11 Benefits of Ginger

  Ginger is among the healthiest (and most delicious) spices on the planet. It is loaded with nutrients and bioactive compounds that have powerful benefits for your body and brain. Ginger is one of the very few “superfoods” that are actually worthy of that term.


1.Ginger contains gingerol, a substance with powerful medicinal properties. It is high in gingerol, a substance with

powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

2. Helps nausea and motion sickness. One to 1.5 grams of ginger can help prevent various types of nausea. This applies to sea sickness, chemotherapy-related nausea, nausea after surgery and morning sickness.

3. Muscle pain/soreness: Ginger has been shown to be effective against exercise-induced muscle pain. In one study, consuming 2 grams of ginger per day, for 11 days, significantly reduced muscle pain in people performing elbow exercises. Ginger does not have an immediate impact, but may be effective at reducing the day-to-day progression of muscle pain. These effects are believed to be mediated by the anti-inflammatory properties.

4. Anti-inflammatory properties, helps with osteoarthritis.

5. Ginger may drastically lower blood sugars and improve heart disease risk factors.

6. Ginger can help treat chronic indigestion. finger appears to speed up emptying of the stomach, which can be beneficial for people with indigestion and related stomach discomfort.

7. Ginger powder may significantly reduce menstrual pain. Ginger appears to be very effective against menstrual pain when taken at the beginning of the menstrual period.

8. Ginger may lower cholesterol levels. High levels of LDL lipoproteins (the “bad” cholesterol) are linked to an increased risk of heart disease. The foods you eat can have a strong influence on LDL levels. There is some evidence, in both animals and humans, that ginger can lead to significant reductions in LDL cholesterol and blood triglyceride levels.

9. Ginger contains a substance that may help prevent cancer. Cancer is a very serious disease that is characterized by uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Ginger extract has been studied as an alternative treatment for several forms of cancer. The anti-cancer properties are attributed to 6-gingerol, a substance that is found in large amounts in raw ginger. There is some limited evidence that ginger may be effective against pancreatic cancer, breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

10. Ginger may improve brain function and protect against Alzheimer’s. Studies suggest that ginger can protect against age-related damage to the brain. It can also improve brain function in elderly women.

11. he active ingredient in ginger can help fight infections. Gingerol, the bioactive substance in fresh ginger, can help lower the risk of infections. In fact, ginger extract can inhibit the growth of many different types of bacteria. It is very effective against the oral bacteria linked to inflammatory diseases in the gums, such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Fresh ginger may also be effective against the RSV virus, a common cause of respiratory infections.

Ginger Tea

Yield: 1-2 cups of ginger tea Total Time: 15 minutes

Ginger tea is great for digestion. Ginger tea is an immune system boost or for an invigorating way to start the morning. Why go out and buy old tea bags when you can easily make your own homemade ginger tea at home using fresh ginger? The secret to the perfect healing ginger tea? Lots of fresh ginger, simmered for a long time to bring out the flavor, and the lime which compliments the ginger perfectly.

Ingredients

4-6 thin slices raw ginger (or more, depending on how strong you want it!)
1-1/2 – 2 cups water
 Juice from 1/2 lime, or to taste (optional, but delicious)
1-2 tbsp honey or agave nectar, or to taste (also optional but delicious)
Preparation

Peel the ginger and slice thinly to maximize the surface area. This will help you make a very flavorful ginger tea.
Boil the ginger in water for at least 10 minutes. For a stronger and tangier tea, allow to boil for 20 minutes or more, and use more slices of ginger. You really can’t over do it, so feel free to add as much ginger and simmer it for as long as you want.
Remove from heat and add lime juice and honey (or agave nectar) to taste.
The secret to making a really flavorful ginger tea is to use plenty of ginger – more than you think you will need – and also to add a bit of lime juice and honey to your ginger tea. You will also probably want to add more honey than you think you will need as well.

Enjoy your hot ginger tea! A homemade ginger tea is excellent in soothing stomach aches and in aiding digestion.

From Source of  Agency