Ginger: Benefits, Properties, Uses, and Contraindications

Ginger is a root widely used as a natural remedy for its anti-inflammatory, digestive, and antioxidant properties. Seasonal ailments, cough, sore throat, colds: ginger is also easy to use in the kitchen, both as a seasoning and in herbal teas, infusions, and decoctions. And it has very few contraindications. So much so that it is still the most used root in many countries, especially Eastern ones (starting with China and India), where natural medicine is very widespread.

In the West, ginger is also known as "ginger", its English name.

Index of topics

Nutritional values

Ginger is packed with many healthy nutrients. Let's look at the most important ones per 100 grams of fresh ginger.

Calories: 80 grams
Protein: 1,80 grams
Sugars: 1,7 grams
Fat: 0,7 grams
Saturated fats: 0,2 grams
Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
Fiber: 2 grams
Potassium: 415 milligrams
Magnesium: 43 milligrams
Calcium: 16 milligrams
Sodium: 13 milligrams
Iron: 0,6 milligrams

Use in the kitchen

It should never be missing in your home. Ginger is a a very precious plant for our health, for good cooking, for reducing a lot of waste, starting from the compulsive purchase of expensive medicinesAnd it's also very easy to find and use. Ginger is a perfect flavoring in cooking, suitable for any dish, especially meat and fish-based main courses. It's always found in sushi. About Find a large collection of ginger-based recipes.

Benefits

Actually, ginger, which you can use naturally, in simple and continuous way for example through the infusion mechanism (about ten minutes, no more, of a few slices of ginger, even grated, in a hot drink, from tea to herbal tea, from chamomile to infusion), it is a natural panacea for our health. 360 degrees. And so the main suggestion we give is to never miss it in your home and in your diet. Then, examining closely the therapeutic properties of ginger, authentic (there are 2.500 scientific studies on the subject) and not just those of natural medicine, we can divide them into three groups: problems related to the bronchi and breathing, digestion, circblood donation.

Seasonal influences and moreGinger—just a few slices, as we've seen, in a simple hot drink, perhaps with honey instead of sugar—fights sore throats, colds, and coughs, treats seasonal flu, and helps the body when it's exhausted by extreme temperature changes. It also loosens mucus, clears the bronchi, and improves breathing.
Digestion and intestinal tract protectionThanks to its natural thermogenic properties, ginger releases a pleasant sensation of warmth throughout the body. This same property allows for rapid calorie burning, making it highly recommended for natural weight loss diets. It also aids in the digestion of carbohydrates and proteins and facilitates the elimination of intestinal gas. Finally, ginger soothes the stomach, preventing colic and colon irritation.
Heart and ErosSimple slices of ginger, which are actually a real antioxidant, also help to block pain in the limbs and menstrual cramps, but first of all they contribute to something very valuable, also in terms of preventing cardiovascular diseases: they improve, and not a little, circulation. Hence, what is trivially it's called the "Viagra effect" of ginger: that is, its characteristic of stimulating and amplifying the sexual energy of men.
Nausea and vomit during pregnancy or following certain drug therapies. Or even during a sea crossing in rough waters.
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidantThese are natural healing properties recognized in ginger thanks to its nutritional values. For this reason, it also combats the natural aging of cells.
It helps to detoxify the liver if used in the preparation of excellent centrifuged juices.
Also useful against the earache.
The last question that needs to be answered in order to make the most of the benefits and properties of ginger, concerns the amount. Considering that, as we have seen, ginger can be used from the kitchen to herbal teas, the preferred dose is between 10 and 30 grams per day.

How much ginger can you take?

Given that ginger consumption in Italy is increasing by double digits every year, There are no particular limits for the intake of this food. In general, as we said, we can also get to 10-30 grams per dayBut the dose depends on the purpose for which it is used: to prevent seasickness or car sickness, for example, a dose of 1-2 grams of root is needed. For intestinal or gastric disorders, 180 milligrams three times a day is recommended.

Effetti collaterali

There may be some side effects, especially if overused, following excessive use of ginger. In particular heartburn and intestinal disorders with flatulence and diarrhea. Remember, ginger stimulates gastric production. However, you shouldn't be concerned if your tongue tingles when you take ginger: it's part of its flavor, just as its taste and smell are reminiscent of lemon.

Who can't take ginger?

There are very few people who cannot take ginger-based products. Its use is not recommended, for example, for women during pregnancy o breastfeeding. Or to people who suffer from gallstones and to those who have problems related to the pathology of the diabetesGinger may increase insulin levels and lower blood sugar.

The best quality ginger

But where does the ginger we use come from? And which one can we consider the best in the world? The world's largest ginger producers are, in order, India, China, Nigeria e NepalAnd China, along with Peru, is the leading supplier of ginger to Italians. But the best quality comes from Kerala, the Indian region where ginger grows in a sub-acid volcanic zone.

Ginger: properties, uses, and contraindications