Powerful Healing Food: Ginger

Native to southeastern Asia, ginger (Zingiber officinale) is  famous  for its aromatic, culinary and medicinal properties. Ginger’s  benefits as a healing food are well known in traditional Chinese medicine and the plant often is called as “the universal medicine.” It was described in Ancient Chinese, Indian and Middle Eastern books. In China, ginger has been used since the 4th century BC in remedies for nausea, cold, coughs, and digestive distress.  Ginger has become popular in Europe after the Ancient Romans imported ginger from China almost two thousand years ago. Spanish explorers introduced ginger to the West Indies, Mexico and South America and later was exported back to Europe. Today, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, and Australia are the largest producers of ginger.

Ginger is an excellent source of magnesium, manganese, potassium, copper and vitamin B6.  Ginger contains active and powerful antioxidants such as polyphenolic compounds called gingerols. Ginger extract constituents have anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects on cells.

Health benefits of ginger include alleviation of all symptoms associated with motion sickness including dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and cold sweating. Ginger is good for the lungs, kidneys and upset stomach. Ginger contains some chemical compounds that stimulate the pancreas to secrete specific enzymes which enhance digestion.

Ginger contains chemical substances that lower blood cholesterol levels, have a blood thinning effect, alleviate hypertension and protect against the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Gingerols are anti-inflammatory compounds that are very effective in osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.  Gingerols inhibit the pro-inflammatory compounds produced by cells comprising the synovial lining of the joints, cells comprising joint cartilage and leukocytes.  Scientific research has been shown that gingerols have anti-bacterial properties to inhibit the growth of Helicobacter pylori, involved in the development of gastric and colon cancer and suppress the growth of human colorectal carcinomas.

Ginger is one of world’s healthiest foods to be consumed freshly grated, dried ground or as a tea. Eat fresh ginger root and drink a lot of ginger tea to feel its healing powers!