Ginger
Ginger
Ginger
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Zingiber officinale
About
Ginger is a flowering plant that originated in Southeast Asia. It’s among the healthiest (and most delicious) spices on the planet. It belongs to the Zingiberaceae family, and it’s closely related to turmeric, cardamom, and galangal. The rhizome (underground part of the stem) is the part commonly used as a spice. It’s often called ginger root or, simply, ginger. Ginger can be used fresh, dried, powdered, or as an oil or juice. It’s a very common ingredient in recipes. It’s sometimes added to processed foods and cosmetics. It is an old guard of preventive wellness, Ginger has a multitude of medicinal properties to help boost your immune system at a cellular level, from boosting metabolism to improving digestion.
Dosage & Duration
In general, you don't want to consume more than 4 grams of ginger a day — that's quite a few cups!
Benefits
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Lowers Blood Sugar
One recent small study suggested that ginger may help your body use insulin better.
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Lowers Cholesterol
A daily dose of ginger may help you battle your “bad” or LDL cholesterol levels. In a recent study, taking 5 grams of ginger a day for 3 months lowered people’s LDL cholesterol an average of 30 points.
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Protects Against Disease
Ginger is loaded with antioxidants, compounds that prevent stress and damage to your body’s DNA. They may help your body fight off chronic diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diseases of the lungs, plus promote healthy aging.
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Soothes Sore Muscles
Ginger won’t whisk away muscle pain on the spot, but it may tame soreness over time. In some studies, people with muscle aches from exercise who took ginger had less pain the next day than those who didn’t.
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Eases Arthritis Symptoms
Ginger is an anti-inflammatory, which means it reduces swelling. That may be especially helpful for treating symptoms of both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. You might get relief from pain and swelling either by taking ginger by mouth or by using a ginger compress or patch on your skin.
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May help in weight loss
Ginger also decreases inflammation, stimulates digestion, and suppresses your appetite. These properties lead some people to believe that ginger may promote weight loss. The medical literature indicates that ginger can work along with a healthy diet and exercise to help you reach a healthy weight.
