What Is Fresh Ginger Good For?

What Is Fresh Ginger Good For?
Photo Credit ginger image by Aleksandr Ugorenkov from Fotolia.com

Ginger is an herb originally from Asia. When working with fresh ginger it is usually the root that you use for cooking, spices and medical purposes. You can use this root fresh, dried, powdered, or as a juice or oil, explains the National Institute of Health. Speak with your doctor before incorporating fresh ginger into your diet.

Helps Nausea and Vomiting

Fresh ginger has been shown to help reduce nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy, chemotherapy and overall illness. People suffering from cancer have reported that the taste or aroma of beverages and foods with ginger helps soothe their nausea, states the American Cancer Society. There are still mixed results regarding the use of ginger in the treatment of nausea and vomiting following surgery. Speak with your doctor about using fresh ginger to treat any form of nausea and vomiting.

Improve Motion Sickness

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, novice sailors who were prone to motion sickness experienced a significant reduction in vomiting and cold sweating while taking fresh ginger compared to those who took a placebo. Ginger also has few side effects when compared to other motion sickness medications. Speak with your doctor about how much fresh ginger to use for motion sickness.

Reduce Inflammation

You can reduce inflammation, or an increased blood flow to certain areas of the body, with fresh ginger. Health care professionals often use fresh ginger to help treat health problems associated with inflammation, such as arthritis and ulcerative colitis, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you are suffering from inflammation speak with your doctor about the benefits of using this herb.

Pleasent Fragrance and Flavor

Putting chopped, fresh ginger into dishes adds an Asian flavor. Try adding fresh ginger root to stir fry, salads, dressings and meat. The National Institute of Health reports that manufacturers use fresh ginger for fragrance in soaps and cosmetics.

References

Article reviewed by Jerry Petersen Last updated on: May 2, 2011

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