My go to for digestion issues is ginger. The carbonation in ginger ale sometimes helps, but it’s difficult to find ginger ale that doesn’t contain high fructose corn syrup, so I normally drink ginger tea instead.
Ginger is a Chinese remedy used since 400 B.C. It’s also been used in traditional Ayurvedic and Indian medicine for thousands of years.
Some of the benefits of ginger include:
– relief from nausea including motion sickness
– relief from bloating and gas
– ginger contains antioxidants which help remove compounds that cause cell damage, particularly in the pancreas and colon
– contains phytonutrients which are antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory and contribute to a healthy microbiome with the most active compound being gingerol
– may help ease headaches for some, although it’s never helped me
– helpful in treating jock itch, ringworm, athlete’s foot and yeast infections
– helps with pain relief from arthritis
– increases autophagy which is the body’s process of recycling and removing old cells that could harm your health
Ginger is available as a powder or as a root in the vegetable aisle of the grocery store. Low sugar, gluten free gingerbread cookies are a great treat to make at Christmas.
There are also ginger supplements, but I prefer taking herbs in their natural state as a tea or added to food.
Ginger shouldn’t be taken when using blood thinners as ginger also acts as a blood thinner. Those with a history of gallstones should also be careful using ginger.
Challenge:
Try some ginger tea. Either make it yourself with a little raw ginger added to a cup of hot water or use ginger tea bags. I like Traditional Medicinals Tea organic ginger tea.
To make a cup of ginger tea with fresh ginger, heat a cup of water. Cut a small piece of ginger off of the larger root piece. Peel off the skin and drop in the hot water. Optionally, add a little lemon and honey. Steep it for 10 – 15 minutes. I also like to add a sprinkle of ground turmeric which has it’s own set of health benefits, including reducing inflammation.
Resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6341159/
https://herbsey.com/Herbs/Ginger/Antifungal-Properties
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/ginger-benefits
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/health-benefits-ginger-tea
https://drjockers.com/7-herbs-that-enhance-autophagy-and-cellular-healing/
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