Ginger- a spice, a herb, a beneficial plant product that has multiple uses and benefits that was cultivated around 5000 years ago. Its cultivation has been attributed to China and India, India being its largest producer in the world. Giving it the status of being one of the oldest herbs to exist and be used for cooking and medicinal purposes.
Ginger is the root stem of zingiber officinale and comes from the family of Zingiberaceae. It comes from the same family of cardamom and turmeric. Ginger is an aromatic spice which is a result of ketones in it, namely gingerols that also contribute to it being one of the most beneficial herbs for your health.
Though ginger’s early name was singabera originated from sanskrit which means “horn root”, the modern name came from gingivere that is attributed to middle English. In Greek, it was called ziggiberies and in Latin it was called zinziberi.
History:
Famous in India and China, it has been a widely used herb for various ailments and is used as a culinary wonder. It is a flavoring agent in various Indian dishes making it a commonly used ingredient in many dishes of traditional meals of South Asian countries like India and China.
The trade of this herb started from India to other parts of the world like the Roman empire dating back to 2000 years ago, Arab countries and in British England in medieval times. Gingerbread has been a famous sweet bread that came into existence when ginger traveled to England back in Queen Elizabeth I’s time.
Ginger is widely used not just because of its aroma but because of its medicinal properties as well. For the reason of having multiple medicinal values, it has been an integral part of the Ayurvedic system of medicine. Ginger is also used as a remedy in Iranian traditional medicine.
Nowadays ginger is a household spice and you can easily use it in your food for multiple health benefits that it has to offer. For centuries it has been used to treat flu, upset stomach, common cold, headaches and menstrual cramps.
Nutritional composition of ginger:
Ginger is almost 12 inches above ground which looks like a knotted stem and is beige in color. Ginger roots have oils, gingerols which is around 23-23% and 18-25% shogaols which are essential compounds that give ginger its spicy aroma.
If we look at its overall profile, it has around 400 different compounds including carbohydrates that count up to 50-70%, lipids counting to 3-8%. It also has terpene compounds and phenolic compounds.
Apart from the above-mentioned components, there is a good quantity of amino acids, fiber, protein, vitamins like nicotine acid and vitamin A and a few minerals are also a part of the nutritional profile of zinger.
Ginger as medicine:
The plant of Ginger has been widely used in various traditional medicine systems as a remedy because of the various benefits that it has been providing to people since centuries. Ginger has been used to treat stomach related issues especially digestion.
It is suggested that one should intake ginger first thing in the morning to help improve your digestive health. Apart from that it has been used as home remedy to recover from common cold, sour through, nausea and motion sickness.
Health benefits ginger:
With its spicy flavor and pungent aroma ginger can be used to treat a lot of health related issues, including:
Gut health:
Ginger helps improve digestive health as it benefits gastrointestinal motility which is the rate at which food exits the body. Eating ginger would help timely exits of the food from your body.
Nausea relief:
If the food lingers in the body for longer periods you might face nausea making you uncomfortable. There could be a few reasons why you feel nauseous. The first one is chemotherapy. Cancer patients who have to go through chemotherapy can use ginger as it can help to curb post-treatment nausea.
Pregnant women who experience nausea can use ginger for relief from feeling puke-ish. Consumption of ginger in pregnancy is a great way to avoid pharmaceutical options to prevent nausea. A pregnant woman would feel sick and want to puke but ginger can help you fight this feeling. It is suggested not to consume ginger if you are close to labor or have a history of miscarriage.
People should also keep ginger when traveling if they get sick because of motion sickness. It is a good way to defeat motion sickness so you can be comfortable in your journey no matter how long it is.
Prevents bloating and gas:
Ginger directly benefits gastrointestinal health, preventing bloating and gas because the food is digested at a required rate and exits frequently from the body. It also helps you get back your appetite if you feel a loss of appetite on some days. This will help you eat a balanced diet and you can keep your lifestyle healthy by eating good food and having a good digestive health.
Pain relief:
Ginger can be used as a remedy to help with the pain due to osteoarthritis. The amount of painkillers you consume would be drastically reduced if you start taking ginger for your pain in the bones.
