbal remedies that has survived the test of time for a good reason. Whether you make a tea, cook with it, use essential oils and extracts, and more, it is effective! What is your favorite way to heal with ginger? #naturalhealth #herbalremedies #ginger #healthyliving

Designed by Freepik

9 Health Benefits of Ginger For Your Body And Mind

#1 Relieves Nausea

This has been one of ginger’s primary purposes throughout history.  Ancient Chinese texts even claimed it helped with hangovers.

Ginger reduces the symptoms of many issues that cause nausea and vomiting. It has been proven effective against dizziness, motion sickness, and chemical upset due to chemotherapy and anesthesia. It is also a favorite to help with morning sickness and flu symptoms. Just one gram a day can help reduce nausea and vomiting (2)

Related: Yoga poses to cure nausea

#2 Boosts Metabolism

When taken internally, studies have shown that ginger can increase metabolism by 2-5%.  Other studies, mainly done on animals, have shown that applying a concentrated ginger extract externally can boost metabolism up to 20%!! (3) Like most things, it is possible to have too much of a good thing.  An overdose of ginger is considered to be 1g per pound of body weight (so, A LOT…).

#3 Strengthens the Immune System

There are a number of ways ginger helps the body this way. Ayurvedic research claims that ginger can break down and reduce toxins in the body, clearing and cleaning the lymphatic system. This happens because of the antioxidant levels that ginger contains as well as its anti-inflammatory properties.

Also, studies have shown that ginger activates T-cells.  T-cells are the white blood cells capable of destroying viruses, bacteria, tumors, and cancer. (7)

9 Health Benefits of Ginger for the Body and Mind. Ginger contains so many health benefits that it truly needs to be a part of your natural health routine. It is one of those ancient herbal remedies that has survived the test of time for a good reason. Whether you make a tea, cook with it, use essential oils and extracts, and more, it is effective! What is your favorite way to heal with ginger? #naturalhealth #herbalremedies #ginger #healthyliving

Designed by Freepik

#4 Reduces Pain and Inflammation

Inflammation is a normal and healthy response to an injury.  But if an injury is not present, chronic inflammation can be a sign of other issues such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and more. Studies have shown that ginger may help reduce that inflammation.

Researchers believe this is a result of the warming, spicy, chemical compounds present in ginger. Specifically, ginger extract can discourage synthesis of some markers of inflammation (4) (5)

#5 Supports Brain Function

Many studies have been done with very positive results on the increase of brain function with the use of ginger.  These studies have been successful with chronic conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, which have an element of chronic inflammation in brain tissues.  Also, ginger can be used to improve general cognitive decline as we age.  (5)

9 Health Benefits of Ginger for the Body and Mind. Ginger contains so many health benefits that it truly needs to be a part of your natural health routine. It is one of those ancient herbal remedies that has survived the test of time for a good reason. Whether you make a tea, cook with it, use essential oils and extracts, and more, it is effective! What is your favorite way to heal with ginger? #naturalhealth #herbalremedies #ginger #healthyliving

#6 Helps Balance Blood Sugar

It’s not known specifically what it is about ginger that helps to balance blood sugar levels, but it works! In recent studies, test participants with Type 2 diabetes took 3 capsules containing 1g of ginger in addition to their regular medications.  Within 8 weeks these participants saw their blood sugar decreased significantly (6)

#7 May Lower Cholesterol

More research needs to be done before this is an official claim, but researchers are looking into how ginger benefits health of cholesterol levels and the heart in general. One study was done using the same method as above, 3 capsules containing 1g of ginger in people with high cholesterol.  By the end of the study participants that took ginger had seen lower levels of cholesterol. (9)

#8 Gut-Healing

Ginger is amazing for digestion! Gut health has been a growing issue for many people in the world.  Ginger can relieve symptoms of IBS by relaxing the intestines and can also prevent and relieve heartburn and indigestion!

