Today's Kalam: Ginger for health

Ginger is a flowering plant originated from China whose rhizome, ginger root or simply ginger, is widely used as a spice or a folk medicine. It is scientifically named as Zingiber officinale. Ginger is in the family Zingiberaceae, to which also belong turmeric , cardamom. The word ginger is originated from the old english word Gingifer . Ginger has a sialagogue action, stimulating the production of saliva, which makes swallowing easier.

Raw ginger is composed of 79% water, 18% carbohydrates, 2% protein, and 1% fat. In South East Asia, ginger is common in food and medicine around the world. The ginger plant is rich in natural chemicals that can promote your health and wellness. It has been used to help digestion, reduce nausea and help fight the flu and common cold, to name a few. The unique fragrance and flavour of ginger come from its natural oils, the most important of which is gingerol. Gingerol is the main bioactive compound in ginger, responsible for much of its medicinal properties. It has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Benefits:

Consuming ginger can support your health and may also help treat many health problems.
Drinking ginger water is also a great way to stay hydrated, which is important for your overall health.
Ginger along with some lukewarm water (if needed a bit of honey can be added)is great for digestion. It helps preventing from bloating.
Studies have proven ginger`s effectiveness against nausea and vomiting.
It is added as a medicine for migraine sufferers which results in reducing the discomfort.
Ginger along with other herbs promotes healthy blood pressure.
Ginger maintains its blood sugar levels. It acts on insulin generation and promotes metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids.
Ginger has UV ray absorbing capability that protects DNA from damage due to UV-B rays.
It plays a vital role in reducing the weight.
Gingerol, the bioactive substance in fresh ginger, can help lower the risk of infections.

Risks:

Side effects from ginger are rare but can include the following if ginger is consumed in excess:

Don’t consume more than 4 grams of ginger in any given day in any form.
Ginger might also interfere with antihypertensive therapy.
Ginger, when taken in higher doses (more than 4 grams per day), can cause mild heartburn.
Ginger when taken on empty stomach leads to gastric stimulation, leading to digestive distress and an upset stomach.
Burning in the mouth also called the Oral Allergy Syndrome, certain allergy occur when you consume ginger in loads.
If taken in large quantities, ginger can cause diarrhoea. This is because it accelerates the passage of food through the intestines.
Intake of ginger might not be safe during Pregnancy.