What is ginger and where does it occur?
Ginger is a plant native to the tropics and subtropics. The roots of the plant contain essential oils and many pungent substances, which is why it has found a popular place in various spices as well as in herbal medicine.
Ginger is not only found in spices, but also in teas, soft drinks, and even in some beers. Additionally, it can be used as a small side dish of sushi or sashimi, as pure ginger press juice, or as candied sweets. It can also be bought whole in many supermarkets.
How does ginger work in our body?
The pharmacological ingredients of ginger that are interesting for its healing power are gingerol, zingiberol and zingiberen. Gingerol is responsible for the characteristic sharpness of the plants. These ingredients of the ginger root have some effective properties. On the one hand, they reduce the state of tension of the muscles, can relieve cramps and thus relieve pain.
Researchers at Old Dominion University in the USA, who conducted a study with 32 recreational runners, have dedicated themselves to this field of action. After taking ginger for 5 days, they found a reduction in exercise pain and muscle soreness among the athletes compared to the group who received only a placebo.
Ginger helps against nausea and has an antispasmodic effect.
Ginger also stimulates the activity of the gallbladder and counteracts flatulence. Ginger also has positive effects against stomach and digestive problems. Its ingredients stimulate the production of antioxidant enzymes, which can protect the digestion from oxidative stress and subsequent stress. Ginger is also an effective herbal antiemetic, which helps combat vomiting and nausea. This is why it is often used to treat travel sickness.
Ginger to protect the liver from harmful environmental influences
According to recent studies, the ingredients of ginger also protect the liver from damaging environmental influences, such as pathogens or a concentration of drugs that affect the liver. Ginger is also noted to have a protective effect against the effects of toxic chemical substances such as various hydrocarbons or heavy metals such as cadmium. In addition, various studies have pointed to the pronounced anti-carcinogenic properties of the plant substances contained in ginger, in particular the pungent substance zingerone.
Ginger for our immune defense
Studies show that ginger not only stimulates the production of thin mucus, which is easier to cough up, but also provides protection against infectious diseases and viruses. The ingredients of ginger prevent pathogens from forming a biofilm and thus from becoming established and multiplying in our body. Ginger thus supports our immune system and helps to prevent an infection from occurring or to stop it at the very beginning.
Ginger warms from the inside.
Especially in winter, ginger with its sharpness provides a pleasant surprise. If you bite on a piece of the fresh ginger, your tongue burns and usually your nose runs a little. The pungent substances of ginger activate our body’s own heat receptors, which give you the feeling of being warmed from the inside. Especially in the cold months a welcome support for our immune system, but also for our well-being.
