There are many benefits of ginger - have you discovered them yet? This oddly-shaped spice gives a unique taste to Oriental food, and tastes pretty great in a smoothie too.
There's no doubting ginger is delicious, but have you considered using ginger outside of the kitchen too? In both its raw and dry form, ginger can be highly beneficial for our health.
This everyday spice can be picked up from most local supermarkets for just a few pennies - why not start experimenting with it today?
See how ginger can help with muscle soreness, period pain, improve skin and prevent cancer in our list of health benefits below.
1. Use ginger to reduce nausea
If you're suffering from nausea, particularly morning sickness, ginger could really help you to alleviate your symptoms the natural way.
This effect is thought to be attributed to specific compounds in ginger, called gingerol and shogaol. Its effectiveness has been proven in several studies, with post-surgery patients, cancer patients, and even those suffering from motion sickness all claiming to have experienced improved symptoms.
Want to relieve your nausea, FAST?
How you choose to treat nausea with ginger is entirely personal. There are many options, including taking ginger capsules or drinking in tea, which is a nice calming way to soothe a troubled stomach.
Ginger tea recipe:
Add a thumb-sized, sliced piece of ginger root to 6 cups of water, and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 minutes, add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and honey to taste.
2. Benefits of ginger for menstrual pain
Periods are bad enough, without the addition of period pain.
If you're looking for a way to make this uncomfortable time of month more bearable, why not try using a natural remedy?
We have just the thing for you...
Ginger can be extremely effective for treating period pain. A hot cup of ginger tea will not just help reduce menstrual cramps, but it will make you feel warm and comforted from the inside out.
Follow the instructions for ginger tea above to try out this natural remedy today.
Want more health benefits of ginger? Try this...
3. Ginger root can help lower blood-pressure
We all know high blood pressure is a bad thing, but why?
High blood pressure means more hard work for your heart. It also increases the strain on blood vessels, both of which can, over time, increase the chance of a heart attack or stroke.
Want to get healthy?
Keeping blood pressure low is key to ensuring a long and healthy life. One of the benefits of ginger is its ability to thin the blood, lowering blood pressure and promoting a healthy heart.
It's also low in sodium, offering a healthy way to flavour food that is heart-friendly.
We're not done yet! Check out these benefits of ginger too...
4. Ginger for sore muscles
Ouch! Hard session at the gym? Sat in a stiff work chair all day? Or perhaps you just slept funny.
Whatever the cause of your muscle soreness, there's no need to suffer. Especially if you have some ginger to hand.
Studies have shown that ginger can reduce muscle soreness and get you feeling yourself much quicker.
Why not whip up a healthy, ginger and garlic stir-fry and banish your muscle soreness the tasty way?
5. Benefits of ginger for those with high blood sugar
Sugar can be seriously addictive. All those sweet treats are hard to resist, and you can soon end up with high blood sugar if you don't watch your diet.
If you're looking to lower your blood sugar, ginger could be the natural remedy you need to kickstart it.
A study carried out on people with type 2 diabetes saw a significant reduction in blood sugar levels in those patients who took ginger capsules.
The mystery is...
...even the professionals don't know why or how ginger works as a treatment for high blood sugar. What they do know, however, is that it does works.
Why not give this natural remedy a go today?
6. Ginger for indigestion
Indigestion symptoms usually arise after eating or drinking and can be extremely uncomfortable.
If you're looking for natural remedies, ginger could be just the thing. It's great at easing the nasty burning sensation you feel in the upper part of your stomach.
That sounds amazing! How does it work?
Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties which can calm irritation inside the stomach lining and lessen 'gastric contractions' - which cause stomach acid to be thrown into the oesophagus.
Why not start adding ginger to some of your favourite recipes to help ease indigestion? It goes great in soups, stir-fries, salads and many other meals too.
7. Can ginger help fight infection?
Ginger tea is often advised when you're feeling under the weather - but why?
If you've ever had a ginger smoothie, you'll know that it can pack quite a punch. It's not spicy, as such, but definitely has a warming effect on the body. This sensation does wonders when you're suffering from a cold.
Additionally, ginger is a great natural way of ridding the body of harmful toxins that lead to viral, fungal and bacterial infections.
Next time you're feeling poorly, skip the meds and try this all-natural remedy instead.
8. Benefits of ginger for brain function
Consider yourself a smart cookie?
You could be even smarter with the addition of ginger to your diet.
Ginger has been used for many years to improve brain function. It can have a wide variety of beneficial effects on the brain, which Be Brain Fit talks about in detail on their site.
The health benefits of ginger for brain function include improving memory, attention, focus, mood regulation, cravings, sleep and much more.
9. Can ginger prevent cancer?
Believe it or not, there are some claims that ginger can be more effective than chemo for treating cancer.
This claim is based on the effects of 6-Shogaol (a component of ginger), which supposedly inhibit the production of cancerous cells.
Although more research needs to be done into the effectiveness of using this natural remedy to fight cancer, it's definitely another brilliant reason to include ginger in your diet.
Last but not least on our list of health benefits of ginger are the...
10. Beauty benefits of ginger
Ginger is listed as the 13th most impressive natural antioxidant - no small feat. It contains around 40 antioxidant properties in total, making it a serious superfood for the skin.
Want to get gorgeous, glowing skin?
Mix 1 tsp of ginger with 1 tbsp of honey and 1 tsp lemon juice, and massage onto the face. Leave for 30 minutes, then rinse to reveal a positively radiant complexion.
What's your favourite health benefit of ginger? Tell us how YOU use it in the comments below.
Item 10 you have a typo error is it 1tsp or 1tbsp of honey assume other is suppose to be ginger regards.
Hi Liza, Many thanks for this - all changed :)
We were once on a ship during rough weather and everyone around us was being sick but my husband and I were eating crystallised ginger and we were not affected. In the end we were handing it out to all the passengers and it seemed to work wonders for everyone.
How wonderful!
I have been drinking grated fresh ginger in hot water for years to help with my IBS . This helps way more than the prescription meds from my doctor . I drink this every morning when I get up , its brilliant and I love the taste too . Some mornings I can’t function until I have drank ginger in hot water because my IBS pain is worse in the early morning .
Ginger has anti-inflammatory and digestive properties and has shown promise in research studies as a natural treatment for IBS symptoms. However, while ginger is generally safe for most people, it may cause side effects, and it's essential to be mindful of how your body reacts to it.
I boil ginger roots and I squeeze two lemons every morning for myself and husband. Makes me feel so good
Sounds great.
Is that raw ginger or powdered ginger?
Hi Mary! Which example are you referring to? Both raw ginger and powdered ginger can be used for beauty benefits; both contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can help reduce skin redness, puffiness, and inflammation. However, raw ginger may be more potent in terms of its beneficial properties.