This article was originally published on WHerMoments
If you’re not yet on the ginger tea hype, you should be. There’s nothing more comforting at the end of a long day than settling in for a nice cup of hot ginger tea. It tastes great, it’s comforting, it’s warm, and it just makes you feel good. And that’s because it really is good for you! Ginger tea has a whole range of amazing benefits, and they go far beyond what you might expect.
A versatile item
One of the great things about ginger in general is how easy it is to incorporate into your diet. You can get it in a whole range of different forms, be it fresh, dried, or as a powder or oil.
And you can use it as an ingredient when cooking your dinner. But one of the simplest ways to avail yourself of its perks is to drink it as a tea.
Making your tea
To make your ginger tea, it’s really very simple. All you need to do is take about an inch of fresh ginger and cut it into fine slices; don’t worry about peeling it, but it’s a good idea to scrub off any dirt first. For a more intense flavor, go with the saucepan method: throw your ginger slices into a pan with some boiling water and simmer for around five minutes; then strain it into a mug.
Or, if you’re in a rush, just boil some water in a kettle and pour it directly into a mug over your ginger slices. For some added flavor, try adding some lemon or honey to your tea.
An old tonic
Ginger has been helping people for a long, long time.
Cultures long ago figured out how useful it was for treating a whole range of ailments, though their scientific understanding of what was going on might not have been totally up to scratch. Nowadays, though, scientists can tell us exactly why the root is so good.
The power of gingerol
We know today that ginger contains a compound called “gingerol,” which is what’s behind a lot of the root’s health benefits. Gingerol acts as an anti-inflammatory in the body, plus it also possesses antioxidant properties.
That’s all well and good, of course, but what does it all mean for us practically?
The big benefit
Let’s start with the big benefit of gingerol. The compound is great for keeping our digestive systems ticking along as they should, which means food doesn’t stay in our bodies for longer than necessary. And that means it’s amazing for treating nausea.
That’s an especially useful thing for people who have just had surgery, are undergoing chemotherapy, or who are pregnant and experiencing morning sickness.
Take care
The evidence is compelling. Studies focused on pregnant women have been conducted, and the findings suggest as little as 1.1 grams of ginger can really help to alleviate nausea. Of course, caution should always be exercised.
Ginger is widely considered to be safe to consume, but pregnant people especially should speak to their doctors before they start taking a lot of ginger.
Eases indigestion
If you’ve ever suffered from indigestion, you don’t need anyone to tell you how uncomfortable it can be. What might be useful, though, is to know that there are some things that can help.
And ginger can be really great for easing things along. So, pour yourself a cup of ginger tea if you find yourself feeling bloated.
Cleared out
Ginger helps to speedily clear food out of the stomach. So, that means it’s great for dealing with the onset of indigestion: the evidence is there to prove it.
Studies have indicated that ginger really does reduce the amount of time it takes a person’s stomach to process food.
Helps keep weight down
And anyone hoping to lose a little weight might consider sipping on some ginger tea, as a 2019 literature review cited by website Healthline has indicated.
According to this review, the presence of ginger can help to bring down a person’s body weight. Plus, it encourages a healthy ratio between the size of a person’s waist and their hips.
Bringing down BMI
Another study undertaken in 2016 found that women considered to be obese were aided by consuming ginger. It apparently helped to bring down their body mass index (BMI) and the levels of their blood insulin.
Research like this is promising, but more will be necessary before the link is conclusively proved.
Good for diabetics
This is an emerging focus of research, but some scientists are beginning to think ginger might be great for people with diabetes.
A 2015 study, for instance, indicated that a couple of grams of ginger a day significantly brought down blood-sugar levels. It’s also thought it might reduce the chances of developing heart disease.
Lowers cholesterol
High levels of bad cholesterol can be a major risk factor for the onset of heart disease. But in very high dosages, ginger has been shown by researchers to bring down bad cholesterol.
It’s been noted, though, that the amounts of ginger required were really high, so maybe this isn’t a surefire solution.
Eases symptoms of osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis can be a nasty condition, causing a person’s joints to become stiff and sore. It’s a common issue, though, so lots of people will be looking for relief.
And, it turns out, ginger might just help with that, too. With minimal side-effects, consuming ginger really might ease joint pain for people.
Eases menstrual pain
Women who suffer with menstrual pain should also consider incorporating a cup of ginger tea into their routine. Having said that, it might be even better to take it another way — maybe in the form of a powder.
One study has suggested that doses of ginger were actually as effective as over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen at reducing menstrual pain.
Helps prevent certain cancers
Gingerol is beneficial in all sorts of ways, but this point is up there with the most promising.
The evidence is, at present, fairly minimal, but there are indications that gingerol might help to ward off certain types of cancer. That would be amazing, of course, but more research is required.
Helps protect from Alzheimer’s
Ginger is also said to be good for our brains. It might specifically help to keep us protected from the nasty effects of Alzheimer’s disease, which is thought to be driven by inflammation and oxidative stress.
Research focused on animals has indicated that ginger’s compounds might help to keep these processes in check.
Good for the brain
Ginger may also be good for our brains in a more general sense.
A study from 2012 — which was focused on healthy females in their middle age — suggested that memory and reaction time saw some improvements when ginger was consumed every day. Animal studies have also pointed towards similar findings.
