Ginger is a root spice that’s been used as a remedy in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. The benefits of ginger include curing and preventing of nausea due to morning and motion sickness, treating upset stomach, reducing gas, stimulating saliva and improving digestion. It also aids in assimilation of nutrients, boosts the immune system,improves blood circulation, revs up the metabolism, relieves arthritis joint and muscle pain, relieves menstrual cramps, controls blood sugar and lowers blood pressure and also helps people with asthma breathe better.
Other benefits of ginger include stopping the growth of prostate and ovarian cancer cells and also the reduction of colon inflammation.
Georgia State University reported: “Scientists at Georgia State University have found that whole ginger extract has promising cancer-preventing activity in prostate cancer. The first of its kind study looks at the anti-cancer properties of ginger as a whole, rather than that of individual compounds found in the plant. The lab of Ritu Aneja, associate professor of biology, found that the ginger extract had significant effects in stopping the growth of cancer cells, as well as in inducing cell death in a spectrum of prostate cancer cells.”
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The University of Michigan reported: “Suzanna M. Zick, N.D., M.P.H., a research assistant professor at the University of Michigan Medical School and colleagues, enrolled 30 patients and randomly assigned them to two grams of ginger root supplements per day or placebo for 28 days. After 28 days, the researchers measured standard levels of colon inflammation and found statistically significant reductions in most of these markers, and trends toward significant reductions in others.”
In 2006 University of Michigan researchers found that ginger causes ovarian cancer cells to die. “In multiple ovarian cancer cell lines, we found that ginger induced cell death at a similar or better rate than the platinum-based chemotherapy drugs typically used to treat ovarian cancer,” says Jennifer Rhode, M.D., a gynecologic oncology fellow at the U-M Medical School.
Ginger extract was shown to lower cholesterol, inhibits the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and reduce the development of atherosclerosis in mice.
Ginger is a blood thinner and should be carefully used by those taking medications that prevent blood clotting such as Coumadin.
Ginger can be found in nearly every grocery store. It keeps fresher longer when refrigerated. It can also be frozen for longer storage. Ginger is an excellent addition for juices like carrot or apple, smoothies, soups, salads, dressings, teas and other recipes.
Ginger is a cousin of another powerful spice turmeric.