PROVEN HEALTH BENEFITS OF GINGER
Introduction Ginger is a spice originated from the rhizomes of the plant Zingiber officinale. It is commonly used in cooking in many Asian, Ayurvedic, and middle eastern cuisines. Ginger is a relative of curcumin. It is most commonly used to treat gastrointestinal issues and is a great food to eat when following the lectin avoidance diet.Ginger may also be used as a pain-reliever and may be used as a treatment for degenerative health disorders.
1) Ginger is an Anti-Inflammatory
Like NSAIDs (aspirin and Advil), ginger blocks the activities of COX enzymes, as well as the production of inflammatory chemicals called leukotrienes and prostaglandins [R, R, R].
Ginger inhibits release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from macrophage in cell studies.
2) Ginger is an Effective Painkiller
Ginger effectively reduces subjective pain reports [R].
2 grams day of ginger may modestly reduce muscle pain from resistance exercise and prolonged running, particularly if taken for a minimum of 5 days [R].
Ginger is as effective as diclofenac (an NSAID pain medication) for pain management, without leading to digestive discomfort [R].
3) Ginger Helps with Menstrual Cramps
Ginger is more effective in reducing pain severity than placebo. In addition, ginger appears to be as effective as mefenamic acid (an NSAID pain medication) [R, R].
4) Ginger Helps with Osteoarthritis
Some research shows that ginger improves the effect of osteoarthritis, while other studies show that ginger is only effective during the first treatment so it more research is necessary to determine the true effectivity [R].5) Ginger Helps with Allergy and Asthma
Ginger is better for people with Th2 dominance.
Zerumbone, an active ingredient in ginger, enhances the Th1 response and helps with Th2 allergic response to egg white protein (albumin) in mice [R].
Ginger helps with asthma by suppressing Th2-mediated immune response in mice [R, R].
Ginger reduces smooth muscle contraction in the airway by reducing acetylcholine-induced contraction [R].
6) Ginger Helps with Eczema
6-Shogaol, a compound found in ginger, alleviates allergic dermatitis (eczema) in mice via cytokine inhibition by activating the Nrf2 pathway [R].Eczema is Th2 dominant condition, so it makes sense that ginger helps.
7) Ginger Promotes Gut Integrity
Ginger increased prostaglandins in the stomach lining (while NSAIDs decrease) in osteoarthritis patients who develop stomach problems from long-term NSAID use [R].Animal studies confirm that ginger reduces stomach lesions, possibly by inhibiting the growth of Helicobacter pylori and through reducing stomach acid secretion [R].
8) Ginger Helps with Nausea and Vomiting
Ginger prevents overactivation of the vagal nerve that triggers nausea and vomiting by inhibiting serotonin function in the digestive tract [R, R].Ginger is an effective non-drug relief for morning sickness during early pregnancy [R, R].
Ginger helps with nausea and vomiting as side effects of medications, including chemotherapy [R, R].
9) Ginger Can Reduce Stomach Discomfort
Ginger stimulates gut flow (peristalsis). However, the exact effects of ginger vary depending on different species of mammals [R].Ginger accelerates stomach emptying into the small intestines in healthy people, so it can help in the case of overeating or indigestion [R].
A small randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial shows that ginger can help with digestive symptoms in people who frequently have an upset stomach (functional dyspepsia) [R].
Ginger does not affect gallbladder movements [R].
Ginger can regulate bowel transit in rats with irritable bowel syndrome [R].
10) Ginger Protects the Liver
Supplementation with ginger, together with alpha-lipoic acid, help slow down age-related structural changes in old rats [R].
Ginger can help protect tuberculosis patients from liver toxicity due to antituberculosis drugs [R].
Ginger protects the kidney and liver against cadmium toxicity in rabbits poisoned with cadmium [R].
Ginger protects against aluminum toxicity in rats [R].
12 weeks of supplementation with two grams of ginger daily significantly reduced several liver enzymes, inflammatory cytokines, and insulin resistance index compared to placebo [R].
Ginger essential oil protects the liver against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and related metabolic diseases induced by high-fat diet in obese mice [R].
Treatment with ginger helps reduce fructose-induced fatty liver and high triglyceride levels in rats by acting through the liver’s carbohydrate sensor [R].
11) Ginger Protects Against Oxidative Stress
Ginger contains many potent antioxidants [R, R].6-shogaol activates Nrf2, thus protects against oxidative stress [R].
Ginger is an effective antioxidant as part of an anti-tuberculosis therapy [R].
... to be continued.
Source: https://www.selfhacked.com
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