Ginger (zingiber officinale)

Ginger is a tropical flowering plant with leafy stems and yellowish green flowers. The ginger spice comes from the roots of the plant. It is a herbaceous perennial which grows annual pseudostems (false stems made of the rolled bones of leaves) about one metre tall bearing narrow leaf blades.

The inflorescences bear flowers having pale yellow petals with purple edges, and arise directly from the rhizome on separate shoots.

The rhizome, or ginger root/ginger is widely used as a spice and a folk medicine.

Raw ginger is composed of 79% water, 18% carbohydrates, 2% protein, 1% fat.

In 100 grams (standard amount) raw ginger supplies 333 kilojoules (80 kilocalories) of food energy and contains moderate amounts of Vitamin B6 and dietary minerals, magnesium (12% daily value) and manganese (11% daily value), but otherwise is low in nutrient content.

Health benefits

# Contains gingerol, which has powerful medicinal properties.

Ginger is high in gingerol, a substance with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

# Can treat many forms of nausea, especially morning sickness.

Just 1–1.5 grams of ginger can help prevent various types of nausea, including chemotherapy-related nausea, nausea after surgery, and morning sickness.

# May help with weight loss.

According to studies in animals and humans, ginger may help improve weight-related measurements. These include body weight and the waist-hip ratio.

# Can help with osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common health problem. It involves degeneration of the joints in the body, leading to symptoms such as joint pain and stiffness.

There are some studies showing ginger to be effective at reducing symptoms of osteoarthritis, especially osteoarthritis of the knee.

# May drastically lower blood sugars and improve heart disease risk factors.

Ginger has been shown to lower blood sugar levels and improve various heart disease risk factors in people with type 2 diabetes.

# Can help treat chronic indigestion.

Ginger appears to speed up emptying of the stomach, which can be beneficial for people with indigestion and related stomach discomfort.

# May significantly reduce menstrual pain.

Dysmenorrhea refers to pain felt during the menstrual cycle. One of the traditional uses of ginger is for pain relief, including menstrual pain. Ginger appears to be very effective against menstrual pain when taken at the beginning of the menstrual period.

# May help lower cholesterol levels.

High levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol are linked to an increased risk of heart disease. There’s some evidence, in both humans and animals, that ginger can lead to significant reductions in LDL (bad) cholesterol, total cholesterol, and blood triglyceride levels.

# Contains a substance that may help prevent cancer.

The anti-cancer properties are attributed to gingerol, which is found in large amounts in raw ginger. A form known as gingerol is viewed as especially powerful. There’s some evidence, albeit limited, that ginger may be effective against other gastrointestinal cancers such as pancreatic cancer and liver cancer. It may be effective against breast cancer and ovarian cancer as well.

# May improve brain function and protect against Alzheimer’s disease.

Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation can accelerate the aging process. They are believed to be among the key drivers of Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline.

Some studies suggest that the antioxidants and bioactive compounds in ginger can inhibit inflammatory responses that occur in the brain. Animal studies suggest that ginger can protect against age-related damage to the brain. It can also help improve brain function in middle-aged women.

# Can help fight infections.

Gingerol can help lower the risk of infections. In fact, ginger extract can inhibit the growth of many different types of bacteria. It’s very effective against the oral bacteria linked to gingivitis and periodontitis. These are both inflammatory gum diseases.

Fresh ginger may also be effective against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common cause of respiratory infections. Ginger may help fight harmful bacteria and viruses, which could reduce your risk for infections.