Ginger, a flowering plant typically originating from southeast Asia, is a member of the Zingiberaceae family.The green ginger plant grows up to be around 3 ft (91 cm) tall, producing a bunch of greenish-purple flowers. The ginger root part, or the rhizome, is the one that is commonly used as a spice and for other consumption purposes.Scientifically it is known as Zingiber officinale, thought to have been derived from its Sanskrit name ‘singabera.’ Ginger is now grown and available all around the world. It is a spice that is used in many different dishes and has a unique flavor. Ginger also bears excellent health benefits. It is a fresh root that has been used for centuries in traditional medicine. Ginger is also a great source of nutrition, providing vitamins and minerals that are essential for good health. There are also various varieties of ginger, making the inside of their roots yellow, red or white in color. In this article, discussed are some of the medicinal benefits of ginger as well as other interesting facts about its nutrition. So if you are interested in learning more about this amazing spice, keep reading!Fun Facts About GingerGinger is a very common food item to be used for cooking purposes in almost every household across the world. Other than that, it is utilized for a lot of other reasons as well, like for its medicinal properties, dietary health benefits, etc. It has been in use since ancient times because of its nutrients and easily grows at home nature.India is one of the highest ginger-producing countries, with almost 385.33 thousand tons (349.54 met ton) of ginger in production in a single year.It is possible to consume fresh ginger, dried ginger, or stored as a spice as ginger powder and even in the form of ginger capsules or ginger extract.Ginger root also consists of essential oil, almost 2% in amount, which is popular as a fragrance for soaps, perfumes, and other beauty products.It bears many types of uses, like powdered ginger as a spice for cooking various dishes, traditional medicine to treat joint pain or reduce nausea, an essential oil, a cosmetic material, etc.There is more than one way in which fresh ginger can be included in our daily diet.Ginger is used to induce flavor in both sweet and savory foods like marinating fish and chicken, salad dressing, soup, pickle, tea, etc.Generally, fresh ginger or ginger root is preferred for usage in cooking dishes rather than dried ginger or ginger extract because fresh ginger contains more gingerol.Moreover, it also must be made sure that the ginger root is smooth and firm, without any mold or shrivel on it.Ginger pickle or ginger root pickle can be purchased ready-made or made at home and are usually eaten with sushi, salads, soup, ramen dishes, etc.Sometimes, powdered ginger spice is used as an alternative to fresh ginger, but with altered smell and taste; hence, it must be used in very limited quantity for cooking food items.As a matter of fact, most people confuse and call the bulb part ginger root, when in reality, it is the ginger root that is used for cooking food, especially in Asian cuisine.Ginger root is also known to last as long as three weeks if stored refrigerated, is not peeled, and is not wrinkled or molded.If refrigerated for too long without being utilized for making food, ginger root can easily be frozen. Nutritional Facts About GingersGinger is considered a powerhouse of nutrients, vitamins, and fresh flavor. If included in the diet, ginger provides the body with essential nutrients like vitamins, protein, etc., along with a certain amount of calories. Here are some nutrition facts about gingers.Ginger is a root that is high in vitamins and minerals and has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to reduce pain and inflammation in the body.One tablespoon or 1 in (2.54 cm) of ginger contains exactly 4.8 calories, 0.037 oz (1.07 g) of carbohydrates, 0.004 oz (0.12 g) of dietary fiber, 0.0038 oz (0.11 g) of protein, 0.0017 oz (0.05 g) of fat (healthy), 0.003 oz (0.1 g) of sugar, and traces of vitamin c, vitamin d, vitamin b3 & b6, iron, potassium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, folate, niacin, and riboflavin.As per the information provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate guidelines, ginger forms part of a safe diet with various health benefits.There are various known health benefits of ginger, as it is great for digestion and can help to relieve nausea, vomiting, and motion sickness, among various other things.Eating ginger as part of daily diet is not only a guaranteed intake of useful and healthy calories, vitamin c, dietary fiber, and other essential nutrients but can also help deal with various common health-related problems which are recurring in nature.Drinking warm water with ginger root or simply drinking ginger tea is very beneficial in treating sore throats, allergies, and mild coughs.Eating ginger is also quite effective in building strong immunity