Some Health Benefits Of Ginger, You Probably Don't know
Have you been hearing about this great spice called ginger but you probably don't know that it's packed with a lot of health benefits?. Don't worry, in today's post, we'll explore the incredible health benefits of ginger which will convince you that ginger is not just a spice but a natural remedy with numerous health benefits ranging from reducing inflammation to boosting the immune system, etc.
Ginger as a member of the Zingiberaceae family that originated in Maritime Southeast Asia is one of the most commonly consumed dietary condiments in the world. It is widely grown in the tropics and subtropics in Asia, Africa and Caribbean. But today, ginger is cultivated in all parts of the world as one the favorite spices. The rhizome which is also called the root or underground stem is the main portion of ginger that is consumed. Ginger belongs to the same family with tumeric, cardamon and galangal.
Important Nutrients In Ginger
For years, ginger has been known for it's medicinal properties, but it is often overlooked as an excellent source of some essential vitamins, minerals and active compound. These nutrients in ginger play a lot of important roles in human body. This is why ginger is widely consumed by those who know the value. So, let's take a look at the important nutrients in ginger.
The Important Nutrients In Ginger are as follows;
A) Vitamins and
B) Minerals
Vitamins:
Vitamins are important organic compounds which our bodies need in small quantities for proper metabolic process, which includes; cell function, growth and development, immune system boosting, blood clotting, wound healing, etc. Our bodies don't produce these vitamins rather they are being gotten from the food we eat (a healthy diet).
The key vitamins found in ginger are;
A) Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
B) Vitamin B9 (folate)
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid):
Vitamin C also known as ascorbic acid, is an essential water soluble vitamin that plays an important role in immune function, antioxidant activity and collagen synthesis. It also helps to maintain healthy cholesterol, blood fat and blood pressure levels.
Vitamin B9 (folate):
Vitamin B9 (folate) is a type of vitamin that is important in the formation of red blood cell, healthy cell growth and function.It is water soluble which means it dissolves in water easily and breaks down in the body quickly. It improves liver health, hair, skin, and eyes, and also keeps your nervous system working perfectly. Apart from it's content in ginger, vitamin B9 (folate) is naturally gotten from a wide variety of foods such as; Beef, egg, beans, chicken liver, green vegetables, nuts, fruits(Oranges, melons, avocado), and Seafoods (Dungeness crab).
Read Also: 13 Wonderful Health Benefits Of Turmeric
Minerals:
Minerals are inorganic elements or compounds found on the earth and in foods we eat which our bodies need to develop and function normally. They have a specific chemical composition, crystalline structure, and physical properties. The important minerals are; potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, chloride, iron, zinc, iodine, chromium, copper, fluoride, molybdenum, manganese, and selenium.
The Two Main Essential Minerals Present In Ginger Are;
A) Potassium and
B) Magnesium
Potassium:
Potassium as one of the essential minerals present in ginger is an important electrolyte found in the food we eat which helps the nerve, heart, and muscle cell in your body to function properly. The kidneys control your body’s potassium levels, allowing for excess potassium to leave the body through urine or sweat. According to research, high amount of potassium in the body increases iron utilization and it is beneficial to people taking diuretics to control hypertension and suffering from excessive excretion of potassium through the body fluid. Potassium is required to maintain osmotic balance of the body fluids.
The human body doesn’t produce potassium naturally. So, it’s important to consume potassium-rich foods regularly so that we can get a required amount of potassium our body need to function properly.
What are Electrolytes?
Electrolytes conduct electrical impulses throughout the body. They assist in a range of essential body functions, which includes;
- Nerve impulses
- Normal blood pressure support
- Muscle contractions
- Heart rhythm
- pH balance (acidity and alkalinity)
- Normal water balance and
- Digestion
Apart from potassium, there are other important electrolytes that aid in the smooth functioning of our body, they include; chloride, sodium, bicarbonate, phosphate and calcium. So, when the level of electrolytes in your body is too low or too high, it leads to a condition called an electrolyte imbalance.
Magnesium:
This is an important mineral that plays a key role in the body function of human being. It is essential for healthy bones, muscles, nerves, and blood sugar levels.
Roles of Magnesium In The Body
The roles of magnesium in the body are;
- Magnesium helps in the maintenance of normal blood pressure.
- It helps in keeping the bones strong.
- It maintains healthy muscle nerve.
- It keeps the heart rhythm steady.
- It also aids in blood pressure regulation.
- It makes protein and DNA in the body.
- Magnesium supports the immune system.
- It controls the blood sugar levels.
Two Major Active Compounds In Ginger:
There are a lot of active compounds in ginger but we are going to concentrate on these two major ones. Namely;
A) Gingerols and
B) Shogaols
Gingerols:
Gingerols are the major constituents of fresh ginger and are slightly found in dry ginger. At least 31 gingerol-related compounds have been identified from the methanolic crude extracts of fresh ginger rhizome (Jiang, Solyom et al. 2005). Gingerols are powerful anti-inflammatory agents that can help reduce inflammation throughout the body, such as arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. Apart from it's anti-inflammatory properties, gingerols also possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-nausea properties, which support the overall health.
