Why I love ginger (& why you should too!)
Ginger, also known as zingiber officinale, is one of my favourite foods as medicine. I love how it tastes and I love how good it is for our bodies 🙂
Health benefits of ginger
Ginger has been used as a natural remedy for thousands of years and modern medicine backs many of its traditional uses.
Tummy troubles. It’s probably best known as a remedy for nausea and you may have even used it for morning sickness. But it also treats nausea from illnesses, medications and motion sickness. Some studies have even concluded ginger to be more effective than certain medications! Part of its effect is from how it relaxes the gut muscles and stimulates digestion. But it also helps decrease bloating and gas. So ginger is certainly a great tummy trouble buster!
Immunity. Ginger boosts our immune system helping us fight certain viruses, bacteria and fungi. I find it particularly exciting that studies have shown that ginger helps fight rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) both of which frequently cause the common cold. RSV can also cause wheezing or or bronchiolitis in young children.
Anti-inflammatory. Besides helping defend our body against certain bugs, ginger also contains phytonutrients with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This benefit has been most studied in arthritis where it’s been compared to non steroidal anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen (Nurofen in Australia).
Analgesic. Ginger helps relieve pain. It’s been used effectively for migraines, sore throats, sore muscles in athletes and even period pains.
Sugar stabilising. Ginger has been shown to help stabilise blood sugar in type 2 diabetes (non insulin dependent diabetes). Although the evidence is limited it certainly is promising considering how common type 2 diabetes is and how it’s affecting younger and younger children (but this is a whole other story!).
Anticancer. Ginger has also been found to have anticancer properties but mainly for adult type cancers like ovarian, colorectal and liver.
Ginger for kids:
It has a strong zingy flavour so it can be tricky to introduce to kids, if you slowly sneak it into cookies & smoothies or cook with it, they usually don’t object 🙂 The pickled ginger you get with sushi may be tempting to give, but please remember it often has red dye , sulphites and sugar in it.
- Ginger syrup: Helps with sore throats and coughs (recipe)
- Ginger tea: Great for nausea as also hydrating. Can make with ginger syrup or use ½ -1 teaspoon grated ginger with lemon and honey to taste plus boiling water. Let it sit x 30 min and then strain and cool.
- Can add fresh ginger to bubbly mineral water.
- Add to a smoothie. Carrot, apple and ginger is delicious.
- Cook with it.
- Use ground ginger in baking
Ginger precautions:
- large amounts can cause heartburn or diarrhoea
- rarely children can be allergic to it
- best to avoid ginger if <2 years old
- can affect potency of certain prescription medications so always check with your doctor/ pharmacist
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