Top Seven Benefits of Ginger

Throughout history, people have recognized the health benefits of ginger, a flowering plant with Chinese origins. Traditional and alternative medicine practitioners have used it to treat various ailments. Whether it’s fresh, powdered, dried, peeled, an oil or juice, ginger has been used to add flavor to various dishes and beverages, and Health magazine notes that the spice is packed with vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc.

The section of ginger’s stem that is underground – ginger root – is what people typically use as a spice, according to Healthline, which highlighted some of the health benefits of ginger:

1. Ginger has natural oils, and one of these, gingerol, gives ginger its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
2. Some studies have shown that ginger’s anti-inflammatory properties may be effective in reducing the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
3. Ginger’s active ingredient, gingerol, can be helpful in fighting infections.
4. Ginger is used to treat many types of nausea, including nausea after surgery, nausea from chemotherapy, sea sickness and morning sickness. However, if you’re pregnant, talk to your doctor before you take ginger.
5. Ginger might be helpful in reducing muscle pain and soreness from exercise.
6. People with chronic indigestion have reported that ginger helped them to empty their stomachs faster and reduce their discomfort.
7. When it’s taken at the start of the menstrual period, ginger might be effective at reducing menstrual pain.

Consult your health care provider before you take ginger for any of the health conditions mentioned above or for other medical problems.