Ginger is a popular spice and has been used for its medicinal properties for thousands of years now. Some may find it difficult to manage the taste and aroma of the spice; however, it can protect your body from a number of health conditions that you may face regularly.
So, if you are tired of popping pills every time you get an upset stomach or you are down with a cold, try using ginger to combat the issue. If you are having difficulty biting into a raw ginger for its benefits, you should definitely try ginger tea.
Here are some amazing benefits of ginger tea that can heal your body if you have mild health conditions.
1. Beats All Kinds Of Nausea
Ginger is considered to be a safe treatment for nausea and vomiting, even during pregnancy too.1 Ginger tea is also good for morning or travel sickness and for improving sluggish circulation. It can also treat post-operative nausea and therapy-induced nausea. It is always best to prepare your own ginger tea with freshly chopped ginger root in boiling water. However, some people also use ginger powder or ginger syrup. These may not be as effective as the freshly cut ginger root tea.
2. Treats Cold And Cough
Ginger tea is also effective in treating cold and cough. Ginger has antiviral and antibacterial properties that can protect the body from infections by increasing the immunity levels. If you have a severe cough, the respiratory tract may get inflamed and ginger, with its anti-inflammatory property, can bring down the inflammation in your respiratory system.2 Similarly, the soothing, warm action of ginger tea can melt and remove the mucus trapped in the lungs to treat cough. Drinking some ginger tea is also effective in easing spasms associated with severe coughing.
3. Eases Muscle Pain And Soreness
Ginger tea is good to ease your muscle aches and soreness after a strenuous workout.3 The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger contribute to this health benefit. In fact, after a heavy workout, sipping on the ginger tea will also help you rehydrate your body.
Ginger may also be effective in treating serious illnesses like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. This is because ginger can suppress inflammatory molecules reducing joint pain and inflammation associated with the conditions. Having four cups of ginger tea daily may ease the pain. However, it is always better to check with your doctor before you change your diet as it may interfere with medications.4
4. Controls Menstrual Pain
If you experience severe pain during menstruation, ginger tea can alleviate the pain. Studies have shown that ginger is as effective as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that work by reducing the hormones that cause inflammation and pain.5 Therefore, if you want to ease your menstrual pain naturally without medications, have a cup of warm ginger tea.
5. Lowers Cholesterol Levels
Ginger tea lowers the bad cholesterol in your body.6 It helps reduce the total cholesterol and triglycerides present in the blood. This can help lower your risk of developing heart diseases and other serious illnesses. If you already have a high cholesterol and are on medications, speak to your doctor before you start drinking ginger tea to reduce it further.
6. Improves Digestive Functions
Ginger is very effective for gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, appetite loss, etc. Ginger tea can also do the same to help your digestive system function better. It can also help with chronic indigestion. Studies have shown that it can also reduce inflammation in the colon if that is the cause of your digestive issue.7 If you have a mild stomach upset and don’t want to take medicines, ginger tea is an effective remedy that can ease the discomfort.
7. May Help Prevent Cancer
Ginger is a good source of antioxidants.8 The antioxidants are capable of fighting free radicals that can damage the body cells and can eventually cause cancer. Therefore, this means that sipping on ginger tea will give your body enough antioxidants that can fight disease-causing free radicals and can inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Ginger and ginger tea may be used to treat breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and pancreatic cancer.9
Apart from these benefits, ginger tea may also be effective in lowering the blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. If you already have diabetes, it may help control your sugar levels, too. Ginger tea may also protect the body from age-related decline in the brain function.
Therefore, adding ginger in the form of ginger tea to your diet may be a good decision. Homemade ginger tea may be more effective than ginger powder. All you need to do is chop some fresh ginger root and boil it in water. If you cannot take the raw flavor, you can add honey, mint, or even lemon to your tea.
Before you start having ginger tea on a regular basis, try it one cup at a time. It is rare to experience side effects with ginger or ginger tea. However, some people may experience minor side effects like a burning sensation or a heartburn. High doses of ginger tea may also cause nausea and stomach ailments. Pregnant and breastfeeding women, diabetics, heart patients, and those suffering from gallstones should not take ginger tea without speaking to the health professional. If you are on blood-thinning medications, ginger tea may interfere with the medicines that may worsen the condition.
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