Ginger has been prized for centuries for its strong, spicy flavor and for its health benefits. Many kids grow up loving gingerbread cookies, ginger snaps, and ginger ale, and ginger is a favorite ingredient in many Asian dishes.
Ginger tea can be a great stimulant in the morning and can give a kick without added caffeine. It is worthwhile to add ginger to your diet because of its health benefits.
Ginger can ease the stomach, aid digestion, and fight nausea caused by the flu or travel sickness. Athletes prize ginger for its ability to soothe muscles and ease aches and pains. This root contains many trace minerals that are often missing from most diets and can provide antioxidants that can fight free radicals. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can fight fungal infections and can battle infections. Ginger cleanses the blood and can lower blood cholesterol levels and can regulate blood sugar.
1. Relieves Nausea
If you have a sudden, queasy feeling, try drinking some ginger tea or eating sweetened ginger root. Ginger has been long prized for its ability to relieve nausea. Those who are vulnerable to travel sickness, pregnant women who may vomit frequently during pregnancy or cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy may benefit from consuming more ginger.
A study showed that patients having chemotherapy treatment who took ginger in powder form reported a 40% reduction in their nausea symptoms. You can try ginger for nausea in other foods such as ginger snaps or ginger ale, but make sure it contains enough of the real thing and is not just ginger flavoring.
Taking a bit before the expected onset of nausea can be effective, and using ginger after you start to feel sick can also be helpful. The research doesn’t reveal the reason this root fights nausea, but tests show it does the trick.