The Positive effects of Ginger......

Ginger, the slang for those cute little auburn headed children running through the yard? A sultry red head from Gilligan’s Island, or a versatile plant with surprising health benefits. While all are correct, I am going to concentrate on the plant.   This Southeast Asian plant, which resembles bamboo in appearance, is a fragrant spice made from the rhizome or root of the plant. It can be chopped or powdered for cooking, preserved in syrup, or candied. My personal favorite is sliced thinly on sushi.  Ginger is also used in drinks like tea, beer, or ale. Who hasn’t stirred the bubbles from a glass of ginger ale when they are feeling sick?  For over 2000 years, Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine has recommended the use of ginger to help cure and prevent a number of health problems. It can be used to make foods spicy or as a food preservative. It is also known to promote energy circulation in the body thus increasing our body’s metabolic rate.  Below is a list of the top benefits of Ginger.

Yours in Health –Dr. Daniel DePrince

Lori Shiles

The Benefits of Ginger

• ·         Maintains Normal Blood Circulation. Ginger contains chromium, magnesium and zinc which can help to improve blood flow, as well as help prevent chills, fever, and excessive sweat.

·         Remedies Motion Sickness. Ginger is a known effective remedy for the nausea associated with motion sickness. A study by Danish scientists looked at 80 naval cadets prone to seasickness and found that those given one gram of ginger powder suffered less in a four-hour period then those given a placebo.  Precisely how ginger works is unclear, but at least one study suggested that one of its active compounds, 6-gingerol, enhances “gastrointestinal transport.”

·         Improves absorption. Ginger improves the absorption and stimulation of essential nutrients in the body. It does this by stimulating gastric and pancreatic enzyme secretion.

·         Cold and Flu Prevention. Ginger has been used for thousands of years as a natural treatment for colds and flu around Asia. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that to treat cold and flu symptoms in adults, steep 2 tbsp. of freshly shredded or chopped ginger root in hot water, two to three times a day

 ·         Combats Stomach Discomfort and Nausea.  Ginger is ideal in assisting digestion, thereby improving food absorption and avoiding possible stomach ache.  Ginger has demonstrated a success rate of 75 percent in curing stomach flu and morning sickness.

 ·         Colon Cancer Prevention. A study at the University of Minnesota found that ginger may slow the growth of colorectal cancer cells.

 ·         Reduce Pain and Inflammation. Ginger contains some of the most potent anti-inflammatory fighting substances known and is a natural powerful painkiller. Ginger appears to reduce inflammation in a similar way to aspirin and ibuprofen.

·         Fights Common Respiratory Problems. If you’re suffering from common respiratory diseases such as a cough, ginger aids in expanding your lungs and loosening up phlegm because it is a natural expectorant that breaks down and removes mucus.. That way you can quickly recover from difficulty in breathing.

·         Ovarian Cancer Treatment. Ginger powder induces cell death in ovarian cancer cells.

·         Strengthens Immunity.  Ginger helps improve the immune system. Consuming a little bit ginger a day can help foil potential risk of a stroke by inhibiting fatty deposits from the arteries. It also decreases bacterial infections in the stomach, and helps battle a bad cough and throat irritation.