Drink Ginger Water Routinely, Give These 6 Benefits For Your Health
Ginger has been known for thousands of years as a spice that has many benefits. Apart from being processed into herbs or into your favorite dishes, ginger can also be drunk water to treat various health complaints. Here are the various health benefits that you can get if you are diligent in drinking ginger water.
What are the benefits of drinking ginger water?
1. Relieves aches and pains
Gingerols and phenols, chemical compounds in ginger, are painkillers that can relieve pain. Both are effective in relieving symptoms of stomach irritation, relieving menstrual cramps, and muscle aches after exercise.
A study involving 60 adults with migraines reported that ginger water worked better at relieving migraine symptoms when used as an adjunct therapy, compared to taking pain medication alone.
2. Eliminate nausea
The reputation of ginger as a remover of nausea and preventing seasickness is not in doubt. Drinking ginger water is also useful for relieving nausea and vomiting, including what appears as a side effect of recovery after surgery, chemotherapy, and pregnancy (morning sickness).
3. Against rheumatic inflammation and osteoarthritis
Regularly drinking ginger water can help prevent and reduce inflammation caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatic joint pain.
This is because a number of active components in ginger, such as gingerol, gingerdione, and zingeron work to reduce natural substances that trigger inflammation in the body. Ginger also contains oleoresin which works to fight inflammation.
One study found that ginger can reduce symptoms of inflammation caused by an allergic reaction.
4 Rich in antioxidants to fight the risk of chronic disease
Dried ginger is a high source of antioxidants that have the potential to protect you from the bad effects of free radicals. Your body can get free radicals from the surrounding environment, such as exposure to sunlight, radiation, ozone, cigarette smoke, air pollution from exhaust fumes, industrial chemicals, and the food and drinks you consume.
Free radicals are suspected to be a risk factor for various chronic diseases such as tumors, cancer, heart disease, reduced vision ability, and age-related neurological disorders (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease). One study found that drinking ginger water could prevent or slow down kidney failure.
Free radicals also cause premature aging.
5. Controlling diabetes blood sugar levels
There have been many studies that report ginger can lower blood sugar levels and help regulate insulin response in diabetics.
Well, a study from Iran added that in Iran it found that ginger in particular lowered fasting blood sugar and HbA1c levels in the blood. People with type 2 diabetes who took ginger supplements experienced a dramatic drop in fasting blood sugar.
In addition, the anti-inflammatory properties in ginger can also prevent complications of diabetes, such as diabetic retinopathy, heart disease, and stroke. Researchers reported that these benefits were more beneficial when ginger water was mixed with cinnamon powder.
6. Lose weight
A study conducted on 10 men reported that regularly drinking hot ginger water after breakfast caused a feeling of fullness longer than just breakfast alone. Another study also found that ginger can help reduce appetite.
An article in the British Journal of Nutrition reports that ginger can control blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and increase the metabolic rate so that the body burns fat more effectively.
Even so, it needs more in-depth research with a wider range to ascertain the benefits of ginger for weight loss.
How to make ginger water at home
To get the optimal benefits of ginger, you should choose fresh ginger.
Common ways to make ginger water at home are as follows:
- Grate 1.5 teaspoons of fresh ginger
- Boil 4 cups of water
- Add ginger to the water
- Let the ginger soak for about 5-10 minutes
- Strain the water to separate the grated ginger
- Ginger water can be drunk both hot and cold.
If the taste is too strong, you can add honey or lemon juice.
Be aware of the side effects of drinking ginger water
Drinking ginger water is generally safe. However, when consumed in excess, ginger can cause stomach upset, flatulence feels hot, to heartburn and diarrhea. You are not recommended to consume more than 4 grams of ginger per day.
It is also feared that the consumption of ginger in any form will cause dangerous interactions if you are taking blood thinners. So if you are one of them, consult your doctor before drinking ginger water.
Likewise for pregnant women. Although drinking ginger water is not dangerous, let alone increase the risk of pregnancy complications, you should still consult your obstetrician before drinking ginger water while pregnant.
Hello Health Group and Hello Sehat do not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please check our editorial policy page for more detailed information.
