Ginger is a root vegetable with a light yellow color. It tastes slightly sharp and spicy. Ginger root is an excellent ingredient to enrich exotic vegetable dishes. A two-meter-high ginger plant emerges above the ground, which is mainly characterized by its beautiful red flower. The ginger flower does not look out of place in a bouquet. NB! This article is written from the personal view of the author and may contain information that is not scientifically substantiated and/or in line with the general view.

Contents:

• Against rheumatism
• Ginger tea
• Ginger against travel sickness
• Ginger against vomiting
• Ginger against colon cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Ginger as an Immune Booster
• Ginger syrup

Against rheumatism

The ginger root contains gingerols that have an anti-inflammatory effect. People with rheumatism benefit from this because the painful symptoms of rheumatism disappear after regularly eating ginger. Just a thin slice of ginger with food reduces rheumatic pain. If you eat more ginger, the medicinal effect is stronger. The phenol 6-gingerol is responsible for its medicinal properties against rheumatism.Botanical drawing of ginger / Source: Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler’s Medizinal-Pflanzen, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Ginger tea

Fresh ginger is the healthiest, but eating ginger fresh and raw is a bit too spicy. Ginger is a true medicinal herb. To use it for that purpose, it is best to make a ginger tea. You can make your own ginger tea by cutting or grating a reasonable amount of ginger very small and then putting it in a teapot. Then you simply make black tea with a tea bag. Another way is to put the ginger in your tea glass and stir it after a minute. All the ginger then sinks to the bottom. Ginger tea can be very spicy; then you just have to add more water. The remaining ginger is no longer as sharp and you could then use it for a salad.

Ginger against travel sickness

Scientific research has shown that ginger works very well against travel sickness. Ginger root is especially effective against seasickness. Prevent dizziness, nausea, vomiting and cold sweats by taking ginger before the trip.

Ginger against vomiting

Women who are pregnant are more likely to vomit. Eating ginger helps very well against this.Two varieties of ginger at a market in China / Source: Anna Frodesiak, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Ginger against colon cancer

Colon cancer may be prevented by eating ginger three times a week, according to scientific research. Professor Ann Bode from the University of Minnesota conducted a study in which mice were infected so that they developed cancer. The mice given 6-gingerol did not develop cancer at all. According to the professor, this is an indication that ginger has a preventive effect against colon cancer and that it may even be a good medicine against colon cancer.

Ovarian cancer

In addition to colon cancer, ginger also works well against ovarian cancer. Dr Rebecca Lui has done research into this. Gingerols, the active phytonutrients are responsible for the anti-cancer effect. Cancer cells died after the cells were given ginger extract. According to Dr Liu, the cancer cells become resistant to chemotherapy, which is the most commonly used treatment against cancer so far.

Ginger as an Immune Booster

Ginger makes the body sweat faster. Sweating is healthy. German researchers saw that a substance is secreted through the skin that fights fungi and bacteria. They have called this substance dermicidin. This substance is made naturally by the sweat glands. It has a preventive effect against, among other things, E. coli bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause many skin infections.

Ginger syrup

Ginger is available in syrup form. You can make food sweeter with this. It is also nice to mix ginger syrup in a glass with water and then drink it as lemonade. There are also ginger balls in syrup for sale. These taste a bit spicy, sharp and yet sweet. It’s a good combination for the taste buds. When eating ginger for medicinal purposes, it should be taken into account that only fresh ginger has been tested. Drinking ginger syrup can therefore be a supplement, but it does contain a lot of sugar, which is less good. Drinking fresh ginger tea and incorporating ginger into rice, potato and whole wheat pasta dishes is the best way to consume ginger in terms of its medicinal properties.