Ginger: Over 14 Bio-Active Compounds to Fight Numerous Diseases, Including Cancer
In the same family as cardomom, galangal, and
Among 115 constituents of fresh and dried ginger, gingerols are the main active ingredient. Aside from gingerols, there are paradol, shogaol, dehydro, gingerdione, hexahydrocurcumin, tetrahydrocurcumin, gingerenone A, 1,7-bis-(4′ hydroxyl-3′ methoxyphenyl)-5-methoxyhepthan-3-one, and methoxy.
Depending on the variety of ginger, the active compounds will vary slightly. Fresh ginger has the most volatile oils, as well as vitamin B6 and C, and the minerals calcium, magnesium, sulphur, phosphorus and potassium.
In even minute quantities, ginger has been shown to have beneficial effects on the body. The suggested serving size, however, since different strains have been found to have varying levels of the active compounds, is 4.8 grams a day. (Schwertner, Rios, and Pascoe 2006).
Ginger can induce fever to help the body sweat out toxins, reduce inflammation in the body, and even acts as a natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. But as outlined by Mike Barrett’s ‘Health Benefits of Ginger‘ article, the benefits don’t stop there. Ginger is great for:
- Cancer protection
- Heartburn/acid reflux/GERD
- Boosting the immune system
- Pain
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Stuffy Nose or Nasal Congestion
- Upset stomach
- Nausea
- Toothache
- Headaches
- Inflammation
- Sore throat
- Swelling
- Diseases caused by or fueled by inflammation such as arthritis, obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, numerous cancer types, cardiovascular disease, and more
You can even grow your own ginger with organic seeds, purchased from a trusted, non-GMO seed-source. It grows well in pots, with loose, potting soil that won’t retain moisture and place the pots in light shade, where the growing environment will mimic that of its native land in Asia.
You can find ginger in bread, rice dishes, a side for sushi, cookies, crackers, stir-fry, beer, and a thousand other delicious preparations. An absolute must-add to your diet in order to stay healthy, it is used the world over, from Pakistan to the Caribbean, Japan and China to Jamaica and the Philippines. People have been experiencing the many health benefits of ginger for ages; now it’s your turn.
What is the best way to take ginger for maximal benefit? Eat slices of raw ginger? Make a tea with it? Take it as a powder?
I like for breakfast apples with ginger root. Each bite of the apple is accompanied with ginger. My both sons actually have a flu, a few hours ago I could rarely breath through my nose – but actually everything’s fine, and I hope it it will stay so. If you enyoy smoothies you can put it in there, you can ginger your dishes, you can make a tea……….be creative, you cannot be wrong.