Did you know some people absorb as little as 10% of the nutrients in their food? Ginger also helps with nutrient absorption. This is a key component to healing a leaky gut (8) That might be the most amazing of the health benefits of ginger!

Related: Healing and Comforting Fresh Lemon Ginger Tea

9 Health Benefits of Ginger for the Body and Mind. Ginger contains so many health benefits that it truly needs to be a part of your natural health routine. It is one of those ancient herbal remedies that has survived the test of time for a good reason. Whether you make a tea, cook with it, use essential oils and extracts, and more, it is effective! What is your favorite way to heal with ginger? #naturalhealth #herbalremedies #ginger #healthyliving

#9 Improves Libido

Remember that bit earlier about how ginger is a vasodilator?  This is the key element as to why ginger has the ability to improve libido in both men and women!

Fresh Ginger Vs. Dried Ginger

Is one form better than another? Dried ginger is more potent because when ginger is dried or cooked with, gingerol becomes dehydrated and forms shogoals. Shogoals are about twice as strong as gingerol. That being said, it is not necessary to use dried to get excellent results.

9 Health Benefits of Ginger for the Body and Mind. Ginger contains so many health benefits that it truly needs to be a part of your natural health routine. It is one of those ancient herbal remedies that has survived the test of time for a good reason. Whether you make a tea, cook with it, use essential oils and extracts, and more, it is effective! What is your favorite way to heal with ginger? #naturalhealth #herbalremedies #ginger #healthyliving

Ginger can be used fresh or dried in your cooking, taken in capsule form, or used externally with essential oil. It is one of the safest herbs for a wide variety of conditions.  The health benefits of ginger are so numerous, this wonderful, tasty, easy to use spice won’t let you down!

 

Sources:
  1. Whitney, Martha. History of Ginger. Dr Christopher’s Herbal Legacy
    13 April 2018 http://www.herballegacy.com/Whitney_History.html
  2. 5 Top Health Benefits of Ginger. Organixx.
    13 April 2018 https://organixx.com/top-health-benefits-ginger/
  3. Bond, Owen. Does Ginger Burn Fat. Livestrong.
    18 July 2017 https://www.livestrong.com/article/440604-does-ginger-burn-fat/
  4. Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ginger in Health and Physical Activity: Review of Current Evidence International Journal of Preventative Medicine
    4 April 2013 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3665023/
  5. Link, Rachel. 12 Major Benefits of Ginger for Body and Brain. Dr. Axe.
    16 May 2018 https://draxe.com/10-medicinal-ginger-health-benefits/
  6. Ginger Shown To Lower Blood Sugar . Prevention Magazine.
    10 April 2014 https://www.prevention.com/health/health-conditions/a20470863/ginger-shown-to-lower-blood-sugar-in-diabetics/
  7. Hall, Danielle. Ginger and the Immune System. Livestrong.
    14 August 2017. https://www.livestrong.com/article/359341-ginger-the-immune-system/
  8. Gunderson, Melissa. 5 Ways Ginger Benefits Digestion. Gut Health Project.
    9 June 2016. https://www.guthealthproject.com/5-ways-ginger-benefits-digestion/
  9. Yacoub, Jamie. Ginger for Lower Cholesterol. Livestrong
    14 August 2017 https://www.livestrong.com/article/381680-how-much-ginger-root-can-you-take-in-a-day/
  10.       Williams, Lisa. Ginger 101: Everything You Need To Know About This Fiery Foodstuff. Happy Happy              Vegan. 16 October 2018. https://happyhappyvegan.com/ginger 
9 Ways ginger benefits health of the body and mind. Ginger contains so many health benefits that it truly needs to be a part of your natural health routine. It is one of those ancient herbal remedies that has survived the test of time for a good reason. Whether you make a tea, cook with it, use essential oils and extracts, and more, it is effective! What is your favorite way to heal with ginger? #naturalhealth #herbalremedies #ginger #healthyliving
9 Ways ginger benefits health of the body and mind. Ginger contains so many health benefits that it truly needs to be a part of your natural health routine. It is one of those ancient herbal remedies that has survived the test of time for a good reason. Whether you make a tea, cook with it, use essential oils and extracts, and more, it is effective! What is your favorite way to heal with ginger? #naturalhealth #herbalremedies #ginger #healthyliving
9 Ways ginger benefits health of the body and mind. Ginger contains so many health benefits that it truly needs to be a part of your natural health routine. It is one of those ancient herbal remedies that has survived the test of time for a good reason. Whether you make a tea, cook with it, use essential oils and extracts, and more, it is effective! What is your favorite way to heal with ginger? #naturalhealth #herbalremedies #ginger #healthyliving
9 Ways ginger benefits health of the body and mind. Ginger contains so many health benefits that it truly needs to be a part of your natural health routine. It is one of those ancient herbal remedies that has survived the test of time for a good reason. Whether you make a tea, cook with it, use essential oils and extracts, and more, it is effective! What is your favorite way to heal with ginger? #naturalhealth #herbalremedies #ginger #healthyliving

