Pungent, spicy ginger root is a popular root herb of culinary as well as medicinal importance. The root, which composes unique phytochemical compounds, still finds a special place in many traditional Indian and Chinese medicines disease preventing and health-promoting properties.
Health benefits of ginger root
- Ginger has been in use since ancient times for it's anti-inflammatory, carminative, anti-flatulent, and anti-microbial properties. Total antioxidant strength measured in terms of oxygen radical absorbency capacity (ORAC) of ginger root is 14840 µmol TE/100 g.
- The root contains health benefiting essential oils such as gingerol, zingerone, shogaol, farnesene, and small amounts of β-phellandrene, cineol, and citral.
- Gingerols help improve the intestinal motility and have been anti-inflammatory, painkiller (analgesic), nerve soothing, anti-pyretic as well as anti-bacterial properties. Studies have shown that it may decrease nausea induced by motion sickness or pregnancy and may help relieve a migraine headache.
- Zingerone, a chemical compound which gives pungent character to the ginger root, is effective against E.coli induced diarrhea, especially in children.
- This herb root only has 80 calories per 100 g and contains no cholesterol. Nonetheless, it composes many essential nutrients and vitamins such as pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), pantothenic acid (vitamin B-5) that are required for optimum health.
- Furthermore, the herb also contains a good amount of minerals like potassium, manganese, copper, and magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure.
Medicinal uses of ginger root
- Ginger root slices, boiled in water with lemon or orange juice, and honey, is a popular herbal drink in Ayurvedic medicine to relieve common cold, cough, and sore throat.
- Its extraction is used as a vehicle to mask bitterness and after-taste in traditional Ayurvedic preparations.
- Gingerols increase the motility of the gastrointestinal tract and have analgesic, sedative, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. Studies have shown that it may help reduce nausea caused by motion sickness or pregnancy and may relieve a migraine.
