Before your next grocery trip, we wanted to tell you about a spice that not only tastes great but also has health benefits, according to Healthgrades.1
Keep an eye out for ginger, which you can find in many forms: fresh, dried, pickled, preserved, crystallized, candied, powdered or ground. It’s a member of the botanical plant family that includes cardamom and turmeric. Ginger is a little bit peppery and sweet and has a powerful, zesty scent.
Double-check with your healthcare provider first before adding a substantial amount of ginger to your diet, says Healthgrades.2 Fresh ginger is recommended because it has the highest concentration of gingerol, which is beneficial to your health when it comes to fighting infections and stopping bacterial growth according to Healthgrades.3
Ginger has been used for thousands of years to treat numerous ailments.4 Let’s take a look at how it could help you:4
- Boost brain function: There are a lot of anti-inflammatory properties of ginger that can help your brain. For example, ginger increases serotonin and dopamine levels. This can reduce inflammation, which may cause depression. Ginger could also provide benefits for anxiety, depression, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Ease stomach pains: Ginger can treat nausea and motion sickness. That’s because the active ingredients in ginger can reach parts of your GI tract that cause stomach issues.
- Fight infections: If you’re fighting food poisoning, gingivitis, a cold or flu, ginger can help get rid of the bacteria in your body that’s causing you trouble.
- Decrease cholesterol: Ginger may help reduce your LDL cholesterol levels. It triggers a specific enzyme that monitors and controls cholesterol levels by increasing how much cholesterol your body uses.
