The Benefits of Ginger

I have recently bought a new juicer. It’s amazing! I found that adding ginger to my juices gives them a lovely taste and a warming feel that’s perfect for these colder months.

But what you possibly didn’t know is that ginger has quite an impressive array of health benefits. One of the best known benefits is as an anti-emetic (helps control nausea), which was a godsend for me this morning after a large amount of wine last night! Ginger is great for pregnant women or those on drugs with side effects causing sickness, such as chemotherapy. Ginger can also help promote bile flow, which is important for good digestion and detoxification. I would recommend ginger to anyone with mild problems of the digestive tract, including IBS, bloating and flatulence.

Another major benefit of ginger is it’s anti-inflammatory and pain relief properties. Ginerols, which are found in ginger, inhibit some of the natural chemical substances (called prostaglandins) that cause pain and inflammation. In a 1992 study, ginger was given to people experiencing joint problems. Of those that had osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, a huge 75% said they had substantial relief.

Ginger may help prevent the buildup of platelets in the arteries, therefore may help to protect the heart, lower cholesterol and prevent strokes. A note here though, ginger can have blood thinning properties and although no interaction with blood thinning medication has been found, supervision from a healthcare specialist should be practised if taken in moderate to large amounts.

On top of all of this, ginger is also anti-viral, antiseptic and may help the symptoms of respiratory problems, including asthma, colds and flu.

Try adding chopped ginger to stir-frys, juicing or adding large chunks to hot water and steeping (lovely with lemon in the morning as digestive stimulation).