3 reasons why you should eat more ginger

Ginger (lat.Zingiber officinale) is more than just a spice. In traditional Chinese medicine, the tuberous root has been used for medicinal purposes for over 2000 years. In addition to essential oils, ginger is characterised above all by its pungent substances - the gingerols and shogaols. The former are mainly found in fresh ginger. During storage or heating, these are then converted into the significantly more pungent shogaols.

In 2018, Zingiber officinale was even named Medicinal Plant of the Year due to its wide range of medicinal effects. In today's blog post, you can find out how the spice promotes your health.

Ginger ensures a healthy gut

The pungent substances are primarily responsible for the digestive effect. They stimulate the production of saliva and gastric juice, which speeds up digestion. Hildegard von Bingen utilised the stimulating effect of ginger on the gastrointestinal tract as early as the Middle Ages. Taken before meals (for example in the form of tea and our deflating capsules), ginger helps to reduce bloating, for example. Its effect on nausea has also been well researched. Studies show that the tuber is just as effective as synthetic medicines for travel sickness. Ginger is also anti-inflammatory and has a positive effect on inflammatory bowel diseases. Regular consumption of ginger is also said to have a favourable effect on the intestinal flora, as the growth of certain viruses and bacteria is inhibited.

Ginger supports your regeneration after training

A review published in 2011 scrutinised the studies on the pain-relieving effect of ginger. The data from eight studies came to a clear conclusion in six cases: ginger relieves pain. The anti-inflammatory properties are presumably responsible for the analgesic effect. Experts assume that this is due to the inhibition of prostaglandin formation. Prostaglandins are messenger substances that promote inflammation and play a role in the transmission of pain. Ginger powder has been successfully used for dental, menstrual and muscle pain, among other things.

According to a study, ginger is also said to accelerate regeneration after strength training and reduce inflammatory reactions after intensive cardio training. To prevent muscle soreness, some athletes also rely on external applications in the form of wraps or ointments to stimulate circulation after training. Several studies also show that ginger protects against oxidative stress. Reactive oxygen species, so-called free radicals, are held responsible for cell ageing and many diseases (e.g. cancer and arteriosclerosis). The spice increases the expression of various antioxidant enzymes that neutralise free radicals. Athletes also benefit from this. Their cells experience more oxidative stress due to the increased energy supply.

Dried ginger also has the highest antioxidant capacity, as the content of pungent substances is more than five times higher than that of fresh ginger.

Protection against cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases

Cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes are the most common cause of death worldwide. To prevent them, typical risk factors - including high blood lipid levels, high blood pressure and obesity - should be avoided. Ginger consumption can help here. In studies the tuber reduced blood pressure and improved blood lipid levels. In addition, the pungent substances shogaols and gingerols are said to tackle excess pounds by inhibiting the build-up of fat and promoting fat loss. However, there is still a lack of data from human studies to speak of a clearly proven effect.

In addition, ginger is said to have a positive effect on memory function due to its anti-inflammatory properties and could therefore contribute to the treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's. However, there is still a need for further research in this area. However, there is still a need for further research here too.

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