Ginger is a plant with leafy stems and yellowish green flowers. The ginger spice comes from the roots of the plant.
Ginger is native to warmer parts of Asia, such as China, Japan, and India, but now is grown in parts of South American and Africa. It is also now grown in the Middle East to use as medicine and with food.
Ginger is commonly used for various types of “stomach problems,” including motion sickness, morning sickness, colic, upset stomach, gas, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), nausea, nausea caused by cancer treatment, nausea caused by HIV/AIDS treatment, nausea and vomiting after surgery, as well as loss of appetite.
There are several unknown benefits to this spice from adding flavour to foods, relieving nausea and gastrointestinal irritation, to reducing exercise-induced muscle, pain relief from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis, menstrual pain, and other conditions. However, there is not strong evidence to support the use of ginger for these conditions.
Ginger may have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and other healthful properties. Below are some of the possible medicinal uses of ginger.
In foods and beverages, ginger is used as a flavouring agent.
In manufacturing, ginger is used as for fragrance in soaps and cosmetics.
One of the chemicals in ginger is also used as an ingredient in laxative, anti-gas, and antacid medications.
Ginger also appears to have beneficial effects on the enzyme’s trypsin and pancreatic lipase, which are important for digestion.
Ginger may help increase movement through the digestive tract, suggesting that it may relieve or prevent constipation.
Many people use ginger to help recover from a cold or the flu. However, the evidence supporting this remedy is mostly anecdotal.
In 2013, researchers studied the effects of fresh and dried ginger on one respiratory virus in human cells.
The results indicated that fresh ginger may help protect the respiratory system, while dried ginger did not have the same impact.
Ginger does not provide protein or other nutrients, but it is an excellent source of antioxidants. Studies have shown that, for this reason, ginger can reduce various types of oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress happens when too many free radicals build up in the body. Free radicals are toxic substances produced by metabolism and other factors.
The body needs to eliminate free radicals to prevent them from causing cellular damage that can lead to a range of diseases, including cancer. Dietary antioxidants help the body get rid of free radicals.
Doctors recommend consuming a maximum of 3–4 grams of ginger extract per day. If you’re pregnant, don’t consume more than 1 gram of ginger extract per day. Ginger is not recommended for children under the age of 2.
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