10 Health Benefits of Ginger

G is for Ginger

Ginger has been touted as a spice used for adding a little bit of warmth and flavor to meals for centuries.  But did you know that ginger has some amazing health properties too - maybe some that you didn't even know about (I know I didn't).

1.  Morning Sickness

Many women fall victim to morning sickness when pregnant.  Ginger is a safe natural remedy and has been shown to help combat the nausea that typically accompanies morning sickness.

2.  Nausea 

Ginger just isn't for nausea that is accompanied by morning sickness, but any type of stomach ailment.

3.  Gas and Bloating

Suffering from gas and bloating?  Ginger has been shown to calm down stomach ailments and help to relieve gas and bloating.

4.  Cancer Treatment

Clinical studies have shown that ginger has been beneficial for fighting prostate, color and breast cancer.

5.  Headache and Migraine Relief

Studies have shown that ginger helps to relieve headaches and migraines by reducing the prostoglandin production which causes the pain and reduces inflammation in blood vessels.

6.  Menstrual Cramp Relief

Similar to its benefits for headaches and migraines, ginger has been shown to help those who suffer from painful menstrual cramps.  More importantly, ginger seems to work just as well combating cramps as effectively as over the counter pain relievers.

7.  Joint Pain Relief

Ginger helps with joint pain, such as knee pain, elbow pain, etc., because of its anti-inflammatory properties.

8.  Flu/Cold Fighter

Ginger is a great immune booster due to its antioxidant properties.

9.  Asthma

Studies have shown that the compounds in ginger help those who suffer from asthma able to breathe a little easier.

10.  Blood Sugar Regulation

Studies have shown that ginger helps to regulate insulin, which is key in helping to control blood sugar levels.

How to Reap the Benefits of Ginger.

Some of the best ways to get the benefits of ginger are:

     1.  Ginger Tea.

You can find ginger tea, or any blend of tea made with ginger, in any of the retail or health food stores across the country.  

     2.  Spice Up Your Cooking.

Ground ginger is a great way to add a little spice to your meals.  

     3.  Candied Ginger.

Candied ginger is just that - ginger that has been dehydrated and made into some sort of candy. These are primarily found either online or at your local health food store.  If you are going to reach for something sweet with a little bit of a kick, why not make it healthy, right?  

What do you think?

I would love to know if you have a favorite way to add ginger into your diet?  Or even if you have seen any health benefits since you started consuming ginger?

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Sources for this post are:

• http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130519145647.htm
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21849094
• http://cancerpreventionresearch.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2011/10/07/1940-6207.CAPR-11-0224.abstract
• http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/research-ginger-selectively-kills-breast-cancer-cells
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23657930