Ginger Root, another Potent Anti-Inflammatory

by | Sep 23, 2017 | Blogs | 0 comments

Ginger Root

Is an ancient root known for its medicinal qualities. Fresh ginger looks a bit like a tiny brown cactus, but rather than growing above the ground, it’s a rhizome, meaning it’s a root that grows under the ground. It’s when you peel or cut it that its pleasingly pungent, oddly sweet aroma. Ginger is a powerful nutritional herb that is proven to be more effective at reducing pain than painkillers1 and to be more effective at improving digestion than those over-the-counter digestive medications.2 Also, the Annals of the New York Academy of sciences published a review showing ginger may fight a wide range of chronic diseases, but focuses primarily on its effect on metabolic syndrome. This is a condition that includes three or more of the most common risk factors for type 2 diabetes and heart disease.3

Gingers Anti-Inflammatory Compound

All of these health benefits are due to gingers ability to reduce inflammation. What anti-inflammatory compound causes gingers pain relieving effects? Gingerol, which is acts on vanilloid receptors located on sensory nerve endings. This is very similar to the effects of capsaicin found in cayenne pepper. This is also why you feel a slight burning sensation when consuming ginger and though it only last a second, researchers have discovered that it “affect the pain pathways directly but also relieves the inflammation, which in itself causes the pain.”4

Ginger, Also Supports The Digestive System

If you have any type of intestinal inflammation. As stated earlier, ginger has been proven to be very effective at reducing inflammation and also supporting your digestive system health. It can support digestion due to its prebiotic content, which is plant-based fiber that promotes good bacteria to flourish. A 2015 study5 published in the Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology evaluated the gastroprotective activity of ginger essential oil in rats. Ethanol was used to induce gastric ulcer in Wistar rats; the ginger essential oil treatment inhibited the ulcer by 85 percent. Examinations showed that ethanol-induced lesions, such as necrosis, erosion and hemorrhage of the stomach wall, were significantly reduced after the oral administration of the essential oil.

  1. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/arthritis/2012/505842/
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24756059
  3. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nyas.13375/abstract
  4. http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/health/HealthRepublish_433324.htm
  5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24756059

No Sweat Recipe Of the Week

Simple Homemade Ginger Tea

Ingredients                                                                  

  • 1 TBSP Fresh Grated Ginger
  • 2 cups Filtered water
  • 1 TBSP Raw Honey or Pure Maple Syrup
  • Juice from ½ Lemon
  • Optional – 1 Cinnamon stick
  • Optional – Fresh Mint Leafs
  • Optional – Pinch of Cayenne pepper

Instructions

  1. Grate the ginger with a grater or zester, or you slice it (just make sure to slice it thin)
  2. Peel the ginger root with peeler or with sharp peeling knife
  3. Using a saucepan, bring water to a boil and add ginger (and optional ingredients) at this time
  4. Turn off heat, put lid on saucepan and let it steep for 10 minutes
  5. Strain the water to remove the ginger
  6. Add fresh lemon juice
  7. Enjoy!