Top 8 health benefits of ginger tea
Ginger
is what everyone can testify to have in their kitchen for culinary purposes or
medicinal purposes or to get that desired shape to put on tight jeans. Whatever
your reason is, this article will bring to your awareness the health benefits
of ginger.
For
eons, the ginger plant has been used for the treatment of various ailments and
as a spice to give a nice aroma and make the food spicy and yummy.
Ginger
scientifically called Zingiber officinale refers to a flowering plant whose
rhizome (underground plant root) or ginger root or ginger is widely used as a spice
or folk medicine.
Ginger
belongs to the Zingiberaceae family which equally includes turmeric, cardamom, and
galangal. It is native to maritime Southeast Asians.
Top 8 health benefits of ginger tea |
What is ginger tea?
As
earlier mentioned, the ginger plant is used both for traditional medicine and
can be consumed as tea and equally used as a spice. Ginger tea is prepared by
putting dried or fresh ginger in hot water for 4 to 5 minutes.
After
these minutes, the water will be slightly yellowish due to the ginger oil. Ginger
tea has a warm, slightly spicy taste. Go ahead to enjoy your ginger tea. Note
that you can add lemon or honey to it.
In
fold medicine, it is used in different forms:
Fresh,
powdered, pickled, dried, candied, preserved, or crystalized
Similarly, it is available in multiple forms:
- Capsules
- Tinctures
- Extracts
- Tablets
- Tea
1
tablespoon of fresh ginger has:
- 4.8 calories
- 1.07 grams (g) of carbohydrate
- 0.12 g of dietary fiber
- 0.11 g of protein
- 0.05 g fat
- 0.1 g of sugar
Ginger
also has nutrients like vitamins B3 and B6, iron, potassium, vitamin C,
magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. Below are the top 8 health benefits of
drinking ginger tea.
1. Boosts your immune system
The
first health benefit of ginger tea on the list is ginger tea improves our
immune system. I guess you are wondering how ginger tea helps boosts your
immune system.
Well,
ginger possesses essential antibacterial properties that can help keep away
treacherous pathogens in a long way to keeping you safe and healthy.
Ginger
has volatile oils that possess anti-inflammatory properties similar to that of
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This makes ginger a good solution for
headaches, flu, and menstrual pains.
Ginger
also helps boost the digestive system, which is the first step to staying
healthy and staying in shape.
2. Relieve menstrual discomfort
Every
woman going through monthly pains would be relieved to see this. Rather than
taking ibuprofen to subside menstrual cramps, ginger tea will help perform the
magic of subsiding the pains.
Are
you wondering how to do this? Well, you can drink a cup of warm ginger tea with
a bit of honey.
You
can equally soak a face towel or small towel in warm ginger tea and place the
towel on your lower abdomen. This action may help in relieving and relaxing the
muscles.
3. Aids digestion
Another
essential health benefit of ginger tea is that it may help to ease digestive
discomfort. This is due to its soothing beneficial properties.
Studies
equally prove that the consumption of ginger can help enhance gastrointestinal
symptoms as well as aid the digestive system to function properly.
This
might be strange or new to some people but are you aware that some people chew
chewing gum when having a digestive problem? Instead of chewing gum, why not try
ginger tea? Health-wise, it’s preferable.
4. Anti-inflammatory
The
fourth point on the list of the 8 top health benefits of ginger tea is ginger
helps to reduce inflammation. Ginger possesses vital phytonutrients (Plant
nutrients) called gingerols.
Research
has proven that the presence of gingerol in ginger makes it antimicrobial and
anti-inflammatory which when consumed as tea may help support a healthy
microbiome.
Also read: How to Get Rid of Constipation Using Bitter Kola
5. Good for your teeth
The
existence of antimicrobial and antifungal properties in ginger can help
terminate harmful oral pathogens.
This
in return goes a long way to enhance your overall health as well as keeping
your teeth safe and healthy. A cup of warm ginger tea is the secret.
6. May help with weight loss
I
am quite sure that a good number of individuals will agree with me on this
point. This is because a majority of people consume ginger tea for this reason,
which is to cut down some calories or fats in the body.
According to studies conducted on both animals and humans, ginger may play a crucial role in weight loss. Ginger helps to reduce body weight, waist-hip ratio, and hip ratio in people with overweight or obese.
7. Contains a substance that may help prevent cancer
Ginger
may help to hinder particular kinds of cancer all thanks to the presence of antioxidants
and anti-inflammatory properties it possesses.
Studies
suggest that ginger may help inhibit the formation of cancer cells within the
body. However, ginger on its own may not be ok to completely prevent cancer, but
a warm cup of ginger tea may play a crucial role no matter how small it might
be.
Bear
in mind that prevention is better than going to the hospital for treatment.
8. Fights colds and sore throats
Did
you know that just a cup of ginger tea could help prevent or fight against common
cold and hurtful sore throats?
The
presence of antimicrobial properties in ginger can fight off illnesses like
strep throat as well as treat respiratory illnesses.
Concluding Remark
Ginger
is essential for medicinal and culinary purposes. Ginger is loaded with nutrients and bioactive compounds that have
powerful benefits to the body and brain.
Aside
from the above-mentioned health benefits of ginger tea it also helps fight
infections, may improve brain function and protect against Alzheimer’s disease,
may help lower cholesterol levels, soothes nausea, improve blood circulation,
etc.
As quoted in a tweet by the ministry of Ayush “Ginger from your kitchen can go a long way in keeping diseases at bay”. Various delicacies include ginger for a nice aroma and spicy taste.
A cup of warm ginger tea would not cost anything. Health is wealth. Guard it as if it were a multi-million family legacy.
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