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Say one time-tested home remedy that can keep us fit, fine and beautiful, and ginger will surely top the list. The easily available spice with a strong, pungent flavor can do lots of goods to our health, skin, and hair. Don’t believe me. See yourself:
Why is Ginger so special?
Ginger is a wonder spice, and its origin can be traced back to southeast Asia. Enriched with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, it is widely used in traditional medicines, including Ayurveda. Embracing ginger in your daily diet may improve your overall health, promote hair growth and preserve skin’s collagen level. Aren’t these enough to make ginger a staple in your diet? Let’s unveil the truth behind ginger.
Health Benefits Of Ginger
Being a potent therapeutic ingredient, ginger has been widely used as natural medicine. It not only cures a number of ailments effectively but also prevents them from relapsing. Here are the health benefits one can enjoy by including ginger in his / her regular diet:
- Ginger has good antihistamine properties, making it a good remedy for cold, cough, sore throat, congested nose, flu, asthma, and other respiratory system-related problems. It restrains the contraction of the respiratory tract and stimulates mucus secretion to give us relief from allergies. (1)
- Ginger root is a wonderful anti-inflammatory agent that keeps the sensation of nausea away. Studies have proved that it can treat seasickness, morning sickness in pregnant women, and chemotherapy-induced nausea in cancer patients as powerfully as vitamin 6. (2)
- If you are suffering from chronic digestion issues or heartburn, ginger can be your savior. It makes protein breakdown faster, improves food absorption by boosting enzyme secretion, facilitates the assimilation of vital nutrients in cells, and increases mucus secretion for averting ulcers. The carminative qualities of the ingredient make it a great anti-flatulence agent, which helps in treating problems like indigestion, upset stomach, bloating, etc. Last but not least, ginger also stimulates appetite by perking up the flow of digestive juices. (3)
- Daily consumption of ginger can help us manage our blood glucose levels efficiently. It is also known to decrease the chance of diabetic nephropathy (severe damage of kidney due to diabetes) considerably. (4)
- Several pieces of research have concluded that incorporating ginger in a daily diet can inhibit the procedure of brain cell loss. It also plays a key role in protecting and preserving brain cells, which eventually prevents Alzheimer’s Disease. (5)
- Your weight loss journey can be safe and smooth with the help of ginger roots. It works as an amazing natural fat burner and helps our body eliminate even the most stubborn fat deposits. It also keeps us filled for long so that we do not eat too much or end up getting overweight.
- When it comes to strengthening our immune system naturally, ginger is considered one of the best solutions. It enhances our immunity so that our body does not become prone to developing infections or other diseases frequently.
- Ginger-infused tea is a go-to medicine for lots of women during their menstrual cycles. It can actually reduce menstrual cramps and provide relief from acute pain.
- The intense pain of a migraine can be treated naturally and effectively with ginger root. According to scientists, it slows down the functions of prostaglandins in our body, which reduces inflammation of blood vessels, thereby alleviating pain to a greater extent. (6)
- Being loaded with antioxidants, ginger can stop ovarian and colon cancer if used during early stages. It mainly causes apoptosis or autophagy in which either the cancer cells are destroyed by themselves or get digested by the enzymes, thereby curing the ailment. (7)
- Ginger is touted for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic qualities, which help treat joint pain and swelling. It eases the symptoms and eliminates the need of using painkillers in cases of severe rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, tendonitis, etc. (8)
Skin Benefits Of Ginger
Not only health issues, but gingerbread is also used to treat several skin issues. Read on below to know more about why it should be included in your skincare routine:
- Protect your skin from aging by consuming ginger regularly. (9) It holds more than 40 antioxidants, which fight off damaging free radicals and remove toxic materials from our body, promote blood circulation in cells to increase oxygen and nutrient supply, and shield against the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun to maintain skin elasticity. All these help reduce dullness, age spots, fine lines, wrinkles, etc., thereby preserving the firmness and youthfulness of our skin.
- Forget commercial skin toners, as ginger can serve your purpose even better. It possesses astringent properties that aid in skin toning, thereby giving us a firm, nourished, and glowing appearance.
- The topical application of ginger can soothe and heal skin burns fast. So whether you are suffering from sunburn, blister, or any other type of abrasion, using ginger will give you immediate results.
- The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties of ginger can keep our skin clean and breakout-free by warding acne-causing bacteria off.
- Ginger makes treatment of hypopigmented (white) scars easy by gradually restoring the natural pigmentation of the affected part of the skin.
Also Read – Know about Hypopigmented Scars and Their Treatment with Ginger
Hair Benefits Of Ginger
Replace your expensive hair care products with simple natural ginger oil as it can improve your hair health to a large extent. We’ve got you covered here:
- Massage your scalp with ginger-infused herbal oil to promote blood circulation throughout it and stimulate the hair follicles for encouraging the growth of hair fibers. It also shows promising results as a natural hair loss treatment due to the same reason.
- Ginger can make dry and brittle hair stronger, silkier and shinier while nourishing and conditioning the strands from inside.
- The issue of the dry, flaky scalp can be resolved completely with the help of ginger. In addition, the antiseptic properties of the spice can avert infections and make the scalp healthy for better hair growth.
Summary:
The multifaceted health benefits of ginger make it a wonder spice. Be it indigestion or providing relief from stress, cold, cough, sore throat, congested nose, flu, or asthma, ginger is loaded with all the good constituents. Moreover, its anti-aging properties can inhibit the signs of aging effectively. Topical application of ginger oil can perhaps improve hair health to a large extent.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is ginger good for your face?
Ginger is loaded with anti-aging properties and can be applied as a face fack when mixed with other ingredients like honey, lemon, etc. However, it is recommended to do a patch test before applying ginger to your face.
Can you apply ginger directly to the skin?
Yes, you can; however, a diluted version is much preferred to avoid any side effects on your skin.
Does ginger lighten skin?
Yes, diluted ginger juice can be directly applied to lighten acne scars. This is because its main compound, antioxidant gingerol, is responsible for promoting even skin tone.
Is ginger good for hair growth?
Ginger oil is considered good for hair growth. So if you are having problems with dry, brittle hair or flaky scalp, embrace ginger oil in your beauty regimen.
References:
- “How ginger can help with a cold” – medicalnewstoday.com
- “Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition.” – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “Ginger in gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review of clinical trials” – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “The Effects of Ginger on Fasting Blood Sugar, Hemoglobin A1c, Apolipoprotein B, Apolipoprotein A-I and Malondialdehyde in Type 2 Diabetic Patients” – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “Ginger components as new leads for the design and development of novel multi-targeted anti-Alzheimer’s drugs: a computational investigation” – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “Ginger Capsules for the Acute Treatment of Migraine Attacks” -clinicaltrials.gov
- “The Inhibitory Effect of Ginger Extract on Ovarian Cancer Cell Line; Application of Systems Biology” – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “Ginger for Arthritis: Should I Give It a Try?” – healthline.com
- “Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) in the Prevention of Ageing and Degenerative Diseases: Review of Current Evidence” – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