Ginger can also be effective in preventing pains from sore muscles, arthritis and menstrual cramps. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties can help women get relief from painful cramps when menstruating and can also help with the heavy blood-flow.
People with migraine pains and nausea will also find it beneficial to use ginger in their diet for relief from such unbearable pains.
Anti-inflammatory properties:
Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties because out of 400 natural compounds that it contains, some of them will act as anti-inflammatory agents that help with joint related issues. It can also be used to get relief from skin burns in the form of ginger juice.
The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger can also help prevent chronic diseases related to the heart, contributing to an improved heart health.
Lowers heart related risks:
Ginger can help lower your blood pressure that in turn helps to reduce blood lipids that will be beneficial for your heart health. The food habits of today increase the risk of heart related issues like heart failure or blood clotting all because of the food being responsible for increasing the cholesterol levels. But such serious heart issues can be prevented by improving your eating habits and including ginger in your daily routine.
Maintains blood sugar level:
People with diabetes who are looking for healthy options to include in their diet should consider ginger. Ginger improves insulin resistance that promotes metabolism and lowers your blood sugar levels.
Precautions:
Consuming ginger does not come with any side effects, but when taken in high doses you may encounter a mild heartburn, irritation in the mouth or diarrhea.
If your skin is sensitive, then ginger on the skin can cause a major rash. Avoid your skin from coming in contact with ginger or ginger extract.
Pregnant women are suggested to consume ginger to cure morning sickness but should avoid it at all costs near their labor days.
If you are already on medications then ask your doctor if and how you should include ginger in your diet.
If you are changing your diet in any way, don’t just do it but turn your side on other aspects of your life. Your health comes first and if diet changes require consultation from your doctor you should not neglect it.
Culinary exploration:
Eating raw ginger first thing in the morning is encouraged to improve digestion and gut health. Ginger can be consumed directly by mouth to curb nausea, in powder form or in the form of liquid. It has been used in cooking for years and is a favorite ingredient in many dishes across India, China and other prominent countries with traditional culinary style.
The enormous popularity of ginger’s medicinal properties has made it an essential ingredient ensuring your body gets an adequate supply of this herb.
The most popular way to consume ginger in your diet is adding it to your tea. You can choose to drink ginger tea in the morning by adding a pinch of honey and lemon in it. You boil a small quantity of ginger in water for 5-8 minutes.
Drinking ginger tea will help prevent the symptoms of common cold and flu. You can also consume ginger juice with honey if you have a cold. It will help cure the common cold.
Ginger’s prominence:
Ginger is a prominent ingredient in tea in India. You can use ginger or adrak (common name of ginger in India). Ginger is boiled in water and after adding sugar and tea in the water you add milk in it. Adrak tea in India is aromatic because of the presence of ginger in it.
You can use grounded ginger powder in your food which will give you a different flavor and a strong aroma as well making your food delicious. One can also use ginger by chopping it and adding it while you are preparing the food.
You can add ginger in curries, cooked lentils, soups, cooked beans, cooked chicken, etc. Ginger jam is also available that you can use on your breads or biscuits in the morning to get a great start at your breakfast.
Adding ginger juice to your smoothies will not only give it a different flavor but also give it a pungent aroma that would enhance your experience of drinking your morning smoothie. It will also give you health benefits like curing your morning sickness, menstrual cramps and pains in your body.
Adding it as a dressing on your salads or other dishes that you prepared for that lunch with your colleagues or dinner with your date could also be beneficial in multiple aspects.
Ginger can give your baked pastries or cookies a touch of your personal recipe. You just have to add ginger powder or liquid to make your bakery products taste a bit spicy with a refreshing aroma.
Conclusion:
Ginger, a herb widely used for its medicinal properties could benefit people in many ways with hardly any side effects if you are taking an adequate amount of it on a daily basis. Not only it takes care of your health but your taste buds as well.
Ginger is not a herb that you would really want to start your morning with by adding in your morning tea, smoothie or soup. Its spicy taste and aroma is enough for you to have a great start of your long day ahead of you.
However, adding ginger to your diet should be only done after consulting a dietician to determine the adequate amounts in which you should consume ginger. If you are taking any kind of treatment and have to intake medication, only your doctor and physician can suggest to you if ginger is good for you or not.