Why You Should Be Eating Ginger Daily
We all know that the unmistakable zing of fresh ginger is a score in any Asian-inspired dish. But, we bet you didn’t know that getting a daily dose of ginger has many additional health benefits. Ginger is loaded with nutrients and antioxidants that have powerful benefits for both your mind and your body. In fact, this gnarly looking root has been shown to be beneficial for a host of things from taming your worst tummy troubles to helping reduce blood pressure and acting as a powerful anti-inflammatory.
So, the next time you think about adding ginger to a dish to tantalize your taste buds, keep these eight added health benefits in mind too:
8 Reasons You Should Be Eating Ginger Every Day:
1. Ginger will tame your tummy troubles
Ginger is one of the most well-known natural aids for nausea. And, lucky for anyone who experiences mild nausea often, it can be readily found in your local health food store or pharmacy in the form of tablets, powder and even tea. Suffer from car, sea, or motion sickness? Ginger is a safe and natural remedy which will help prevent and relieve your symptoms, so you can travel happy.
2. Ginger aids in digestion
Ginger not only helps soothe your tummy when you’re feeling nauseous, but it also aids in your daily digestion. Studies have shown that ginger can help speed up the emptying of your stomach and thus help reduce the incidence of indigestion, gas, and bloating. So, if you’re feeling bloated or crampy, reach for a cup of ginger tea instead of that bottle of tums. An added benefit? Ginger may even help relieve the cramping associated with menstrual pain.
3. Ginger is a powerful antioxidant and may protect against cancer
An antioxidant is something that has the power to fight free radicals. Ginger contains a substance called 6-gingerol, which is a powerful antioxidant that may have protective effects against cancer. However, this needs to be studied a lot more.
4. Ginger keeps you toasty
Ginger can literally warm your internal body temperature up. So, if you’re feeling chilly, don’t reach for a cup of hot cocoa, reach for a cup of lemon ginger tea instead. It’ll warm you right up and keep you toasty for hours.
5. Ginger will make you frisky
Further to number four, ginger not only heats your body temperature up but it can heat up your libido as well. So, if you’re looking to feel a little frisky, down some fresh ginger and get ready to get it on.
6. Ginger can help soothe a cough
Down and out with a cold or the flu? Reach for a cup of ginger tea instead of that chemically-loaded cough syrup. Ginger has been shown to reduce the symptoms associated with a cold or the flu and its antibacterial qualities can help fight infection.
7. Ginger keeps your heart healthy
High levels of LDL (low density lipoproteins) can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, while high levels of HDL (high density lipoproteins) have been shown to protect against heart disease. The addition of ginger to one’s diet has been shown to increase HDL (the good cholesterol) and reduce LDL (the bad cholesterol), thereby reducing the risk of heart-related problems.
8. Ginger helps ease joint pain
Osteoarthritis involves degeneration of the joints in the body, which can ultimately lead to stiffness, pain and loss of function. Studies have shown that a diet rich in ginger can help reduce the symptoms of joint pain which are associated with osteoarthritis.
