5 Ways in Which Ginger Can Spice Up Your Health
By Vipin Ramakrishnan
Ginger is regularly used in every household
either in the form of an ingredient for cooking or in tea as a flavouring
agent. The use of ginger is not only restricted to the kitchen but also extends
to alternative methods of treatment like Ayurveda, Aromatherapy, Naturopathy,
Herbal therapy, etc. Since ginger has a wide range of usages, it is good to
know what this small little herb can do to our health.
Being a creeper by nature, it generally grows
around tropical regions where rainfall is abundant and has a basic hot dry
season, which is ideal for its cultivation. Due to the presence of around 3%
organic essential oils in ginger it has a strong spicy aroma. The rhizoid of
the ginger is not only eaten, but also sold as food flavorings, tinctures,
powders and tonics. The different forms of ginger are easily available in most
organic health food stores.
Ginger's health benefits
Ginger for treating stomach problems - Ginger
is an ideal remedy to treat stomach problems as two of its extracts ginger ale
and ginger beer have sedative and pain killing properties. Ginger's
anti-spasmic or carminative property can relieve you from gas and bloating, as
well.'Jamaica Ginger', the medical form of ginger is beneficial in treating
colic ailments and dyspepsia. Intake of ginger also helps people suffering from
gallstones as it stimulates secretion of bile from the gall bladder. Even
conditions like diarrhea are also treated with the help of ginger by many.
Ginger is great for your throat - Ginger helps
in the mucus secretion, which reduces feelings of scratchiness or cough in the
throat. This mucus also prevents holes or ulcers inside the lining of your
stomach.
Ginger is anti-cancerous - Be it ovarian
cancer or colon cancer, ginger in powder form is extremely effective in
reducing the growth of colorectal cancer cells and even in destroying the
cancer cells in the ovary.
Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties of
ginger - The anti-fungal nature of ginger helps in reducing pain and discomfort
from toothache. In addition to this, ginger can also prevent and treat the
common cold and flu; this happens for its anti toxic and anti viral properties.
Other miscellaneous functions of ginger:
· Ginger assists in healing sea sickness, motion sickness and morning sickness, especially in case of pregnant women. Even side effects of chemotherapy can be also treated with ginger. Gingerols and shogaols are two constituents present in ginger that helps in treating nausea, controlling vomiting tendencies and monitoring the functioning of the gastrointestinal tracts.
· Antihistamine present in ginger assists in treating allergies.
· Anti-inflammatory properties of ginger help in the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and other muscular problems. Basically, the root of the ginger plant is the most effective dosage in treating inflammations, which is even better than medicine at times.
· Ginger tea is a natural remedy for heartburn.
· The special enzymes present in ginger prevent cramps and helps in digestion, which is the reason why the Greeks used to have ginger after enjoying a huge meal.
· Ginger aids in reducing levels of cholesterol and development of blood clots in your body. It helps in controlling blood sugar levels and heart problems, as well.
·
Ginger in form of tea, mixed with brown sugar acts well on
menstrual cramps.
·
Ginger is capable of reducing diabetic nephropathy or in easy
words, kidney damage. Fresh ginger juice or oil is the perfect remedy for minor
burns and skin irritations.
Now you know that ginger is an ancient ingredient, which has
been successfully used in various Alternative medicines to treat various health
issues. Moreover, it is an important culinary component, which is used in
making gingerbread, ginger cake, ginger tea, ginger biscuits, cookies, and
beer, spice and ale. In all these forms and in the raw form, ginger is
available in any market and even in organic food online stores.
So, add ginger to your everyday food to enjoy
the many health benefits of it.
Vipin Ramakrishnan is a software consultant
who loves to work actively to promote awareness of environmental sustainability
and hazards of chemical laden processed foods.He also is actively working on a
Ecovillage project in India which promotes organic farming and herbal park. To
know more about his blog on organic food visit his site http://www.organicfoodshealth.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Vipin_Ramakris
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