HEALTH BENEFITS OF GINGER

Chris Food, Healthy Food July 15, 2023July 28, 2023Ginger, Ginger Tea

Ginger is one of the most delicious foods, packed with nutrients and the health benefits of ginger are well known. Ginger benefits the whole body.

Ginger is an underground rhizome that is native to Asia and generally referred to as ginger root or just ginger. It has been used widely for its powerful medicinal properties and used historically in both traditional and alternative medicine.

Its medicinal properties have been used for centuries as a spice in food and for its well-known natural healing benefits.

Ginger is commonly used in cooking as a spice, along with other spices. It is related to turmeric and they are often used together in drinks, curries and other foods.

The powerful medicinal benefits of ginger on the body are amazing. It is one of the traditional herbs that is very versatile because it is used both as a culinary spice and as a remarkable herbal remedy. It can be taken raw, or as a powder, added to foods, drinks and also taken as a supplement.

9 Health Benefits of Ginger

The health benefits of ginger are remarkable…

1. Relieves Nausea

Throughout history ginger has been commonly used for digestion problems… bloating, nausea and other digestive issues. By drinking ginger tea with a slice of lemon and perhaps or a small amount of honey if needed, prior to travelling, it may alleviate travel nausea. Ginger is especially helpful for morning sickness also.

2. Alleviates Muscle and Joint Pain

Reduces Muscle and joint pain by its anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger has been well known for aiding in joint stiffness and the pain of inflamed muscles, along with arthritis problems.

3. Reduces Menstrual Problems

Menstrual cramps or discomfort may be relieved by taking ginger for the first few days of a woman’s cycle. Drinking a cup of ginger tea and a small dash of honey may ease the symptoms.

4. Alleviates Inflammation

Ginger has anti-inflammatory benefits for arthritis and osteoarthritis sufferers due to its powerful medicinal properties. It has been widely used as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant spice. Therefore, drinking ginger tea on a regular basis may help to alleviate inflammation, along with providing the health benefits of adding it to your overall diet.

5. Improves Blood Circulation

Ginger may also help in lowering blood sugar levels, which in turn decreases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and blood clots. Ginger aids in restoring normal blood circulation and may also help to lower a person’s cholesterol level.

6. Fights Against infection

Ginger may assist in fighting infection because of the active compound gingerol in fresh ginger. It may also fight against the risks of infection as it can inhibit against some bacteria.

7. Strengthens Immunity

Ginger’s medicinal properties have been used for helping combat the common cold. It helps fight respiratory bacterial viruses, coughs and flu-type symptoms, keeping them at bay. Ginger alsohas high levels of powerful antioxidants which may help improve the overall immune system and alleviate the common cold and other flu-like infections.

8. Improves Brain Function

Fresh ginger may also help improve memory and cognitive abilities. The antioxidant properties in ginger may protect and improve brain reaction speed and memory. Its anti-inflammatory properties may also help improve brain disorders including anxiety and depression and protect against brain ageing or brain fog issues.

9. Helps Improve Digestion

Adding ginger for stomach and heartburn upsets may be effective in relieving those symptoms.

How to Use Ginger

Ginger can be used in a powder form or lightly grated into foods, mixed in teas and drinks where it can be more easily digested.

The ginger root is a very versatile vegetable and the benefits of ginger in your diet are impressive. It can be bought fresh cut, grated or bought as ginger powder and added to many different dishes. Stews, curries and teas will all have added flavour, along with all the health benefits of ginger.

GINGER TEA BENEFITS

Ginger has long been known and tried for its Ginger Tea Benefits…

Ginger is a rhizome that is packed with powerful bacterial, anti-inflammatory benefits along with antioxidant properties. Ginger can be eaten in so many different ways, with the ginger root itself raw, or as ground ginger powder for cooking, pickled ginger by itself, as a ginger shot or as ginger chews. However, by simply adding ginger to your diet, you will reap the health benefits of ginger.

NUTRITION FOR JOINT PAIN

Chris Fitness, Fitness and Nutrition, Healthy Food, Nutrition and Health April 20, 2023February 15, 2025joint health, joint pain, nutrition

Nutrition can play an important role in alleviating Joint Pain

One of the most common types of joint pain is knee pain… and one of the most common types of knee pain is called patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) or simply patellofemoral syndrome. It is often referred to as “runner’s knee” but could just as easily be called “sitter’s knee” as it often affects people who sit for a living, such as office workers. In fact, almost anyone can develop patellofemoral pain syndrome. The actual causes of PFPS are unknown but any exercise that minimises stress on the knee can be effective in reducing the pain and this would include knee exercises in pools.

healthy foods — Foods good for joint health

Eating a healthy, nutrition-based diet that includes healthy fats (several servings per week), along with plant-based fruits and vegetables may help reduce some of the symptoms of knee joint pain such as arthritis pain, as well as “Runners Knee” syndrome.

NUTRITION AND JOINT PAIN

The symptoms of arthritis in the joints are stiffness and swelling of the joints. As we age, we may have experienced stiffness in the joints due to normal wear and tear, accidents, knocks or falls. Joint trauma, stress and strain or just simply the everyday effects of use of the joints.

In terms of nutrition to help relieve joint pain, we must look at the natural health benefits in the foods that cause inflammation of joints and also the foods that help arthritis.

WHAT ARE THE FOODS THAT CAUSE INFLAMMATION OF JOINTS?

Regardless of whether you have some type of arthritis, osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis it is very important to pay close attention to your diet for the foods that cause inflammation of joints.

Eating many of the highly processed foods such as candies, soda, ice cream, crackers, breads, pasta and meats means that you are consuming foods that inflame joints. Inflammation can lead to physical pain in the knees and joints and other parts of the body. Often these heavily processed foods that cause joint pain, such aschips and margarine, also contain trans-fats which raise the bad cholesterol levels (LDL) that are associated with other diseases like stroke and heart disease. These are foods that inflame joints.