Helps prevent infections
Gingerol is also thought to be good at reducing bacterial growth. In other words, it can help to protect you from infections. An example suggested by a study in 2008 is that it might help to prevent different types of gum disease.
But the potential goes beyond that: the chances of respiratory infections developing are also thought to be reduced by ginger.
A tasty ingredient
All in all, then, it’s pretty clear that ginger can be great for our health, so you should get sipping on a hot, steaming cup of it whenever you can.
But if you don’t actually like the taste of the drink, there are other ways of reaping the benefits. It can add great flavor to all sorts of dishes, so look up some recipes.
Chat to a doc
Now, it’s not all necessarily good. Some people have reported feeling bloated after consuming ginger, and it can also lower blood pressure.
That means care should always be exercised and it should be taken, as with everything, in moderation. And if you have any underlying health issues, consult your doctor first.
Hemophilia caution
For instance, people who suffer from Hemophilia, a rare bleeding disorder, may want to avoid eating ginger. As stated by news agency NDTV in 2018, “Hemophilia is a rare condition which prevents the ability of the blood to clot.
Though blood clots can be risky in some conditions, it is still important for the body. Loss of an ability to clot can lead to excessive bleeding due to a minute cut or injury.”
Reduce vomiting
However, there’s more good news. According to a 2011 study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, ginger and its metabolites tend to gather in our gastrointestinal tract.
And this is probably why the plant is so good for our digestion. Did you know the properties in the root actually encourage food to work through our bodies?
Preventing nausea
The fact that ginger works especially well in this area of our bodies actually makes it a good treatment for nausea.
The website ImmuneSchein Ginger Elixirs, for example, points to clinical trials claiming ginger can reduce vomiting as a result of pregnancy, indigestion, and motion sickness.
Goodbye, gas
And there’s also evidence to suggest that ginger gets rid of the gas produced during the digestive process, too. Yes, it appears that enzymes in the root help the gas to disperse.
This means it doesn’t hang around in your tract, causing discomfort or embarrassing wind. Some research suggests the root can treat constipation as well.
Herbal remedy
Some people swear by ginger as a herbal remedy for common colds and flus, too. There’s only been a little research into this topic, but studies reveal there may be some truth in it.
Two papers in 2013 investigated ginger’s effectiveness in tackling fluey symptoms. The first studied how the consumption of the root impacted a virus affecting the lungs.
Protecting the respiratory system
The researchers tried both dried and fresh ginger — and both had different results. The fresh variety did have a positive effect on the lungs, nose, and throat area.
But dried ginger wasn’t nearly as beneficial. And a second study from that year looked at herbal medicine as a whole.
Polling pharmacy users
For this investigation, researchers asked 300 pharmacy users across two groups about the effectiveness of herbal medicines in tackling flu and colds.
Of those, 69 percent confirmed that they’d used these kinds of remedies, and the majority of them said they’d felt the benefits of what they’d taken. So, while the poll didn’t have any conclusive evidence about ginger specifically, it’s an interesting result all the same.
Crystallized ginger
As well as ginger tea, you can also make something called crystallized ginger. All you have to do is simply cook the root in hot sugary water and then roll it in — yep, you guessed it — more sugar.
Or, you can pickle the ginger by soaking it in vinegar. This dish is called gari in Japan and is served between courses.
An ancient food
People have been taking advantage of ginger’s health benefits for centuries. You see, the people of ancient Greece, India, and China swore by the root and its special properties.
And they even cultivated it as a form of medicine — thinking it to be a great addition to anyone’s diet.
Coming to the west
You might be wondering, then, how ginger came to this side of the globe. Well, we have the Silk Road to thank for that. For those of you unfamiliar with its history, this passage was an established trade route formed more than 2,000 years ago.
Both goods and religions traveled its path from east to west and vice versa. And one time, ginger must have formed part of the cargo.
An instant hit
When ginger arrived on Western shores thanks to China, it was soon picked up in Europe. People on the continent apparently took a liking to its taste.
And according to Encyclopedia Britannica, it had some interesting uses — hiding the flavor of preserved meat, for one.
Staving off the plague
Though that’s not to say ginger’s health properties were entirely ignored in Europe. It’s believed Henry VIII ate it to ward off the plague, for instance.
We know he’s not exactly a good role model for a healthy lifestyle! But it seems the English king was right about the potential health benefits of ginger.
Versatile root
It’s thought the Europeans developed their own recipes for gingerbread by the end of the Middle Ages. But they weren’t quite as on it as the Greeks, who had been eating the yummy snack for more than 1,000 years already! These societies no doubt discovered that the humble root has plenty of other uses, too.
We certainly know this today. And we also know just know easy it is to incorporate ginger into our diets — in tea or in its other forms.
Daily boost of health
So there you have it! If you don’t have any underlying conditions, adding ginger to your daily diet may help improve your health.
And not just in the immediate future; the weird little root can help tackle diseases further down the line, too. So get the kettle on and make yourself a nice hot cup of ginger tea.
Add cinnamon or turmeric to your ginger tea
If you’re looking to mix your ginger tea up a little, why not try adding some cinnamon? Just throw a cinnamon stick into your saucepan with the ginger and water before boiling. We also suggest combining your ginger with another spice that offers a multitude of health benefits: turmeric.
Just cut it into slices like the ginger and add it to your tea. Like ginger, it’s known for its anti-inflammatory properties.