Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a herb with plenty of health benefits. The rhizome of the ginger plant is loaded with bioactive compounds and nutrients that are beneficial not only for the body, but also the brain.
Gingerol, the bioactive compound in ginger, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that are useful in relieving nausea, especially pregnancy-related morning sickness.[1,2.3]
Ginger provides effective relief from muscle pain resulting from exercise injuries.[4,5] It also relieves symptoms of osteoarthritis by alleviating joint pain and stiffness.[6,7] Ginger powder can also be useful in decreasing the intensity of menstrual pain.[8] The cholesterol-lowering effects of ginger are similar to the drug atorvastatin, a popular medicine used for lowering cholesterol levels.[9,10]
Ginger For Preventing Cancer
Cancer is characterized by an abnormal growth of cells.
Ginger has been studied as an alternative treatment for different forms of cancer.
The anti-cancer effects are attributed to 6-gingerol, a compound found in raw ginger.[11,12]
A study done in 30 people found that when two grams of ginger extract every day significantly reduced pro-inflammatory signaling molecules in the colon.[13]
Other studies suggest that ginger may be effective against breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and pancreatic cancer.[14,15,16]
How To Take It
- Take ½tsp ginger paste with a glass of warm water twice daily to increase your immunity and help prevent cancer.
Advisory: The content made available at Z Living has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or by any other governmental agency. It is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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References:
1. Wang S, Zhang C, Yang G, Yang Y. Biological properties of 6-gingerol: a brief review. Nat Prod Commun. 2014 Jul;9(7):1027-30. Review. PubMed PMID: 25230520.
2. Ernst E, Pittler MH. Efficacy of ginger for nausea and vomiting: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Br J Anaesth. 2000 Mar;84(3):367-71. Review. PubMed PMID: 10793599.
3. Viljoen E, Visser J, Koen N, Musekiwa A. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect and safety of ginger in the treatment of pregnancy-associated nausea and vomiting. Nutrition Journal. 2014;13:20. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-13-20.
4. Black CD, Herring MP, Hurley DJ, O’Connor PJ. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) reduces muscle pain caused by eccentric exercise. J Pain. 2010 Sep;11(9):894-903. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2009.12.013. Epub 2010 Apr 24. PubMed PMID: 20418184.
5. Black CD, O’Connor PJ. Acute effects of dietary ginger on muscle pain induced by eccentric exercise. Phytother Res. 2010 Nov;24(11):1620-6. doi: 10.1002/ptr.3148. PubMed PMID: 21031618.
6. Altman RD, Marcussen KC. Effects of a ginger extract on knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2001 Nov;44(11):2531-8. PubMed PMID: 11710709.
7. Zahmatkash M, Vafaeenasab MR. Comparing analgesic effects of a topical herbal mixed medicine with salicylate in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Pak J Biol Sci. 2011 Jul 1;14(13):715-9. PubMed PMID: 22308653.
8. Ozgoli G, Goli M, Moattar F. Comparison of effects of ginger, mefenamic acid, and ibuprofen on pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea. J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Feb;15(2):129-32. doi: 10.1089/acm.2008.0311. PubMed PMID: 19216660.
9. Alizadeh-Navaei R, Roozbeh F, Saravi M, Pouramir M, Jalali F, Moghadamnia AA. Investigation of the effect of ginger on the lipid levels. A double blind controlled clinical trial. Saudi Med J. 2008 Sep;29(9):1280-4. PubMed PMID: 18813412.
10. Al-Noory AS, Amreen AN, Hymoor S. Antihyperlipidemic effects of ginger extracts in alloxan-induced diabetes and propylthiouracil-induced hypothyroidism in (rats). Pharmacognosy Res. 2013 Jul;5(3):157-61. doi: 10.4103/0974-8490.112419. PubMed PMID: 23901210; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3719255.
11. Poltronieri J, Becceneri AB, Fuzer AM, Filho JC, Martin AC, Vieira PC, Pouliot N, Cominetti MR. [6]-gingerol as a cancer chemopreventive agent: a review of its activity on different steps of the metastatic process. Mini Rev Med Chem. 2014 Apr;14(4):313-21. Review. PubMed PMID: 24552266.
12. Oyagbemi AA, Saba AB, Azeez OI. Molecular targets of [6]-gingerol: Its potential roles in cancer chemoprevention. Biofactors. 2010 May-Jun;36(3):169-78.
doi: 10.1002/biof.78. Review. PubMed PMID: 20232343.
13. Zick SM, Turgeon DK, Vareed SK, et al. Phase II study of the Effects of Ginger Root Extract on Eicosanoids in Colon Mucosa in People at Normal Risk for Colorectal Cancer. Cancer prevention research (Philadelphia, Pa). 2011;4(11):1929-1937. doi:10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-11-0224.
14. Park YJ, Wen J, Bang S, Park SW, Song SY. [6]-Gingerol Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Cell Death of Mutant p53-expressing Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Yonsei Medical Journal. 2006;47(5):688-697. doi:10.3349/ymj.2006.47.5.688.
15. Rhode J, Fogoros S, Zick S, et al. Ginger inhibits cell growth and modulates angiogenic factors in ovarian cancer cells. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2007;7:44. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-7-44.
16. Lee, Hyun Sook et al.[6]-Gingerol inhibits metastasis of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry , Volume 19 , Issue 5 , 313 – 319.
