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HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Did
you know the benefits of Ginger?
Ginger
is one of the world's seven most potent disease-fighting
spices.
Ginger has been used for its health
benefits for over 5000 years
and is a favorite medicinal as well as culinary herb.
Unlike most spices, the
part that has the most medicinal value grows under
ground.
Often mistakenly called "ginger root" this is
actually the rhizome of the plant which is
more of a subterranean stem than a root. Although you can
use dried ginger and
powdered ginger for health benefits, fresh ginger is
preferred.
The intake of ginger helps stimulate the
secretion of mucus, quieting your cough
and soothing any scratchiness in your throat.
Ginger
has been proven (in multiple studies) to treat feelings
of nausea, particularly in the form
of seasickness, morning sickness, motion sickness and as
a side effect of chemotherapy.
In
pregnancy is to be extra careful!! Never use any herb,
including ginger,
without first discussing it with your doctor!! As for
those suffering from ulcer,
or other very serious gastric problems, they should also
consult their doctor.
Ginger contains anti viral,
anti toxic, and anti fungal properties,
and is used for the prevention of and treatment against
the common cold.
Ginger acts as an
antihistamine and
aids
in the treatment of allergies.
Ginger displays anti
inflammatory properties and can be used to treat
rheumatoid
arthritis, osteoarthritis, and various other muscular
disorders.
The
chemical components of the root are instrumental in
inhibiting the biosynthesis
of prostaglandins which are responsible for causing
inflammation.
Thus the root has proven to
be a highly effective form of treatment, in some cases,
even more so than the NSAID's that are traditionally
prescribed.
So eating ginger may help to prevent
cancer
and aging disorders.
Ginger contains special
enzymes responsible for catalyzing the proteins
in your food, thus aiding in digestion and the prevention
of cramps.
Good for those with constipation!
The ancient Greeks used to eat ginger after a
large meal,
in
order to ease the digestion process.
Ginger has proven to help
lower your cholesterol
levels
and prevent the formation of blood clots.
As
a mood enhancer, ginger's cineole content
may
help contribute to stress relief.
Also
used for migraine headache.
Ginger can also be used for reducing toothache and the
discomfort which
arises due to the infection in the upper respiratory
tract due to its antibacterial and antifungal nature.
Chewing on fresh ginger,,
can help freshen the breath.
Being
a warming herb, ginger can help knock out a fever. This
property
also makes it effective in stimulating circulation of the
blood.
It
can also help relax muscles around the blood vessels and
is said to
help prevent blood clots from forming. The warming
effects make it a natural
decongestant as well as an antihistamine, making it the
perfect remedy for colds.
Some
studies show that it can even help inhibit
the
replication of the herpes simplex virus.
Recent
studies show that ginger might also have a role in
lowering LDL
cholesterol because the spice can help reduce the amount
of cholesterol that is absorbed.
It
has also been shown in animal trials to help slow
or
even prevent cancerous tumor growth.
To discover
the health benefits of ginger for yourself, simply make a
tea by steeping about 5 slices of ginger in hot water.
If you prefer it in your food, ginger is excellent in
many dishes and
is
perfect when combined with garlic.
Ginger
doesn't only spice up your food it can also help to put
some
extra spice in your intimate life too. It improves blood
flow to your
sexual organs, and contains Vitamin C, zinc and
magnesium.
Hope it will be of benefits to you & others.
Wishing
you all a happy healthy life.
"Health
is Wealth"
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