Just as it gives a unique taste and removes food stains, the benefits of ginger in the body have been proven in terms of health.
Ginger is a plant with many leaves and flowers mixed with yellow and green in color, but its root or ginger root is better known and used. Ginger is finely chopped and boiled to make tea. It can also be soaked in a glass of hot water. If you want instant, there is a powder form available or in a tea bag. You can add lime juice or lemon with a little honey to make syrup.
Apart from tea and syrup, ginger can be used as medicine in the form of capsules, syrup, candy, and essential oils. Although 100 grams of ginger, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database, is mostly water, it is full of carbohydrates, fiber, and protein. It is also rich in potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and sodium. There is more vitamin C and B5, and folate.
Ginger also contains many anti-inflammatory antioxidants, such as gingerols, shogaols, and zingerones. Gingerol, for example, relieves pain (analgesic), sedative (sedative), and fights bacteria (antibacterial). That is why it brings relief and relief from illnesses.
Because of gingerol, ginger helps treat coughs, colds, flu, and sore throats. If then singers usually drank salabat to protect their throats and make their voices even better, now during the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people are trying it.
This new disease caused by coronavirus affects the respiratory system, including the nose and throat to the lungs. Some of the proven symptoms are cough, cold, flu, and sore throat. Although there have been rumors circulating on social media that drinking ginger tea is said to help prevent or even fight the symptoms of COVID-19, there is no scientific basis for curing this disease.
Ginger is also good for oral health because it strengthens teeth and gums. It also helps in the absorption of nutrients from food so it facilitates digestion of the stomach and does not have problems with bowel movements.
Another benefit of ginger in the body is the treatment of nausea, or dizziness that may be accompanied by nausea. Pregnant women often experience this as the so-called morning sickness. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends taking ginger in powder form in a tea bag or capsule to relieve the symptoms of morning sickness.
Ginger is said to help the secretion of various digestive enzymes which in turn balances stomach acid and calms the stomach muscles so that the stomach does not sour. So it is also good for other types of nausea experienced by those who are recovering from surgery and those with motion sickness, including children.
Due to its gingerol content, ginger brings relief from joint pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The pain in the abdomen caused by menstruation is also relieved by drinking ginger. This is similar to the findings of migraine and muscle pain studies.
Another study in 2015 said that the sugar level of patients with type-2 diabetes improved after they drank ginger daily. Ginger is said to have an effect on the release of insulin and its work on the body, so it regulates carbohydrate and fat metabolism. But you will need to drink ginger regularly for three months before you can see good results.
According to some studies, ginger helps lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol, as well as hypertension. Although this drug has not been tested, there is nothing wrong with continuing to take it for blood circulation.
Ginger has many other benefits to the body, from weight loss to cancer prevention and Alzheimer’s. But it is better to consult a doctor before taking it as a supplement to know the correct dosage. Pregnant women, for example, should not take more than three teaspoons of ginger per day.