 

 

Filed Under: Nutrition

« Easy Parmesan Crusted Chicken
5 Surprising Health Benefits of Foraging Wild Edibles (And How To Get Started) »

Comments

  1. Alex says

    06/01/2018 at 18:32

    Hey Ashley, Thanks a lot for this in-depth post about ginger benefits! This spice never ceases to amaze me. Did you know that, according to the latest genetic research, ginger can change the microbial genes in our intestines and influence our gene expression? I wrote an article about these findings, would be more than glad to share the details and exchange inspiration! Cheers and keep up the great work!
    • CTWellness says

      06/02/2018 at 07:30

      Thanks Alex! I did not know that! How interesting!
      • Alex says

        06/04/2018 at 22:09

        The pleasure is mine! Ain't it? Nature never ceases to amaze us! :)
  2. Emmy says

    06/09/2018 at 13:09

    Wow. I didn't know that ginger could do so many things. I remember hearing my grandparent saying that they work as home remedies but could never really tell if these were 'old wives tales' or not. Thanks for explaining the benefits Ashley.
    • CTWellness says

      06/10/2018 at 11:05

      Hi Emmy, yes its worth every bit those tales say it is! Your grandparents are wise people <3
  3. Al says

    06/15/2018 at 07:23

    Am shock to know that ginger is so important, i drink ginger tea alot but i did didn't the benefit. Thank you for this helpful post
    • CTWellness says

      06/15/2018 at 08:30

      I'm so glad you found it useful! Enjoy your tea :)
  4. artchee says

    12/19/2018 at 03:42

    Hmm, if you haven't lived with your older grandparents, you may not know how much ginger was used as alternative medicine then. This is a great share of the benefits you can get with ginger.
    • CTWellness says

      12/19/2018 at 07:14

      Yes, not all of us are fortunate enough to have spent significant amounts of time with grandparents...in my case living in opposite ends of the country. Thank you for your kind words!
  5. Barbara Henderson says

    02/04/2020 at 23:34

    Yeah, I agree with the benefits mentioned by you. Ginger is truly an amazing spice. I use it in most of my dishes and also I have planted it in my garden.
  6. UV light disinfect says

    11/06/2020 at 02:36

    Ginger is great for allergies and arthritis, I live in central Texas and used to get sick with bad allergies all the time, I started taking ginger tea every other date, and I stopped taking allergies pills also my arthritis disappeared. God is good
    • CTWellness says

      12/03/2020 at 06:45

      Yes, the allergies here are something special aren't they? I'm so glad to hear it worked for you - that is excellent!!
logo
Health Ads by

About me

Hi! I'm Ashley, Owner of Gulf Coast Wellness. My goal is to help you realize and reach your health and nutrition goals. I believe a healthy lifestyle shouldn't be about sacrifice, but about finding what works for you and makes you excited to continue on that path.

Food Advertising by logo
Food Advertising by logo

Copyright © 2017 Cold Texan Wellness