Ginger has been used for flavor and medicinal purposes for thousands of years. In 2018 alone, 2.8 million tons of ginger were produced. But what does ginger do for your body? It’s not just for nausea; ginger can also delay diseases, guard the brain, and hinder the growth of bacteria. Here is what happens to your body if you eat ginger daily.
Ginger Has Been Medicinal For Thousands Of Years
Ginger was first used in southern China. From there, trading spread to India, western Asia, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and eventually Europe.
Even thousands of years ago, ginger was known as a healing herb. Confucius apparently ate it with every meal. In 14th century England, a pound cost as much as a flock of sheep! But why was it so valuable?
The ancients mainly used ginger to preserve meat, but they also knew of its healing properties. According to 2015 research, Iranian traditional medicine used it to improve digestive health and memory.
These medicinal benefits overlapped with spiritual. For instance, the Austronesian peoples used ginger to protect ships against spirits. But many of ginger’s healing associations ended up being true.
How much of the ancient’s uses were scientifically accurate? Stay tuned to find out.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, antioxidants are any compound that eliminates free radicals. Free radicals lack the proper amount of electrons, so they damage cell membranes and DNA by stealing their electrons.
Antioxidants supply these electrons, which prevents damage from free radicals. In 2004, research in Biofactors confirmed that ginger contains a high amount of antioxidants.
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to illness and wounds. While inflammation can be good, researchers from Vanderbilt University stated that they can overkill cells. Too much inflammation can mess up hormones, insulin, and fat tissue.
Over time, chronic, low levels of inflammation can contribute to a long list of diseases. Ginger counteracts this through its anti-inflammatory properties.
Because free radicals and chronic inflammation contribute to a variety of diseases, ginger can counteract this. In 2016, a study in Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology concluded that gingerol might prevent chronic diseases.
Studies have linked ginger to treating diabetes, coronary heart disease, fatty liver disease, and others. Researchers saw evidence of that in a pool of 4,628 participants.
Up next: why people used ginger to preserve raw meat.