Top 10 Health Benefits of Ginger

Ginger, with its strong and spicy aroma, has its own place in Filipino cuisine.  It may be used fresh or dried, powdered or pickled or in the form of juice or oil.  Ginger tea, the classic Filipino household favorite also known as ‘Salabat‘, is the most commonly used form given every time someone catches a cold or have an upset stomach.

Spicy, zesty and warm, ginger is a natural anti-nausea remedy, has anti-inflammatory properties and may help boost immunity by causing us to sweat.

According to the site World’s Healthiest Foods, studies show ginger seems to help people with arthritis. In other studies from the University of Minnesota and the University of Michigan, ginger contains substances that also help protect against colorectal and ovarian cancers. And ginger’s ability to induce us to sweat helps fight flu and cold.

Here are the Top 10 Health Benefits of Ginger

1] Maintains Normal Blood Circulation.

• Ginger contains chromium, magnesium and zinc which can help to improve blood flow, as well as help prevent chills, fever, and excessive sweat.

2] Remedies Motion Sickness.

• Chewing on ginger could reduce nausea and vomiting. According to studies, ginger can treat sensations of nausea following surgery, and due to motion sickness, seasickness, etc. It is also beneficial for nausea as a result of adverse effect of chemotherapy.

3] Prevent Morning Sickness. 

• Some pregnant women may find ginger beneficial in preventing their morning sickness. But it is advisable to consult your doctor before taking it. Ginger has demonstrated a success rate of 75 percent in curing morning sickness and stomach flu.

4] Cold and Flu Prevention.

• Ginger has been used for thousands of years as a natural treatment for colds and flu around Asia. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that to treat cold and flu symptoms in adults, steep 2 tbsp. of freshly shredded or chopped ginger root in hot water, two to three times a day

5] Fights Common Respiratory Problems.

• Ginger’s antihistamine property helps in treating allergies. It is also known to inhibit airway contraction and help stimulate the secretion of mucus. It is the herb of choice for persistent cough and sore throat associated with colds. A teaspoon of ginger juice with honey is effective against sore throat. And ginger tea is an all-time favourite to get rid of congestion in the throat and nose.

6] Anti-flatulence or Stomach Discomfort.

• Calm in your upset stomach with ginger. Its carminative (gas expulsion) property provides relief from bloating and gas and helps reduce flatulence. Ginger is ideal in assisting digestion, thereby improving food absorption and avoiding possible stomach ache. Ginger appears to reduce inflammation in a similar way to aspirin and ibuprofen.

7] Strengthens Immunity.

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• Ginger helps improve the immune system. Consuming a little bit ginger a day can help foil potential risk of a stroke by inhibiting fatty deposits from the arteries. It also decreases bacterial infections in the stomach, and helps battle a bad cough and throat irritation.

8] Remedy for loss of appetite

• Fuel a dull appetite by eating fresh ginger just before you have your meal. Ginger can get your digestive juices going and increase your appetite.

9] Relieve headache

• Applying diluted ginger paste on the forehead is believed to relieve migraine headache. The ability of ginger to inhibit prostaglandin synthesis helps relieve pain and inflammation in blood vessels thereby providing relief from migraine.

10] Reduce menstrual pain

• Ginger, when taken at the beginning of the menstrual period, can reduce symptoms of menstrual pain in some women.

Hopefully you’ve seen that it’s a good idea to add ginger to your list of things to buy on your next grocery trip. No matter what format you choose, whether you want to use ginger root in your meals, brew some ginger tea, or buy it in supplement form, you should be able to experience its many benefits.

Here’s list of Filipino Recipes that uses Ginger:

• Tinolang Tulya Recipe
• Hinalang na Manok Recipe
• Chicken Tinola Recipe
• Adobong Manok sa Gata Recipe
• Kinilaw na Lukon Recipe
• Lapu lapu Escabeche Recipe
• Chicken Curry Recipe
• Pinakbet Recipe
• Arroz Caldo Recipe
• Paksiw na Bangus Recipe
• Ginataang Kuhol Recipe