Why you should have some Ginger!

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Ginger is healthy

Ginger is said to have several healing properties. It is said to help with headaches and stomach aches, have an anti-inflammatory effect, and even keep blood sugar stable. But what can the spicy root do? And which substances work how?

Ginger brings this special taste and the lovely burning spiciness to dishes but is also now widely used as a natural remedy.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, the special root has been used for healing for 5000 years. Both the fresh variety and the powder from the tubers are said to have numerous health-promoting properties. For example, the ingredients from the natural medicinal plant are said to promote digestion, stimulate circulation and be antibacterial. Likewise, the hot decoction of ginger slices is said to help before and during colds and even activate fat burning in the body.

However, it was previously unclear which substance in ginger leads to which reactions in the human body. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich have now discovered how pungent substances in ginger activate the immune system in the body. To do this, they studied the effect of a ginger tea made from 100 grams of fresh, peeled, and crushed ginger tubers and boiling water. The researchers let the drink steep for 15 minutes and then strained it.

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Gingerol

It was already known from a previous study that the consumption of ginger tea releases various pungent substances from the tuber, above all the so-called 6-gingerol, directly into the blood. This substance is the main pungent agent in ginger. The pungent substance is known to exert its "flavoring" effect via the so-called TRPV1 receptor.

The research team led by Gaby Andersen of the Leibniz Institute of Food Systems Biology knew that 6-gingerol docks onto this particular receptor in nerve cells, which, in addition to heat and pain stimuli, also detects the pungent taste of chili and ginger. Upon further investigation, the researchers finally realized that these receptors are also located in two-thirds of the white blood cells of our immune defenses, the so-called neutrophil granulocytes. These fight invading pathogens and are assigned to the non-specific, innate immune system.

See the study results at nlinelibrary.wiley.com

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How much ginger do you need?

Further laboratory experiments by the research group showed that even a very low concentration of just under 15 micrograms of 6-gingerol per liter of nutrient medium is sufficient to put the cells on heightened alert. Compared to control cells, the cells stimulated by the ginger pungent reacted about 30 percent more strongly to a mock bacterial infection. They reacted with various defense-specific mechanisms.

"Thus, at least in the experiment, deficient concentrations of 6-gingerol are sufficient to influence immune cell activity via the TRPV1 receptor. In the blood, such concentrations could theoretically be achieved by consuming a good liter of ginger tea," Andersen says in the release. Although many questions remain unanswered, the researchers' laboratory study results provide scientifically strong evidence that ginger boosts the immune system. Moreover, the team can plausibly explain how this happens in the body.

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For nausea and arthritis

Several previous studies have largely demonstrated other health-promoting effects of ginger. The pungent substances not only activate the body's defense system, but they also help to balance blood sugar, as shown, for example, in two publications from 2020. Also on the effect on nausea, motion sickness, and pregnancy sickness, there are the results of several studies that prove the effects of ginger in these cases. For pregnant women, however, it is always advised to use the food in moderation, that is, no more than 6 grams per day, and to resort to it only in mild forms of nausea and vomiting.

Ginger can also relieve the pain of osteoarthritis patients, leading to greater mobility. Scientific evidence for this has been provided by various research teams. Ginger is also of particular interest because of its effects on nerve cells. There is already scientific evidence that the ingredients in ginger, when consumed regularly, could halt cell loss associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Similar effects are also attributed to saffron, rosemary, cinnamon, and turmeric. Controversial as a blood thinner

At the same time, however, the superfood is also said to have effects that have not yet been scientifically proven or have not been proven unequivocally. These include blood-thinning properties, the prevention of heart attacks, or a direct effect on weight loss. But no matter why you regularly eat ginger, swallow ginger capsules, or drink ready-made shots or ginger tea, you should be aware that even with the popular health maker, you can overdose. This is because the pungent ingredients can irritate the stomach lining. This can lead to unpleasant and unwanted side effects such as stomach pain, flatulence, or diarrhea.

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My Power drink

Adding ginger to a daily smoothie gives power.

A different mix each day - keeps the doctor away.

Today we mix several fruits and some orange juice

^{Fresh cutted ginger by @detlev}

Adding turmeric and some cinnamon makes it even better

^{Fruits and ginger by @detlev}

MIXING is a nice and fast mixer. This cuts the structure of the ginger into tiny parts.

Now. the healthy drink is ready to get drunken. Some of the shots will stay short time in the fridge until my family will find and drink it.

^{My fresh ginger smoothy by @detlev}

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Credits

This english article based on a german post I saw today. With the help of Deepl and some other language tools I created this translation for you.

All other pics are from Pexels or from Pixabay

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Have a great day everybody
and let us travel the world again

^{pic by @detlev}

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^{@Detlev loves HIVE}

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