Ginger root is not only delicious herb, but it’s also the herb with the most powerful medicinal properties. Ginger has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties and can improve your cardiovascular health, boost your brain function and prevent nausea. You can use it fresh as an addition to your food or use it to make a cup of delicious and healthy tea.
Fresh Ginger vs. Ground Ginger
If you want to experience the benefits of ginger, you need to learn how to use ginger. Both fresh and ground ginger have numerous health benefits.
Fresh ginger is packed with antioxidants such as shogaols and gingerols, that have been linked to treating diabetes, reducing obesity and anti-cancerous properties.
Drying the ginger and making it powder changes its chemical makeup. Dried ginger has more shogaols and they are more potent in preventing and treating numerous health conditions. One study even showed that ground ginger has 5 times higher antioxidant activity than fresh ginger.
Nutrition Facts
Ginger root is great because it contains antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. It also has over 115 therapeutic compounds.
Here’s the nutritional value of 100g fresh ginger root:
- 80 calories
- 7 g carbohydrates
- 82 g protein
- 2 g fiber
- 7 g sugar
- 16 mg calcium
- 43 mg magnesium
- 415 mg potassium
- 13 mg zinc
- 5 mg vitamin C
Benefits of Ginger and Ginger Tea
1. Reduce pain
Ginger contains pain-relieving properties and analgesic effect. It’s especially helpful for relieving muscle pain after training. It can also reduce the inflammation caused by cardio exercising. Some experts believe that ginger is as effective as ibuprofen.
2. Anti-Inflammatory and can reduce Arthritis symptoms
Ginger contains 6-gingerol, an anti-inflammatory component that inhibits enzymes and substances that cause inflammations. Ginger can help you reduce inflammatory pain caused by osteoarthritis and relieve joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. Scientists found that ginger taken orally has a similar effect as ibuprofen in reducing inflammation and pain.
3. Reduce menstrual cramping and pain
Ginger tea has anti-spasmodic properties and can help you relieve abdominal pain caused by menstruation.
4. Promotes healthy digestion and prevent heartburn
Ginger helps the food to pass through the digestive system easier and faster. Drinking ginger tea or consuming it fresh, can improve your digestion and prevent heartburn. The compounds found in ginger have a beneficial effect on the gastric tract and can reduce spasms.
5. Prevents nausea and vomiting
Shogaols and Gingerols, the main compounds in ginger, can help you soothe the gastrointestinal tract and reduce vomiting and nausea. Ginger has antiemetic properties and can relieve nausea, heartburn and abdominal cramping.
6. Fights infections
Ginger tea has a positive effect on the immune system and can help you fight infections. Scientists have proven that the enzymes and gingerols in ginger root and powder can reduce inflammation caused by viral infections. Another study shows that fresh ginger is better than ground ginger at reducing respiratory viral infections.
7. Lowers blood pressure and keeps the heart healthy
Ginger has anti-hypertension effect that reduces inflammation and protects the heart. Ginger also contains flavonoids which can help you lower your blood pressure.
Ginger Tea Recipe
Improve your overall health with this ginger tea made from fresh ginger root.
- Remove the skin from the ginger. Chop 1 inch piece of ginger root. Put the chopped ginger root in a cup and pour in boiling water. Cover the cup. Let the tea infuse for 5 minutes and then strain it into another cup. You can also add some raw honey if you want to. Drink this tea 2-3 times.
Detox Ginger Lemon Tea Recipe
Here’s what you need to prepare the delicious Ginger Lemon Tea:
- 2 inches ginger root
- 4 cups water
- 2 tbsp. lemon juice
- Some honey or Stevia
Chop the ginger root and infuse it with boiled water for 5 minutes Add the honey and lemon juice and mix.