By Dr. Mercola
Ginger has been used medicinally for
centuries and in the U.S. is perhaps most known for its ability to
soothe nausea and stomach upset.
It is without a doubt the best remedy I
know of for nausea. You don’t need much just a piece the size of your
fingernail minced very finely and swallowed. It is phenomenally
effective.
But now new research suggests this
natural root may provide help for much more, including for arthritis
pain, heart health, and people with asthma, in whom ginger may enhance
the effects of the bronchodilating medications conventionally used to
treat their condition. It may even be useful for weight control!
Ginger is Anti-Inflammatory and May Provide
Pain Relief
Ginger’s anti-inflammatory
properties have made it a valuable tool in pain relief for centuries. In
2001, research showed that ginger extract helped reduce knee pain in
people with osteoarthritis.1
And earlier this year a study
found that women athletes taking three grams of ginger or cinnamon daily
(that’s less than one teaspoon) had a significant decrease in muscle
soreness.2
Ginger has even been found to be as effective as ibuprofen in relieving
pain from menstrual cramps in women.3
Furthermore, the pain-relieving
potential of ginger appears to be far-reaching. Along with help for
muscle and joint pain, for instance, ginger has been found to reduce the
severity of migraine headaches as well as the migraine medication
Sumatriptan – with fewer side effects.4
Ginger Helps Treat Asthma Symptoms
Another recent study, which was
presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference,
found that adding ginger compounds to isoproterenol, a type of asthma
medication called a beta-agonist, enhanced its bronchodilating effects.
Conventional asthma treatment typically
consists of a non-steroidal bronchodilator, an anti-inflammatory agent
that you inhale, which causes the smooth muscle cells in your lungs to
relax.
This helps to open up your airways. If
that doesn't t work, the next step is typically an inhaled steroid,
which is a very potent anti-inflammatory agent.
Part of the explanation for ginger's
benefits for asthma are its potent antioxidant activity, which is
attributed to constituents such as gingerols, shogaols and zingerones.
It is believed that these compounds have particular anti-inflammatory
and analgesic properties similar to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs).
Because ginger enhances bronchodilation,
it may provide a much safer alternative, or at least adjunct, to current
medications on the market, which is badly needed. While asthma is a
serious condition that can be fatal if left untreated, asthma
medications themselves carry serious, even lethal side effects.
For example, the common asthma drug
Advair contains the long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) salmeterol, which
can actually increase the severity of an asthma attack
as well as the risk of death from asthma problems.
The drug used in the above-mentioned
study, isoproterenol, was also linked to an epidemic of asthma deaths
that occurred in the 1960s, whereas conventional asthma treatments have
also been found to increase your risk of heart disease, cataracts and
osteoporosis, just to name a few of the additional risks.
If you have asthma, I suggest looking
into
The Buteyko Method, which teaches you how to bring your breathing
volume back toward normal or, in other words, to reverse what’s called
chronic hyperventilation or chronic overbreathing. When your breathing
is normal, you have better oxygenation of tissues and organs.
Ginger for Nausea and Motion Sickness
Ginger is wonderful for your
gastrointestinal tract, as it is both carminative (preventing
flatulence) and an intestinal spasmolytic (meaning it prevents spasms by
soothing your intestinal tract). If you struggle with motion sickness
or nausea (from pregnancy or chemotherapy, for example), ginger should
be a staple in your diet. Research shows:
- Taking one gram of ginger
daily may help reduce nausea and vomiting in pregnant women, and
ginger has been shown to work better than a placebo in relieving
morning sickness5
- Daily ginger supplementation
reduces the severity of chemotherapy-induced nausea6
- Ginger may help reduce
vomiting and other symptoms of motion sickness7
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Articles
Ginger May be Useful for Diabetics
If you have diabetes or
pre-diabetes, listen up. Ginger appears to be useful both preventively
and therapeutically for this condition, via effects on insulin release
and action, and improved carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. According to
one comprehensive review, one study found that after consuming three
grams of dry ginger powder for 30 days, diabetic participants had a
significant reduction in blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol
and LDL cholesterol.8
It’s thought that ginger has a positive effect on diabetes because it:
- Inhibits enzymes in carbohydrate
metabolism
- Increases insulin release and
sensitivity
- Improves lipid profiles
Ginger also has a protective effect on
diabetes complications, including offering protection to the diabetic’s
liver, kidneys, central nervous system and eyes.
Ginger Promotes Feelings of Satiety and
Helps Control Hunger
Adding yet another benefit to this
wonderfully warming spice, ginger has been shown to enhance
thermogenesis and reduce feelings of hunger, offering a potential role
in weight management.9
Like cayenne pepper and turmeric, ginger may temporarily increase
thermogenesis in your body, where your body burns fuel such as fat to
create heat, with obviously beneficial impacts on metabolism and fat
storage. Research suggests that consuming thermogenic ingredients may
boost your overall metabolism by up to 5 percent, and increase fat
burning by up to 16 percent.10
It may even help counteract the decrease in metabolic rate that often
occurs during weight loss.
Even More Reasons to Eat Ginger …
Ginger has broad-spectrum
antibacterial, anti-viral, antioxidant and anti-parasitic properties, to
name just several of its more than 40 pharmacological actions.11
According to research compiled by GreenMedInfo,12
ginger may also be useful for:
- Improving cognitive function
in middle-aged women13
- Protecting against
respiratory viruses14
- Reducing vertigo15
- Enhancing fat digestion and
absorption16
- Protecting against toxic
effects of environmental chemicals, such as parabens17
Over the past decade, researchers have
also discovered that
ginger may offer potent cardiovascular benefits by:
- Preventing atherosclerosis
- Lowering cholesterol levels
- Preventing oxidation of low density
lipoprotein (LDL)
Finally, research published in the
British Journal of Nutrition18
has demonstrated the in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity of ginger,
suggesting it may be effective in the management of prostate cancer.
How to Use Ginger
If you’ve never used fresh ginger before
you may find the gnarly brown root somewhat intimidating – but it’s
incredibly easy to use. One of the simplest ways is to chop off a couple
of inches of ginger root and let it steep in hot water for fresh ginger
tea. You can also peel the root using a paring knife and then slice it
thinly (or mince it) to add to tea or cooked dishes.
When left unpeeled, fresh ginger can be
stored in your refrigerator for at least three weeks or in your freezer
for six months or longer, making it incredibly easy to keep on hand. Try
experimenting by adding fresh ginger and other warming spices, like
cinnamon, to a cup of tea in the morning, evening or after a meal … and
see if you notice any of the health benefits I’ve just described.