and bodily resistance to many diseases, not to mention maintaining the body’s overall well-being.Ginger may also play a role in weight loss by providing the required amounts of calories and vitamins, but not any fat and cholesterol content, at least not in the fresh root.Ginger oil may, however, contain trace amounts of cholesterol mostly because of its processing and additives.Ginger is also considered a superfood because it has a high amount of nutritional density per portion.Medicinal Facts About GingerGinger is considered a part of herbal medicine which has been used for centuries in traditional medicine for the treatment of a variety of health conditions. Ginger is anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, antiviral and antiparasitic in nature. There are several medicinal facts about ginger and its products.Traditionally, in many parts of the world, ginger has been treated and used as a food item that has miraculous medicinal properties.It can be used to treat various health conditions, like arthritis, pain relief, nausea, vomiting, common cold and flu, respiratory infections, and indigestion.Ginger is a rich source of antioxidants, which can help to protect the body from free radical damage, which are unstable molecules that can damage cells and contribute to disease.It is also effective as an alternative medicine because it contains gingerol, which is a natural oil known to have antioxidant effects on the body, helping it clear the toxins inside.Gingerol is also attributed as an alternative remedy in development for preventing the risk of several types of cancer.Ginger is a great dietary supplement as it helps contain and ease chemotherapy and pregnancy-related nausea, as the likes of morning sickness.It also has anti-diabetic properties, which are responsible for lowering blood sugar levels and preventing heart-related diseases at bay by keeping the blood sugar of a person checked in balance.Many people suffer from chronic indigestion, as it is a common digestive disorder, most prevalent among those with severe over-eating habits.Ginger is one among several many effective and beneficial sources of food when it comes to helping with digestive problems, especially chronic indigestion accompanied by severe stomach pain and uneasiness in the upper portion of the stomach.Studies have shown that ginger capsules have also helped in relieving the pain caused by functional dyspepsia, a form of indigestion without any known cause.Since one of many medicinal benefits of ginger is reducing pain, its consumption also helps in relieving menstrual pain, also known as Dysmenorrhea, especially if taken at the start of the period.It is also rich in antioxidants, improving the functional attributes of kidneys, in turn helping them during the filtration of toxins from the body.Ginger is one of many nutrient-rich food items which, upon consumption, aid in the prevention of heart-related diseases by keeping blood sugar in check and reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in the body.It also improves brain function and helps in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. Facts About Side Effects Of GingerGinger is a great source of vitamins and other nutrients but has some potential side effects, especially if you are taking medication. Ginger can interfere with the absorption of certain medications if taken as part of the daily diet, so it is important to speak to your doctor before consuming ginger if you are taking any prescription drugs.Ginger should not be eaten daily or too much in quantity because it may cause heartburn, nausea, and vomiting in some individuals if taken on an empty stomach.It is also not recommended for pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers to eat ginger, as it can induce labor as well as increase the risk of miscarriage if consumed in high amounts during pregnancy, so it is best to avoid ginger supplements while pregnant or nursing.Ginger can also reduce blood sugar levels and increase insulin sensitivity which may lead to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) in diabetics who are taking medications such as metformin or insulin.Ginger should be avoided by people who have gallstones because ginger may aggravate these conditions.Ginger may as well cause an increment in the possibility of bleeding, so it is not recommended for people with a bleeding disorder.If consumed in unmoderated amounts, it directly speeds up the process of food passage, causing irritation in the intestines, in turn, causing diarrhea.Even though it is rich in many nutrients and vitamins, eating ginger may cause severe gas and bloating.If consumed directly through the mouth, especially in an uncooked form, ginger can stimulate the Oral Allergy Syndrome, causing extreme irritation and itching in the mouth and even swelling in some cases.
Ginger, a flowering plant typically originating from southeast Asia, is a member of the Zingiberaceae family.
