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 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.
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…
OILYFISH 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.
Salmon
CRUCIFEROUSVEGETABLES 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.
Broccoli and Cauliflower
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.
Berries
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.
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
Cinnamon and Honey
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.
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.
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.
A good healthy breakfast is essential to start your day. You need to eat good food packed with good nutrition, with the healthiest fruits available. Healthy eating allows you to develop a healthy lifestyle. Breakfast is probably the most important meal for the day. It starts your day to maximise your nutrition and energy levels for a healthy lifestyle.
A good start is a delicious bowl of fresh fruit salad containing blueberries, strawberries, orange, apple and mango, mixed with a tablespoon of quinoa and topped with a few pumpkin seeds and almonds. Finish with Greek Yogurt and perhaps almond or other milk. Finally a teaspoon of honey makes for a very nutritious, healthy breakfast.
SMOOTHIES
If your day mostly starts with a rush, smoothies are a great way to get the nutrition your body needs for good health.
Smoothies
can be packed full of healthy food and can be made fairly quickly and it’s
always a great idea to have frozen fruit in the freezer ready. Frozen berries mixed
with milk of your choice or your favourite juice, along with a few blue berries
or perhaps strawberries or blackberries in season, topped off with a few whole
pieces of fruit and a sprig of mint, make for a delicious way to start the day,
Other
smoothie mixes may be mango and passion fruit in milk or orange juice, topped
with slices of mango and mint.
Many people are looking for foods boosting immune system function
In today’s world it’s not good to have a weak immune system, especially with the presence of the Covid-19 and other common viral infections.
Feeding the body with immune boosting foods can help stave off the dreaded winter cold and flu symptoms.
Foods Boosting Immune System
Immune Boosting Foods
11 Powerful Foods That Help Boost Immune System Function
These are some of the best foods that boost immune system function…
1. CITRUS FRUITS
Citrus fruits
Lemons, oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, clementines and limes.
These are some of the best fruits that boost immune system efficacy, especially if you have an immune deficiency.
Foods containing Vitamin C need to be eaten every day as Vitamin C is not stored in the body. However, they are a great source of immune system booster food that’s easy to be included in a meal or taken as a snack. We often look to Vitamin C for combating colds and flu ailments and reach for a squeeze of lemon in a glass of water to relieve the symptoms. We do this because citrus fruits are proven foods that boost your immune system. Vitamin C can help fight infection by increasing the white blood cells in the body. Therefore, choose citrus foods… fruits that boost immune system.
For a great health immune booster, start your day with a squeeze of lemon in a small glass of water as well as grapefruit or orange for an effective boost to your immune system, every day.
2. RED BELL PEPPERS
Red Bell Pepper
The red bell pepper is a wonderful immune system booster because of the high levels of Vitamin C it contains. It is high in nutrition value which makes it a very healthy food as well as an immune system booster. Red bell peppers are one of the best foods for immune system building and their Vitamin C levels, along with being a rich source of beta carotene, aids healthy skin and eyes.
If you are looking for ways to boost immune system function, just simply add red bell peppers to your diet to greatly improve and maintain your health and help strengthen your immune system.
3. GARLIC
Garlic
Garlic has been known for many years as a highly nutritious immune system booster food. It contains many health boosting compounds that constitute a rich source of Vitamin C and Vitamin B. Garlic has high levels of Sulfur and contains compounds that play an important role in fighting infections with flu-like symptoms. It’s for these reasons that garlic has been widely used throughout the ages, both as an immune boosting food and as a herbal medicine.
Garlic contains antioxidants that help the body’s immune system to
maintain overall good health. It
is also beneficial for cardiovascular health.
Crushed or sliced garlic is one of the best foods that boost the immune system. However, garlic supplements are also a good immune booster, without the strong taste or aroma of garlic. Add garlic to your diet to strengthen your immune system.
4. BROCCOLI
Broccoli
A slow immune system or a weak immune system can improve greatly by adding broccoli to your daily diet, along with other rich glutathione foods such as spinach and avocados. You will not only improve your health, but it will have a beneficial effect on your longevity and your overall immune system.
Broccoli is an immune system booster food which has huge overall health and longevity benefits. Broccoli is part of the rich cruciferous vegetables group which are Sulfur-rich foods that build a strong immune system. These foods have a high concentration of sulforaphane. The compound sulforaphane activates a gene whose primary job is to produce antioxidants and one powerful antioxidant is glutathione, found in broccoli.
As an immune system booster, broccoli contains amino acids that must be obtained through the diet. Amino acids are the building blocks of life and have a vital role to play in maintaining a healthy immune system or boosting a weak immune system. Amino acids also help in muscle development as well as repair muscle damage.
Broccoli is a food that boosts your immune system by its powerful antioxidant protections against ageing and helping to improve cellular damage, while at the same time fighting against free radical damage. To strengthen the immune system, it is therefore important that you take full advantage of the nutritional value of broccoli. Broccoli contains glutathione which is a powerful antioxidant and is a huge immune system booster food, helping to protect the body from diseases such as Alzheimers, heart disease and stroke.
Broccoli helps maintain a strong immune system for high levels of health and well-being.
