Aside from being a spice for cooking, the health benefits of ginger have long been known to help overcome various conditions, ranging from menstrual pain, nausea during pregnancy, joint pain, and strengthening the body's immune system.
Ginger is a plant native to Southeast Asia. This plant is included in the Zingiberaceae family, so it is still related to other herbal plants such as turmeric, cutcherry, and galangal.
The Nutrient of Ginger
Ginger is known for its distinctive aroma, so it is commonly used as a cooking ingredient as well as an alternative medicine in China, India, and the Middle East. In 100 grams of ginger, the following nutrients are contained.
- Water 55 g.
- Energy 51 kcal.
- Protein 1.5 g.
- Fat 1 g.
- Carbohydrate 10.1 g.
- Fiber 12 g.
- Calcium 21 mg.
- Phosphorus 39 mg.
- Iron 1.6 mg.
- Sodium 12 mg.
- Potassium 441.7 mg.
- Copper 0.48 mg.
- Total carotene 9 mcg.
- Zinc 0.7 mg.
- Thiamin (vitamin B1) 0.02 mg.
- Riboflavin (vitamin B2) 0.17 mg.
- Niacin (vitamin B3) 3.3 mg.
- Vitamin C 4 mg.
Health Benefits of Ginger
Ginger is an herbal plant that is easily found around us. This plant has various benefits for the body. What are the benefits of ginger? Here is the list.
1. Reduces Nausea
One of the benefits of ginger is to reduce nausea and vomiting, whether it's dealing with nausea during pregnancy (morning sickness) or due to traveling by car.
This benefit comes from the spice's activity in increasing the movement of food through the gastrointestinal system and blocking serotonin receptors in the gut lining. These mechanisms help calm the nerves that trigger the vomit reflex.
2. Weight Loss
Research shows that women who consumed 2 grams of ginger powder for 12 weeks were able to experience weight loss. So the following benefits of ginger also help you maintain a stable weight, and can even be one of the ingredients that can help your diet program.
3. Relieve Osteoarthritis Symptoms
The next health benefit of red ginger is that it relieves osteoarthritis symptoms. This is due to its anti-inflammatory effects. Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory condition in the joints that is often characterized by joint pain and joint stiffness. In severe cases, the pain can cause paralysis.
According to a study in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, people with osteoarthritis can consume 500 mg of ginger water daily for 3 to 12 weeks.
4. Relieve Menstrual Pain
Several studies have shown that ginger can help reduce menstrual pain due to its analgesic or anti-pain effects. This property is as effective as the drugs Ibuprofen and mefenamic acid.
So if you often feel pain during menstruation, try consuming approximately 500 to 2,000 mg of ginger extract for 3 days at the beginning of menstruation.
In addition, the anti-pain effect can also be used to relieve headaches and back pain.
5. Strengthens the Immune System
Perhaps you have often heard that if you want to have a strong immune system, one of the efforts is to drink ginger water regularly. This is not without reason, because ginger does contain vitamin C and magnesium, which can strengthen the immune system.
In addition, ginger also contains gingerols, shogaols, and zingerones, which are useful as antioxidants for the body.
6. Overcoming Digestive Problems
The health benefits of ginger for stomach acid are able to prevent and overcome digestive problems. This is because the phenolic content in it functions to relieve symptoms of gastrointestinal irritation, stimulate salivation, prevent stomach contractions, and smooth the movement of food and drinks while in digestion.
In addition, ginger is also said to have a carminative effect, which is a substance that can help remove excess gas in the digestive system. Thus, digestive problems such as colic and dyspepsia can be overcome.
Furthermore, some studies have shown that ginger extract can prevent colon cancer because ginger has anti-tumor effects. So, it is safe to say that ginger can help you take care of your digestive organs naturally.
7. Helps Fight Infection
The gingerols, shogaols, and paradols in ginger have antibacterial properties. These compounds can help the body fight bacteria. A study published in Phytotherapy Research showed that ginger extract is effective in fighting oral bacteria that cause gingivitis and periodontitis.
Gingivitis is an inflammatory condition in the soft tissue around the teeth due to plaque buildup, inviting bacteria to thrive. If not treated immediately, the number of bacteria will increase, and an infection will occur.
Periodontitis is an infection of the gums that damages the soft tissue and destroys the bone supporting the teeth.
8. Maintain Blood Sugar Levels
Consuming ginger regularly is also effective in maintaining stable blood sugar levels. Ginger reduces the enzymes that break down carbohydrates, helping the body metabolize glucose.
In addition, gingerol compounds also encourage muscles to absorb glucose so that the body does not need to produce extra insulin. Normally, insulin is produced to regulate blood sugar so that levels are not too high.
However, people with type 2 diabetes are often unable to produce enough insulin, so glucose builds up in the bloodstream. Hence, the benefits of ginger can be helpful for diabetics.
Side Effects of Ginger to Consider
Ginger does offer many benefits for the body. Yet, you should still pay attention to the side effects if you consume too much of it. The limit for consuming ginger is 4 grams per day.
Overconsuming ginger can cause you to have an upset stomach, hot flashes, heartburn, and diarrhea. Furthermore, consuming this spice along with blood-thinning drugs is also prohibited because it can cause dangerous drug interactions.
So, before adding ginger to your daily diet, you should consult your doctor first, especially for pregnant women and people with certain health conditions.
Another important thing to note is that when choosing ginger for traditional medicine, choose fresh ginger, which has a solid structure, is smooth, and is not moldy. If you choose powdered ginger, make sure the powder is pure without added sugar to get the full benefits of ginger.
These are the various health benefits of ginger that you should know. You can serve this spice by making tea, chewing it directly, or adding it to dishes.
It is mentioned that the health benefits of ginger can overcome various diseases. But no less important, how to maintain a healthy body naturally is to drink water regularly.
The benefits of drinking water include improving the digestive system, maintaining a stable body weight, and preventing the body from various diseases. Therefore, start your healthy life by choosing AQUA as your high-quality mineral water.
AQUA comes from selected mountain water sources and has met the standards of Decree of Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia Number 907 of 2002 regarding drinking water fit for consumption, so its quality is unquestionable.
The content and purity of AQUA water are also always maintained because AQUA is committed to protecting the ecosystem around its water sources, specifically more than 1500 species of flora and fauna.
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