Shogaols:
The shogaols are natural active compounds that are formed when gingerols, the primary bioactive compounds in fresh ginger are dried or heated. These active compounds also exhibit anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative actions.
Some Health Benefits Of Ginger You Probably Don't know
Ginger have a lot of health benefits due to it's anti-inflammatory, anti-nausea, and other properties. This wonderful spice may help you lose weight, manage arthritis, reduce menstrual symptoms, and more. It contains over 100 active compound, including gingerols, Shogaols, paradols, zingerone, e.tc,. These active compounds are thought to be responsible for the health benefits.
1. It Reduces Inflammation:
With the presence of anti-inflammatory substances in ginger, such as; gingerols, eating raw or cooked ginger may have positive impact on conditions like respiratory inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis. Some studies have revealed that people with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis who consume ginger regularly notice a significant reductions in their pain levels.
2. It May Help In Weight Management:
Consuming ginger regularly can aid in weight loss and may help you feel full thereby reducing the rate of your food intake. Some evidence suggests that ginger increases metabolism in the body, which can help in fat burning. More studies revealed that compounds like zingerone and shogaols in ginger may help with weight loss also. These compounds are responsible for fat burning and storage in the body. People with obesity who often consume ginger may found a significant reduction in their body weight.
3. It Relieves Nausea:
What is Nausea?
Nausea is described as an uncomfortable feelings you get in your stomach before it gets to the level of vomiting. Nausea is a common symptom of conditions like; motion sickness, pregnancy, and infections.
Ginger has been a well-known remedy for relieving nausea and vomiting. Pregnant women can use ginger to ease pregnancy-related nausea, such as morning sickness. It is used to reduce nausea and vomiting for people who need to undergo certain surgeries and chemotherapy.
The two active compounds in ginger, gingerols and shogaols are effective in preventing nausea and vomiting by blocking the actions of the neurotransmitters acetylcholine and serotonin in the body.
4. It Aids In Digestion:
Ginger contains natural enzymes which can help to relieve indigestion, nausea, bloating, and the overall digestive health. The enzymes in ginger such as the protease zingibain, is responsible for breaking down protein into small peptides and amino acids. Ginger has a long reputation as a carminative, a substance that promotes the elimination of excess gas from the digestive system, and is known to soothe the intestinal tract.
Experimental studies showed that ginger and its active components including 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol exert anticancer activities against GI cancer. GI stands for Gastrointestinal cancer, a cancer of different organs of the digestive system, is one of the most common cancers around the world. The anticancer activity of ginger is attributed to its ability to modulate several signaling molecules like NF-κB, STAT3, MAPK, PI3K, ERK1/2, Akt, TNF-α, COX-2, cyclin D1, cdk, MMP-9, survivin, cIAP-1, XIAP, Bcl-2, caspases, and other cell growth regulatory proteins. In this review, the evidences for the chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic potential of ginger extract and its active components using in vitro, animal models, and patients have been described.
5. It May Reduce Menstrual Cramps or Pains:
Ginger has the ability to reduce menstrual cramps due to anti-inflammatory properties present in it. This wonderful spice does this by reducing inflammation and the production of pain-causing prostaglandins. Taking ginger during the first three to four days of the menstrual cycle may help reduce menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea).
6. Ginger Enhances Immunity And Fights Infections:
Including ginger in your daily meal may help keep your immune system very strong. This is because ginger is packed with antioxidants that boost your immune system. The antioxidant like vitamin C in ginger, which has the ability to increase the production of white blood cells in the body, which are keys to fighting infections. So, consuming a dose of ginger daily can keep you healthier and make your body to be resistant to infections.
7. It May Lower Blood Sugar Level:
Some researchers have revealed that people with type II diabetes, who include ginger in their diet may found significant reductions in fasting blood sugar as well as lower HBA1c, the marker that measures your average blood glucose level for the last 90 days. Another study said that ginger also has the potential to help reduce the risk of diabetes complications due to its lipid-lowering effects. But before you include ginger in your diabetes treatment, it is advisable to consult your doctor.
8. Ginger Lowers Cholesterol:
There are two main kinds of cholesterol, they are;
- Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL), also called “bad” cholesterol
- High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL), also called “good” cholesterol
Studies have also revealed that ginger can reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels in your body. High levels of LDL cholesterol in your blood increases your chance of heart attack and stroke.
Conclusively, with what we have discussed above, you need no prophet to tell you that ginger is loaded with numerous health benefits which can help you live a healthy life. Consuming ginger either raw or cooked may aid to manage or treat a lot of health problems.
!!All Rights Reserved!!
This material and any other digital content on this platform may not be reproduced, written, published, broadcast, or distributed in full or in part, without written permission from Punchnewss.com.ng.
