Ginger is a spicy rhizome (root) that has been widely used as a culinary spice and as a traditional herb for thousands of years. It's largest claim to fame is as a digestion helper, but the diversity of health benefits related to this pungent spice may surprise you. There’s more to ginger than flavoring your food and supporting healthy digestion.
10 Reasons To Love Ginger
Ginger is one of the world’s most evidence-backed, versatile herbs. The research is actually quite staggering — ginger has been studied for its beneficial support of over 100 health conditions. Let’s explore a few of ginger’s many wellness benefits.
1. Nausea Aid
Nothing is worse than an unsettled stomach. One of ginger’s most prominent traditional uses is as an aid for occasional nausea and motion sickness. Many studies have been conducted on this topic and the overwhelming conclusion is…it works!
2. Digestive Guru
Beyond the stomach, ginger is a classic soother for your entire digestive system. It’s considered an “aromatic bitter”, meaning it can help promote healthy digestive function and flow, especially when things are sluggish. One way ginger helps is by supporting the healthy flow of bile, which can aid in the digestion of fats, and may also assist with the optimal production of mucin, the protective layer in the lining of your stomach and intestines.
3. Immune Ally
Immune health is at the core of upholding whole body health. Your immune system maintains a constant state of vigilance as a normal process to keep things in check, but the chemicals that regulate that response (called cytokines) can sometimes cause inadvertent damage. Ginger’s potent essential oils, particularly gingerols, help promote a balanced immune response that is both robust and controlled. To amplify ginger’s immune benefits, add its close relative turmeric.
4. Microbiome Balancer
There's so much talk these days about a healthy microbiota — the healthy bacteria and organisms that reside in your gut, on your skin, and throughout your body - because it turns out they’re essential to maintaining whole system health. When the balance of your microbiome is disrupted, it can have wide-reaching effects on healthy metabolism, heart health, and even mood. By supporting gut function and immune modulation, ginger has the ability to support the optimal balance of your microflora.
5. Metabolic Maintainer
While it’s facilitating digestion and keeping your gut bugs happy, ginger has also demonstrated the ability to promote healthy nutrient metabolism and support a normal glucose and insulin balance.
6. Cardio Companion
Maintaining a healthy heart and cardiovascular system depends on maintaining the right balance of cholesterol and other blood lipids. Solid data also suggest that ginger helps sustain healthy lipid metabolism and foster vascular health.
7. Cellular Guardian
Every day, we’re surrounded by chemical, environmental, and biological toxins, all with the potential to impact our 50+ trillion cells and the DNA inside them. Ginger is one of those special plant protectors with a knack for supporting healthy cell growth and function.
8. Antioxidant Agent
The rich phytochemistry of ginger hinges on its well-researched antioxidant benefits. The potent volatile oils in ginger - primarily gingerols and shogaols - have been identified as powerful antioxidants that help quench free radicals and fight oxidative stress. Bottom line: ginger is an important herb to consider as part of your healthy aging toolkit.
9. Joint Supporter
Remember ginger’s support for an optimal immune response? Well, this plays a pivotal role in the health of our joints and muscles as well. By helping to maintain balanced immune function, ginger also brings powerful support for calm and comfortable joints. It works hand in hand with turmeric too!
10. Brain Booster
By enhancing your body’s antioxidant defense, ginger also helps nurture healthy blood circulation from head to toe. As a result, it’s an important way to enhance and sustain healthy brain function as you age.
Best Ways To Use Ginger
Ginger comes in many shapes and sizes. Teas, candies, brews, dried spice, fresh root, tincture, extract, capsules. We recommend adding it to your diet wherever you can: a cup of spicy ginger tea with lemon, some fresh grated ginger to liven up your stir-fry, a sweet n’ spicy ginger chew for a special treat.
If you’re looking to get the maximum wellness benefits of ginger, however, we suggest reaching for a whole-spectrum, certified organic extract like SuperPure® Ginger. It's a potent, dual extract with 25 mg of standardized levels of ginger’s essential oils — gingerols & shogaols —per capsule.
There’s really no reason to proceed “gingerly” with a mighty plant ally like ginger. It's a must-have in your health arsenal and can be kept on-hand year-round.
