Health Benefits of Ginger

Are you aware of the health benefits of ginger? Ginger is a root crop that is abundant in Asia. This is usually used as an ingredient for certain dishes, and it also makes a good tea. In fact, “salabat” is a Filipino tea made from ginger extracts. You might have heard about the common health benefits of ginger but below are the best ones. You’ll see how advantageous it is to include ginger in your diet.

Treatment for ovarian cancer

One of the most popular health benefits of ginger is its treatment for ovarian cancer. There are actually several studies done on this, but the most prominent one is the one made by the University of Michigan. According to this study, ginger promotes the death of cancer cells, giving women who have early ovarian cancer a good chance to survive the sickness.

Prevents colon cancer

Colon cancer, which haunts most of us because of our diets, can also be prevented by including ginger in our regular meals. This study was done by the University of Minnesota, and in this study, it was found that colorectal cancer cells grow slower when ginger is included in one’s diet.

Morning and motion sickness remedy

This is probably one of the age-old health benefits of ginger. Even our forefathers knew about this. Ginger is a good remedy for nausea. You can take it if you’re feeling motion sickness, and if you’re pregnant, it’s a very good remedy for morning sickness.

Pain and inflammation reduction

If you’re feeling any pain or inflammation in your body, you will also love one of these health benefits of ginger. Ginger, when drunk as tea could help to lessen pain and inflammation. It’s good for migraines as well as swelling caused by injuries or allergies. It’s also good to take ginger tea if you are experiencing menstrual cramps.

Relief for heartburn

Heartburn can be a real challenge. Some people take medicines for heartburn relief. If you have ginger in your kitchen shelf though, particularly the tea variant, it’s a good remedy or at least pain reliever for heartburn.

Cold or flu remedy

While there’s no sure remedy for the common cold, drinking warm ginger tea can certainly relieve your sore throat and clogged nose. It’s a common “cure” for flu and/or colds. You should have this in your shelf all the time if you want to beat flu and colds the natural way.

Prevention of kidney damage

According to certain studies, those who regularly drink ginger juice or tea are also less prone to kidney damage. These studies have been focused particularly on kidney damage caused by diabetes. Of course, the studies were conducted on diabetic rats, but it’s still a promising health benefit of ginger especially for those who fear complications of diabetes.

Where to find ginger

You can purchase ginger, the root crop, from any grocery store or wet market. You can mix it in with dishes and stews. Most people prefer purchasing the powdered form of ginger though which they can boil and drink as tea.

Has vitamins and minerals that are essential for your body

Holding a signature sharp and savory flavor, ginger is a component we simply love to sprinkle into our favorite recipes. Ranging from stews to marinades to even drinks, it is one component that shows off multiple uses. But other than the great value it adds to a dish’s overall taste, a perk we can’t forget about is the many health benefits of ginger. For one, it has a great deal of nutrients that your body needs. In fact, 10 grams of fresh ginger has 2 grams of protein, 8 grams of carbohydrates, and 2 grams of fiber.

May help prevent diabetes

As I previously mentioned, ginger has a variety of components inside it that make it ideal for consumption. And studies have shown that there may be some active compounds in this delicious root crop that make it helpful in managing one’s metabolism and insulin levels. And so it can lessen your risk for diabetes. 

Research also found that blood sugar levels could be lessened among those with type 2 diabetes with the consumption of ginger powder. Of course, you must be mindful of how you consume your ginger. If you really want to take advantage of this benefit, steer away from the sweeter recipes with ginger like gingerbread cookies. Instead, you could try to integrate more fresh and dried ginger into your savory diet.

Could aid in lessening the risk for heart disease

Different factors can cause heart disease. One thing that has been shown to influence this is high levels of bad cholesterol, or LDL cholesterol in the body. But a recent study found that daily consumption of ginger-pasted powder led to a decrease in LDL cholesterol levels. 

Moverover, ginger has been shown to help in lessening blood lipids levels. And apparently, it can also aid in keeping one’s blood pressure on the lower side. Both factors are also largely linked to the risk of heart disease. Considering how widely used this ingredient is in several recipes, eating more ginger is one simple way to try to prevent heart disease.

Helps maintain your oral health

Perhaps in taking care of our bodies, we pay a bit less attention to the importance of keeping our teeth healthy. Of course, these are responsible for most of our eating, and oral problems can be distressingly painful. 

If you’d like to keep your mouth and teeth healthy and in check, a great option is keeping ginger in your diet. Gingerols are active compounds in ginger that help inhibit bacteria growth. And so more ginger could mean lessening your risk for periodontal disease, which is a gum infection. 

Can keep germs and viruses away

The scary part about illnesses that start in the stomach is that you truly can’t see the root cause of these problems. What may seem like a perfectly good and fresh dish might contain harmful bacteria that won’t manifest on the physical appearance of your food. But if you’re interested in keeping all of those unwanted microorganisms away from your body, ginger could also be the answer! 

