Autumn is officially upon us. With it, the common cold as well as other ailments we all hope to avoid this upcoming winter. While there are many things that affect whether or not we get sick such as exercise, diet, sleeping habits, and more, there are still little things we can do to improve our health and give our immune system an extra boost. One of which, is, of course, drinking ginger tea. It’s no secret that ginger is nothing short of a superfood, and there’s a good reason for that. The root is so full of different benefits that it’s become an all-around favorite all over the world. Originally from Asia, the ginger root adds so much flavor to many different foods. Additionally, it’s a herbal remedy for a lot of different ailments. So, let’s talk about why you should start (or continue) drinking ginger tea.
Why Should You Drink Ginger Tea
Motion Sickness
One of the more known benefits of ginger and ginger tea is its ability to help with motion sickness, dizziness, nausea, and cold sweats. While most of the research done hasn’t been able to prove its effectiveness, it’s still considered to be helpful. One thing’s for sure – it can’t hurt.
Blood Pressure and Heart Health
Research has suggested that consuming ginger can protect against heart disease by lowering blood pressure, preventing blood clots, relieving heartburn, and lowering cholesterol. This is thanks to a component ginger contains that is named Gingerol.
Ease Digestion
Ginger tea might just be most known for its potential to soothe digestive problems. In fact, one study suggests that it might even be as effective as some medications, only with fewer side effects, in the case of morning sickness.
Anti-Inflammatory
The component we’ve mentioned, Gingerol, has also been shown to have an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect. This means that when it’s drunk as a tea, it might help support a healthy microbiome. Of course, inflammation can lead to all kinds of unwanted problems like headaches among other things.
Weight Loss and Sugar Control
A study done in 2012 at Columbia University found that drinking hot ginger tea increased the feeling of fullness and reduced hunger. As a result, a review of the research suggests that ginger might help managing obesity. In addition, ginger might help improve blood sugar levels, reduce insulin, and aid people with type 2 diabetes according to some research.
Immune Support
It’s thought that all the antioxidants ginger contains can help strengthen your immune system and even reduce stress. As a matter of fact, inhaling the steam from ginger tea can help relieve nasal congestion and other respiratory problems that stem from the common cold or allergies. On top of that, research has shown that ginger might help prevent cancer! This includes pancreatic cancer and colon cancer.
Pain Relief
For centuries now, ginger has been used to treat inflammation. This practice now has scientific evidence behind it to support it. It’s been shown in multiple studies that ginger can help relieve pain from osteoarthritis of the knee in particular.
