The Incredible Health Benefits Of Eating Ginger

Most of us are aware of the digestive benefits of fresh ginger and have been told at one time or another to sip on some ginger ale when we're feeling sick. However, this humble root has far more to offer than merely reducing bloating and nausea. In fact, it can not only help your body fight off germs like E. coli and shigella, but also minimize the harmful bacteria in your mouth, reduce muscle soreness and symptoms of arthritis, and even slow the growth of certain cancers (via WebMD). Ginger has even been shown to possibly lower blood sugar by helping the body to use insulin more efficiently.

Of course, the most common homeopathic use for ginger is to reduce feelings of nausea, but what you might not know is that studies show ginger can even be potent enough to reduce morning sickness and chemotherapy-induced nausea according to some studies (via Healthline). The reason it is so effective might have something to do with reducing gas built up in the intestine, assisting your body's natural digestive enzymes, and increasing movement through the digestive tract, relieving or preventing constipation (via Medical News Today).

If you deal with nasty menstrual cramps each month, a ginger supplement might be able to help with that as well. According to one 2015 study, women who took a 1500 mg ginger powder supplement for three days during their period reported less severe cramps, and a shorter duration of pain, compared to those who took a placebo (via The National Library of Medicine).

In addition to these benefits, regularly consuming ginger can also help lower your "bad" cholesterol, and even assist with weight loss, thanks to high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties in compounds called gingerols (which give ginger its trademark smell and taste) and shogaols (via Healthline). These high levels of antioxidants work to protect the DNA from the presence of free radicals and oxidative stress, which also helps to prevent chronic illnesses including high blood pressure or heart disease while at the same time promoting healthy aging (via Insider). So, whether you brew yourself a few cups of fresh ginger tea, add some more grated ginger to your cooking, or introduce a ginger supplement to your routine, the benefits should speak for themselves.