Fresh ginger actually contains some chemical compounds that can fight off certain types of bacteria. Among these are the much-feared E.coli, as well as shigella. RSV or respiratory syncytial virus is a seasonal illness that can make it hard for your to breathe. But ginger may also help prevent RSV. 

Could aid in keeping up your brain’s health

Over time, it might be natural for your brain to not function as well as it used to years ago. Cognitive problems, as well as sicknesses like Alzheimer’s disease can emerge if we don’t take protective measures for our brains. But research has shown that eating ginger could help keep the brain moving and healthy.

Studies among animals have shown that ginger can aid in preventing age-related problems with regards to how your brain operates. Because of the bioactive compounds and antioxidants in the root crop, it may help keep inflammatory responses from occurring in the brain, according to animal studies. But a study among middle-aged women in 2012 also showed that consuming ginger extract everyday could help one’s working memory. 

Looks like you’re now pretty well-informed as to the many advantages that come with consuming ginger. Let’s go straight to learning about proper ways of storage so we can preserve its freshness and nutrients best!

How to store your ginger:

The best mode of storage for this ingredient would likely depend on how long you’d need your ginger to last. But whether you want the ginger to remain fresh for weeks or months, you should probably start with packing the ginger properly. With this, make sure to keep the ginger wrapped in some paper towels, or inside a paper bag. As you are doing this, don’t forget to pack it tightly. This is so that it gets little exposure to moisture and air. 

Refrigerating

Now if you will only be needing to keep the ginger for a little more than a month, you can simply refrigerate it. With this method, you should probably store it away as one whole piece, and not sliced. You could try using a paper bag or paper towel, but you could also use a resalable bag. Simply place all of your ginger inside. And then make sure to let all of the air out before sealing it. Then put it in the fridge for storage lasting about a month or more. 

Freezing

To get your ginger lasting for a few months, you could use your freezer. With this, it is recommended that you mince the ginger before storing it away. Afterwards, line these on a tray, and freeze them. After that, take the tray out of the freezer, and slip the ginger you’ve frozen into an airtight container. Then take them back for freezing, and take them out when you’re ready to use them. 

Making a puree

Another method for storage that’s a bit more unique. But it would be quite convenient when you need ginger for soup and stir-frying is by making it into a puree. Use a little water, and a bit of ginger and puree these together. Afterwards, place the mixture in an ice cube tray, and freeze them. Then you could just pop this easily when you need to season your stews or other dishes. 

We’ve gotten these options for ginger storage down already. What about some dishes to work with?

Recipes I can vouch for that go great with ginger:

Ginger Beef Stir Fry

We’ve already discussed just how flavorful ginger can be. Its general aroma and pleasant bite can bring wonders to any dish, so long as it mixes in with the right ingredients. And so beef tenderloin, rice vinegar, cayenne pepper, and honey all mixed in with some minced ginger? This truly makes for a delicious force to be reckoned with. And the dish I’m pertaining to is Ginger Beef Stir Fry.

For this recipe, I got to play with a wide variety of ingredients— especially seasonings— to obtain a beautifully rich flavor. Despite its usage of several ingredients, however, it is actually a very easy dish to make. In fact, I’d estimate that you’ll need less than 20 minutes to whip this up in the kitchen. But if you want to get that beef satisfyingly tender, you’d probably need to let it simmer for a minimum of 30 minutes. Either way, the resulting dish is a great one that you and your family would probably love!

Ginataang Kalabasa at Sitaw

Hearty, creamy, and brilliantly healthy, Ginataang Kalabasa at Sitaw should definitely be part of your week’s menu of dishes. It has a mild saltiness that works well with the slight sweetness of our coconut milk. And you might not be able to notice its effect all that much, but our added ginger definitely ties the dish’s flavors together. 

Other than its flavor quality, a great benefit to eating this dish is just how healthy it is, and great for the body. When we think of nutritious meals, bland flavors might come to mind. But our Ginataang Kalabasa at Sitaw gets to mix beautifully tasty with absolutely healthy! From the vitamin A and C in squash to the vitamin K in string beans, you are able to get essential nutrients from this delicious dish. And you get to share all the health benefits this brings about to around 5 more people. After all, the recipe fits 6 servings!

Sinigang Mix Inasal na Manok

Who can deny themselves of a great grilled chicken? It really makes for an irresistible dish with its toasty exterior. But what can really make or break a grilled chicken is what’s inside— the juiciness just as well as how tender it is can define a great chicken dish. This Sinigang Mix Inasal na Manok recipe gets to tick off all those boxes, and a little more. 

Because of its succulent and flavorful marinade, you get to experience the taste of a savory, juicy chicken. We also grill it for just the right amount to make sure it is tender on the inside, and just crisp enough on the outside. But the bonus factor I was talking about earlier is its unique tanginess, which we get from our Sinigang sa Sampaloc Recipe Mix. Mixing that with the glorious savor of our ginger and lemongrass really brings our Inasal to the next level. 

If you want more recipes that contain our healthy and delicious ginger, you can find plenty on the Panlasang Pinoy website. But if you’ve got any more questions for me about this root crop, simply comment below!