The foods that cause inflammation of joints in the body are often readily available on the supermarket shelves, with misleading labels. This is where the natural goodness is often replaced or altered in some way and replaced by high levels of salt, sugar and other additives. These additives are often for the purpose of longer shelf life and products are frequently labelled as healthy foods, such as “low-fat” or “diet food”. However, these labels are somewhat misleading as they may be foods that inflame joints. If you suffer from arthritis, you need to avoid foods that cause joint pain at all cost.

Foods to avoid are the foods that contain unnatural chemical additives. These are foods not to eat with arthritis, otherwise joint pain stiffness may occur as a result. They can be foods that help arthritis inflammation develop and therefore will exacerbate joint pain.

WHAT ARE THE BEST FOODS THAT ARE GOOD FOR YOUR JOINTS?

The Mediterranean diet has many benefits not only to health and lifestyle, but the diet also includes beneficial foods that are good for your joints. The Mediterranean Diet is based on eating whole plant-based foods such as fish and seafood, fruit, vegetables, legumes and grains, none of which are refined.

The choices are clear, choosing a plant-based diet, or a Mediterranean diet has many benefits.

These are the most beneficial foods for sore muscles and joints…

OILY FISH such as salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines are all high in the essential omega-3 fatty acids that have anti-inflammatory properties and are excellent foods for joint health. Omega-3 fatty acids help to protect and reduce inflammation in the body.

CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES such as broccoli, cauliflower and kale and are all foods that are good for your joints. These foods are excellent foods for joint health because they are high in sulphoraphane which possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Cruciferous vegetables are foods that help with joint inflammation and reduce the symptoms of arthritis.

BLUEBERRIES are full of vitamins, minerals and huge amounts of antioxidant anti-inflammatory nutrients. Strawberries, blackberries and blueberries are all great foods that help arthritis and are all beneficial foods for joint health.

GINGER AND TURMERIC SPICES are well known for blocking inflammatory pathways in the body. These blocking properties inhibit cell damage and may be beneficial foods for joint pain sufferers.

Recipe for Chicken Broth with Ginger and Turmeric

CINNAMON also has high level of anti-inflammatory properties that may help relieve the symptoms of joint pain. Honey and cinnamon are beneficial foods that help arthritis. One tablespoon of honey with one stick of cinnamon and one cup of warm water, mixed together may be a healing drink to include in your diet to treat arthritis symptoms

AVOCADOS are a healthy choice of foods for joint health. Avocados have high anti-inflammatory monounsaturated fatsand are an important food to include in your diet to treat arthritis joint pain.

what are essential nutrients — sources of nutrients

VITAMIN C FOODS such as oranges, red bell peppers and green leafy vegetable are excellent sources of vitamin C and can help protect and block inflammation in joints. These are good choices to eat often in your diet to treat arthritis.

Arthritis Diet

Read more about Foods That Help Boost The Immune System

THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET

Chris Food, Healthy Food, Nutrition and Health, Tips and Advice March 15, 2023February 15, 2025HDL, health and wellness, Mediterranean Diet

Updated March 2023

The Mediterranean Diet is recommended by doctors for good Health and Nutrition.

The great thing about the Mediterranean way of eating is that it’s not really a diet at all but a lifestyle way of eating great food.

Historically, throughout the different countries along the Mediterranean coastal regions, people ate what was readily available in their gardens at the time. They also grew many varieties of fruits and olive trees, as well as different farm animals like goats, pigs, chickens etc. Grape vines and olive groves were grown there for many centuries; hence the wonderful quality wines produced, along with the fantastic abundance of olive oils.

The Mediterranean Way of Life was that of tending to animals, picking fruit, digging and planting different varieties of food crops in the various vegetable gardens. and sharing the produce with those around… with neighbours and at the local markets.

Food was fresh, natural and healthy. This way of life was based around food, fresh from the garden, prepared in the kitchen, then eaten… relaxing with family and friends around the table, enjoying and soaking up the lifestyle.

What is the Mediterranean Diet?

The Mediterranean Diet is mostly based on eating large amounts of plant-based foods, along with whole grains, olive oil, beans, nuts, seeds, legumes and flavoured with fresh herbs and spices.

Fish and seafood is recommended to be eaten at least twice a week, followed by poultry, eggs and dairy products, taken in moderate portions daily and weekly.

Red meats and sweets foods to be limited to weekly.

Eight cups of fresh water taken daily and red wine to be taken moderately.

The Omega-3 fatty acids in some of these foods are essential to your body’s health. These fatty acids increase the good cholesterol HDL in the body. The healthy fats in olive oil are great for heart health, as well as weight loss.

Spices are often used instead of using salt, which is much healthier.

Salmon is often a recommended food of choice for the health benefits.

Why Follow a Mediterranean Diet?

If you base your diet around the Mediterranean diet you will not only be eating healthy food packed full of great nutrition, but your healthy lifestyle will greatly improve your overall health and nutrition. Eating slowly and enjoying every morsel while relaxing is highly recommended for health and digestion.

It is also recommended that you buy fresh food, when it is in season and locally where possible. Farmers markets are often great places to buy fresh vegetables and fruit, including herbs for your supply of healthy foods to maintain your healthy Mediterranean diet.

Many towns have set up community gardens where you can grow your own plants and share your produce with other gardeners. This is highly recommended for your own health and wellbeing. Otherwise, set up your own garden plot, get your children involved and grow your own vegies.

Why not try adopting the Mediterranean Diet? The health benefits to you and your family will be profound.

Mediterranean Diet Recipes