Ginger has been revered for thousands of years in traditional Asian and Arabic medicine and today, scientific studies continue to find health benefits ranging from stress relief to improved digestion.
The fiery root contains essential oils - such as gingerols and shogaols - is a good source of magnesium, potassium, vitamin B6, copper and manganese, and is rich in antioxidants.
We bring you ten health benefits linked to the rhizome of the plant Zingiber officiale, which was praised by Confucius and became a trending food fad of the Roman Empire:
Combats nausea:
Researchers have found that ginger eases nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness, morning sickness, surgery and chemotherapy.
In one study of 80 new sailors who were prone to motion sickness, those who took powdered ginger had less vomiting and cold sweats than those who took a placebo, said the University of Maryland’s Center for Integrative Medicine.Natural pain relief:
Ginger can reduce symptoms of menstrual pain, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. One study showed that taking a ginger extract at the beginning of the menstrual period reduced pain symptoms in 62 per cent of women.
A study at the University of Sydney found that the active ingredients in ginger directly affected pain pathways and recduced inflammation.
Natural arthritis relief:
Taking ginger can reduce pain in people suffering from osteoarthritis. One study found that taking a ginger extract reduced arthritic pain in the knee after three months of treatment.
Research also showed that a ginger extract could reduce pain and stiffness upon standing and after walking.
Stress reducer:
“Ginger contains potent gingerol, which helps cleanse the harmful chemicals that our bodies produce when we’re worried, so ginger can help psychological stress,” Dietician Alice Mackintosh told the Daily Mail.
Ginger extract showed “significant antidepressant activity” in a study that was published in the International Research Journal of Pharmacy.
sumber dari: smh.com.au
