Ginger Root

For those of you who drink a lot of tea, it's common to find ginger root in many different blends. For those of you who haven't drank much tea, trust me when I say ginger root is a predominant ingredient for almost all tea blends.

So what's with ginger root?

HISTORY

Ginger root has a rich history dating back well over 5,000 years. Once considered a luxury of the wealthy, ginger root was a common medicinal root throughout China and India. Originating from Southeast Asia, this root is commonly grown and harvested throughout the world.

Ginger is a warming spice from the same family as cardamom and turmeric, and along with it's popularity as a medicine, it is also very commonly used for all types of cooking.

Ginger has recently become popular as a spice, with Queen Elizabeth I of England having been known to have popularized the gingerbread man at Christmas.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Gingerol

Ginger contains a substance known as gingerol which gives ginger its distinct flavor. Gingerol is the main bioactive compound in this root and is known for being a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent.

Nausea

Ginger historically was the go to spice for eliminating sea sickness making it common in the ancient worlds at the time of peak sea travel.

Today, ginger is commonly used for minor nausea related symptoms, or for more serious nausea related symptoms stemming from chemotherapy and pregnancy.

Soreness

Ginger root is an effective spice against exercise induced muscle pain. While it does not report to reduce muscle pain immediately, consistent intake of ginger can reduce muscle pain and cramping over time.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the degeneration of the joints leading to symptoms of pain, stiffness and discomfort. Many patients suffering from this disease rely on ginger to help soothe joints.

Heart Disease & Blood Sugar

In a recent 2015 study of people with type 2 diabetes, scientists were able to observe a reduction in fasting blood sugar by as much as 12%!

Also observed in this study was 28% and 23% reductions in ApoB/ApoA-I ratio and oxidized lipoproteins. These are known to major risk factors for heart disease leading to the understanding that ginger is a reputable root for reducing both blood sugar and the risk of heart disease.

Indigestion

Chronic indigestion is a recurring pain and discomfort in the upper stomach. This pain is known to be caused by the delay in the emptying of the stomach.

Ginger is now known to speed up the emptying of the stomach which reduces the effects of chronic indigestion, and in a recent study was shown to accelerate the emptying of the stomach by as much as 50%!

Menstrual Pain

For all the ladies out there, yes, ginger can take those pesky cramps and shove 'em!

A recent study conducted on 150 women determined ginger was found to be as effective as mefenamic acid, and ibuprofen.

Cholesterol

High level of LDL lipoproteins are known to increase the risk of heart disease. Heavily influenced by food consumption, these proteins contribute to increased cholesterol.

Studies have shown that daily consumption of ginger significantly reduce LDL cholesterols and blood triglycerides.

Cancer

In a recent study among 30 people, ginger was shown to significantly reduce proinflammatory signalling molecules in the colon which helps prevent colon cancer.

Another study was unable to confirm these results, however there is also some limited research suggesting that ginger may be effective against pancreatic cancer, breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

Alzheimer's

Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation is known to increase the aging process, including cognitive decline and Alzheimer's.

More research is required, however early studies on animals have shown that the antioxidants in ginger can inhibit inflammatory responses in the brain that lead to cognitive decline and Alzheimer's.

There is also evidence that ginger directly improves brain function, improving reaction time and memory.

Infections

Remember gingerol? Apparently this substance is also known to lower the risk of infection and bacteria. The evidence suggests gingerol strongly reduces inflammatory diseases of the gums such as gingivitis and periodontitis.

SUMMARY

Not only is ginger known for its vast array of health benefits, this widely grown and harvested root is great in flavor. Which is why the tea industry commonly uses this root to both increase the amount of antioxidants and bioactive ingredients while maintaining tasty flavors!

Check out our ginger infused tea & tea blends today!