10 HEALTH BENEFITS OF GINGER TEA-min

10 HEALTH BENEFITS OF GINGER TEA

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Ginger has been in use for a couple of millennia. Its use has been nothing but spicing foods and managing medical conditions. It is easy to add to the diet, and people mostly like to take it in tea.

Ginger is grouped together with cardamom, turmeric, and galangal under Zingiberaceae family. Ginger is typically a flowering plant native to Southeast Asia. It is actually a root or rhizome (part of the stem found underground). You can consume ginger fresh or dried. It can also be taken as a juice or oil. Apart from being used in dishes and processed foods, ginger can be added to cosmetics. This article discusses the benefits of taking ginger tea.

1.      Can Help Treat Motion Sickness

Ginger tea has been used traditionally to improve the symptoms of motion sickness. This may include vomiting, dizziness, and cold sweats. Motion sickness is a neurological problem that’s triggered by a fast moving vehicle, for example. So far, there is no scientific evidence to support these claims. If you have motion sickness, it will help to use prescribed medications instead of ginger tea. However, if it works well for you, then just use it.

2.      Contains Powerful Compounds with Medicinal Properties

Gingerol is a powerful plant compound found in ginger. It is a natural oil giving ginger its fragrance. All the medicinal properties of ginger are courtesy of gingerol. Studies have shown that gingerol have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This may help reduce cellular damages caused by oxidative stress, which is a result of elevated free radicals in the body.

3.      Can Improve Nausea

Ginger and ginger tea can treat various forms of nausea, particularly from morning sickness and chemotherapy. Morning sickness is one of the minor disorders that occur in the first trimester of pregnancy. Ginger is thought is thought to be more effective in treating this form of nausea. While it may reduce symptoms of nausea, research indicates that ginger cannot reduce the episodes of vomiting. Ginger is safe all-round, but if you are pregnant, it will be best to talk with a healthcare provider before proceeding to larger amounts. Ginger should be avoided by pregnant women at term or those who have had miscarriages. Its use is also contraindicated with disorders of clotting and vaginal bleeding.

4.      May Help with Weight Loss

Both human and animal studies have shown that ginger and ginger tea may promote weight loss. Taking ginger supplements can significantly reduce body weight, hip ratio, waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio in individuals who are obese or overweight. Ginger can also reduce levels of insulin in the blood, as well as body mass index (BMI), according to a research on women with obesity. Both are risk factors of obesity. It is thought that ginger works by reducing inflammation or catalyze the burning of calories. That said, additional studies are needed to confirm the effects of ginger on weight loss.

5.      Can Improve the Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a common joint problem affecting many people in America. It involves wearing off of joints, leading to uncomfortable symptoms like joint stiffness and pain. Studies indicate that drinking ginger tea to treat osteoarthritis may significantly reduce pain and stiffness.

6.      May Keep Blood Sugar in Check and Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of global death. Heart disease and diabetes have common risk factors, including high cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, and chronic inflammation. Recent studies have indicated that ginger possesses anti-diabetic qualities. It may help reduce fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes by up to twelve percent. It can also lower the markers of prolonged blood sugar levels, such as hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), by up to ten percent. It is also claimed that ginger may reduce major predisposing factors to heart disease. Good examples are Apolipoprotein B to Apolipoprotein A-1 ratio and malondialdehyde (MDA), which can be reduced by 28 percent and 23 percent, respectively. MDA are produced during oxidative stress as byproducts. Additionally, ginger can help protect against heart disease by lowering blood pressure, preventing blood clots, relieving heartburn, preventing heart attack, and improving blood circulation. While these results are promising, more need to be done before conclusions can be drawn.

7.      Can Help Treat Digestive Issues

Ginger can help with digestive issues, especially chronic indigestion, which usually presents with intermittent pain and discomfort in the upper quadrant of the stomach. Researchers strongly believe that prolonged staying of food in the stomach is the main cause of indigestion. Studies, however, indicate that ginger can shorten the time food take in the stomach and speed emptying.

8.      Can Reduce Menstrual Pain

Painful menstruation is commonly referred to as dysmenorrhea. Traditionally, ginger was used to relieve pain, as well as menstrual pain. Some studies suggest that ginger may reduce pain felt during menstruation as effective as the conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as mefenamic acid or ibuprofen.

9.      May Help Fight Cancer

Ginger has been shown to contain substances that can help prevent against certain types of cancer. The compound is none other than gingerol, which has anti-cancer properties. The most studied gingerol is [6]-gingerol. It is believed that this particular compound can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by inhibiting the actions of molecules in the colon that aggravate inflammation. Some evidence also suggest that ginger can also work against pancreatic cancer and gastrointestinal cancers. Lastly, ginger can be effective against ovarian cancer and breast cancer. However, more research should be done in this area.

10.  Can Help Fight Infections

Research indicates that gingerol has antibacterial properties, which can help fight infections. Ginger tea can fight oral bacteria that can cause gingivitis and periodontitis. Other studies also claim that ginger may work against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) linked with respiratory infections.

Conclusion

Ginger is a popular spice and medicinal herb. It can be taken in dried form, as juice or oil. It can also be taken as ginger tea. Regardless, ginger will still provide gingerol that can benefit your health. The compound can treat nausea and fight infections.

Credits

We would like to thank the below contributors who have helped us to write this article:

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Elena Ognivtseva
Latest posts by Elena Ognivtseva (see all)

Nutritionist, Cornell University, MS

I believe that nutrition science is a wonderful helper both for the preventive improvement of health and adjunctive therapy in treatment. My goal is to help people improve their health and well-being without torturing themselves with unnecessary dietary restrictions. I am a supporter of a healthy lifestyle – I play sports, cycle, and swim in the lake all year round. With my work, I have been featured in Vice, Country Living, Harrods magazine, Daily Telegraph, Grazia, Women's Health, and other media outlets.

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