Ginger is not only popular in the kitchen, where its spicy aroma refines a wide variety of dishes. Also in medicine, the spicy tuber is increasingly attracting attention. Thus, it is said to be helpful for numerous health problems, including muscle pain or travel sickness. Likewise, many people resort to ginger when they have a cold, because it is said to have a stimulating effect on the immune system: try it yourself, for example with a ginger tea or a carrot-ginger soup.
Healthy ingredients of ginger
Ginger is rich in essential oils and pungents called gingerols and shogaols. When the tuber is stored for a longer period of time, the milder gingerols turn into the sharper shogaols. Thus, fresh ginger is the mildest. In addition, ginger provides some vitamins and minerals such as:
- Vitamin C
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Iron
Many of the valuable ingredients sit – similar to apples – just under the skin: so peel the tuber as thin as possible.
Prevent and treat colds
Because of its ingredients, ginger is often used to prevent and treat colds and to strengthen the immune system. However, whether regular intake can actually prevent colds has not yet been scientifically proven. However, it is assumed that the pungent substances contained in ginger heat up the body from the inside and stimulate blood circulation. This makes it more difficult for pathogens to take hold in the mucous membranes. In addition, the body is also said to benefit from the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of ginger during a cold.
Ginger relieves pain
Ginger is said to have an analgesic effect. This is believed to be due to the fact that the gingerols contained in the root have a similar structure to acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). Because of this, the gingerols are said to be able to inhibit the same enzymes in the body as the active ingredient. Initial scientific studies seem to confirm this. Ginger extracts are used, among other things, to treat muscle pain and rheumatism. The root is said to be particularly effective for muscle pain caused by massive muscular overexertion. In China, ginger is also used to treat migraines.
Ginger helps with digestive problems
Those who frequently suffer from digestive problems such as flatulence and constipation should resort more often to ginger for seasoning. This is because the pungent substances it contains are said not only to relieve pain, but also to be able to calm a rebellious stomach. For example, the gingerols and shogaols stimulate bile juice production and thus accelerate fat digestion. That’s why ginger is especially recommended after a greasy meal that later feels heavy in the stomach. When there is a lack of appetite, drinking a cup of ginger tea has proven to be helpful.
Ginger for travel sickness
Ginger is not only recommended for problems with digestion, but is also said to be helpful for travel sickness. Supposedly, the ingredients help to relieve both the sinking feeling in the stomach and the nausea. Eating the root is said to be particularly effective when traveling by plane, car or train. In contrast, ginger has so far proven less effective for nausea during sea travel. Although many sailors swear by the calming effect, this has not yet been scientifically confirmed. In general, a piece of ginger should be taken about every four hours on a long journey.
Ginger during pregnancy
Whether foods and drinks containing ginger should be taken during pregnancy is controversial. Supposedly, a cup of ginger water or ginger tea is an effective remedy for nausea during pregnancy. To be on the safe side, however, you should refrain from consuming larger amounts, as otherwise you may induce premature labor. It is best to seek individual advice from your doctor on this point.
Who should avoid ginger?
In addition to pregnant women, however, there are other groups that should better avoid the consumption of ginger: These include, for example, people with a sensitive stomach, because the consumption of the root is particularly much stomach acid is formed.The spicy root is also not suitable for people with gallstones. Whether ginger is beneficial or harmful for high blood pressure is controversial and is not considered to be clearly established. This is because the household remedy increases blood pressure in the short term, but could possibly have a blood pressure-lowering effect afterwards. Since sufficient studies are not yet available, caution is advised in case of doubt and a consultation with the doctor is recommended.
Lose weight with ginger
Ginger boosts the metabolism and is therefore supposed to facilitate weight loss. However, this assumption could not be scientifically proven so far. But regardless of whether ginger actually helps to lose weight or not: the tuber is healthy in any case. So feel free to use ginger more often to spice up your meals or make yourself a cup of delicious ginger tea with lemon. If then also the pounds fall – all the better.
Recipe: ginger tea
When you have a cold, it is always recommended to drink a lot. A fresh ginger tea is considered particularly effective, since ginger is said to have an immune-stimulating and disinfecting effect. Preparation of ginger tea:
- Put two tablespoons of freshly grated ginger in a pot.
- Add a liter of water and boil for ten minutes.
- Then strain the tea and refine it as desired with either honey or a squeeze of lemon juice.
Ingerwasser make yourself – so gehts!
Unlike ginger tea, ginger water does not involve boiling the ginger, but simply pouring hot water over it. Preparation of ginger water:
- Grate four slices of ginger small and pour hot water over them.
- Then let the liquid infuse for ten minutes, covered.
Ginger water is recommended both for colds that have already broken out and for their prevention. Incidentally, ginger is also popular as a drink far from its effect on health: for example, ginger ale or ginger beer enjoy great popularity in many places.
Recipes: carrot-ginger soup
Ginger is also a popular spice in cooking, and its characteristic flavor can enhance numerous dishes. Try it out for yourself with our recipe for carrot ginger soup. For this you will need the following ingredients:
- 700 grams of carrots
- 70 grams ginger
- 1 apple
- 1 onion
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 liter chicken broth
- 1 squeeze of lime juice
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1 tsp. cayenne pepper
Preparation:
- Peel the carrots, onion, apple and ginger and cut everything into cubes.
- Put the butter in a pan and saute the onions.
- Stir in the curry powder and then add the carrots and ginger.
- Fry everything briefly and then deglaze the vegetables with the chicken broth.
- Now add the apple and let the soup simmer for at least 30 minutes.
- Puree the soup and taste it with salt, cayenne pepper and lime juice.
By the way, not only carrot-ginger soups bring out the flavor of the tuber wonderfully, ginger is also a popular ingredient in a pumpkin soup or ginger-coconut soup.
