Many foods have virtues that benefit the body. Ginger is one of them: an exceptional flavor, a deliciously Oriental note in any dish, and 8 potential benefits worth knowing before working it into your daily routine.
One of the first Oriental spices to reach Europe, ginger was brought there by Arab merchants. Later, the Greek Dioscorides and the Roman Pliny the Elder mention it in their medical writings, underlining its carminative properties and its supposed virtues as an antidote against poisons. In the Middle Ages, ginger was even considered a magical, aphrodisiac plant.
8 benefits attributed to ginger
| Benefit | What is reported |
|---|---|
| 1. A source of gingerol | A powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, which would help the body flush out toxins and fight off minor viruses |
| 2. Anti-nausea | 1 to 1.5 g of ginger would help relieve nausea (pregnancy, chemotherapy) |
| 3. Against muscle pain | Daily consumption would significantly reduce regular muscle pain |
| 4. An ally during your period | 1 g of ginger over the first three days of the period would ease menstrual pain |
| 5. Anti-cholesterol | Would help bring down cholesterol levels |
| 6. Prevention (the colon in particular) | 2 g a day would be associated with a reduced risk, particularly in the colon |
| 7. Type 2 diabetes | Would help regulate blood sugar and protect heart health |
| 8. Digestion | Would make digestion easier and reduce bloating |
These effects, long reported by tradition and by some studies, remain to be confirmed case by case — if you're on medical treatment (anticoagulants, diabetes), check with a doctor before making daily, regular consumption a habit. To bring it simply into your day-to-day cooking, head for our ginger-based recipes in Palette Gourmande.
From the Middle Ages, when it was considered a magical plant, to the gingerol studied today for its antioxidant properties: ginger crosses the centuries without losing its reputation.
