5 Health Benefits of Ginger

For thousands of years, ginger has been used for cooking and healing all over the world. It’s known for adding flavor to cooking recipes, but it also offers several health benefits. Numerous studies have found that ginger can help improve blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, relieve pain, strengthen the immune system, and treat nausea and indigestion. Learn about the benefits of this funky rhizome and how to incorporate it into your life.

Improve Blood Sugar Levels

Ginger contains a potent compound called gingerol. It has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These can help your body better absorb glucose and improve your blood sugar levels. Gingerol can help control insulin production in people with Type 2 diabetes. Insulin is important to move glucose from your bloodstream to your body to make energy. People with Type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or use it properly, so they need to take insulin to regulate their blood sugar levels.

Reduce Inflammation

Ginger can also help ease joint pain and inflammation caused by arthritis. Several studies have shown consuming ginger extract or applying it to joints helps improve pain from arthritis inflammation.

Relieve Pain

Studies have found ginger provides similar pain relief as common pain medications, like aspirin and ibuprofen. For example, consuming fresh ginger helps relieve pain from menstrual cramps. Ginger has a delayed effect, making it more of a long-term pain reliever rather than an immediate one.

Strengthen the Immune System

Ginger is a great source of vital vitamins and minerals, including iron, magnesium, vitamins B6 and C, and zinc. These vitamins and minerals along with ginger’s antioxidant properties can help strengthen your immune system. Gingerol helps ease common cold symptoms, like muscle fatigue and sore throat. It can also help fight symptoms of the flu.

Treat Nausea and Indigestion

Studies have shown ginger helps with various forms of nausea. It can help with morning sickness, motion sickness and the side effects of some chemotherapy treatments. It can also help reduce nausea after a procedure that requires general anesthesia. Ginger helps increase the way food moves through the gastrointestinal tract, fighting off indigestion.

Try It Out

Whether you’re looking to treat your nausea or improve your immune system, adding this spicy rhizome to your diet can help. You can use it fresh, dried, powdered, or as an oil, tea or juice. In large doses, ginger can cause gas, heartburn or diarrhea. If you take prescription medications or have gallbladder issues, talk with your doctor or connect with a Meritas Health family medicine physician before increasing your ginger consumption.

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Suzanne Savage

Suzanne Savage, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, is a family nurse practitioner at Meritas Health North Kansas City. She enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling, trying new recipes and growing vegetables in the summer.