5. SPINACH
Spinach
Spinach is a highly nutritional, value packed leafy green vegetable. It is an immune system booster food which was popularised by “Popeye the Sailor Man” from the 1930’s movie cartoon, in which Popeye would eat lots of spinach thereby developing strong muscles to impress his girlfriend, Olive Oyl.
Spinach is an immune booster food, rich in vitamins A, C and K, iron and magnesium. These nutrients help to strengthen bones, body tissue and skin, hair and eyesight, all helping to boost a low immune system. Spinach helps strengthen the immune system as it helps repel bacteria and viruses. Spinach is an immune system booster food that also protects against eye diseases and cardiovascular diseases. It can help reduce the risk of heart attacks and the thickening of the artery wall, building a strong immune system.
Spinach helps turn food into energy to sustain you throughout the day.
For a low immune system or an immune deficiency, it would be highly recommended that you add spinach to your diet. To gain all the benefits of this powerful leafy green vegetable, you can eat spinach raw in salads, lightly steamed or added to soups for garnish, as well as lightly sautéd with other immune booster vegetables. However, the less cooking the better, to retain all the nutrients.
Spinach is a “must-have” vegetable to add on a regular basis to your diet as it’s one of the best immune-boosting foods.
Ginger has natural, built-in, strong antioxidant properties that boost the immune system. Itis one more of the many immune system booster foods.
Ginger is well known as a defence against cold viruses and other infections with flu-type symptoms, such as chills and fevers. Ginger is a food that actually fuels the immune system and has been used in traditional as well as alternative medicine throughout history. It has been widely used as a natural remedy for stomach pains, nausea, travel sickness as well as to alleviate morning sickness and many other health problems.
Ginger is an immune boosting food and an excellent antioxidant source and works well with dishes where turmericis also included. These two foods work well together, giving a huge boost to the body’s health and well-being, while at the same time helping to build a strong immune system.
Ginger is a great tonic. The raw ginger can be grated into a glass of warm water and taken as a tonic. Ginger is also known to improve immune system health as it helps with inflammatory issues and helps support the cells in the brain where is also helps inhibit against diseases such as Alzheimers and other brain related problems.
Ginger is a natural immune booster and by adding ginger to your diet on a regular basis you can improve a low immune system as it’s one of the best foods for immune system building.
Blueberries are included on our list of immune system booster foods because they are full of antioxidant flavonoids that greatly reduce cell damage and help boost the immune system for better health and well-being. Blueberries are often referred to as a “superfood”, packed with flavour, containing essential nutrients such as potassium, Vitamin C and A and dietary fibre. The blueberry is very small in size but it packs a fantastic punch when it comes to health effects on the body. This is because it can help boost a low immune system as well as protect a strong immune system.
Blueberries can be added to breakfast meals, added to smoothies along
with yoghurt or just eaten on their own as a small snack.
8. TURMERIC
Turmeric Powder
Turmeric has been long known as one of the most effective immune system booster foods. It has been well known for its anti-inflammatory benefits for centuries. Curcumin, the yellow orange component, is the active ingredient in turmeric. It’s a powerful spice that is mainly used in curries, stews, sauces and other dishes and has widely been used throughout Asia.
Turmeric is an immune booster and has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine for providing benefits to those suffering depression, anxiety, mood, stress or other emotional issues as well as building a strong immune system.
Turmeric’s natural properties have good effects on the immune system, boosting the body’s all-round function. Turmeric has excellent tonic benefits for helping good liver function and may also help remove stones in gallbladder disorders.
Turmeric has one of the highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits for improving health as it’s an immune boosting food. It can help those with an immune deficiency or a low immune system by its natural energising protective properties. These protective properties may also be beneficial for fighting cancer cell invasion. Turmeric has many important medicinal properties and gives a natural boost to the immune system.
Turmeric is one of the best foods for immune system strengthening. It helps to eliminate harmful effects from “free radicals” that try to harm the body. It has beneficial effects on digestive disorders, cramps and helps eliminate gasses in the intestine.
Turmeric helps cardiovascular health, which in turn
reduces cholesterol levels. Studies have
shown it also has benefits on cognitive impairment, helping improve memory and
its natural properties fight against Alzheimer’s.
Turmeric Milk
Turmeric has natural medicinal properties that have so many health benefits so why not spice up your life with Turmeric, one of the best immune system booster foods.
To help supercharge your immune system, simply add more turmeric
to your diet on a regular basis, especially during flu seasons and times of
stress and anxiety.
9. ALMONDS
Almonds
Almonds are immune boosting foods and a good source of nutrition. They are a food that is low in carbohydrates which may help those trying to lose weight, however it is recommended they need to be always taken in small portions. They exhibit antioxidant benefits, supporting the immune system, helping protect the body against the risk of heart disease. Almonds are high in fat, but it is good monounsaturated fat, which has cardio-protective properties.
Almonds are one of the many foods that help restore a weak immune
system.
10. YOGURT
Yogurt with Fruit
Gut Health is incredibly important for maintaining a healthy immune system. A low immune system can become a strong immune system by eating a healthy, well-balanced diet with regular natural yogurt.
Good health is reliant on immune system booster foods that will help support strong bones, skin, hair, nails and give us energy and balance our weight, mood and diet. Natural Yogurt gives a powerful benefit to the body’s health, enabling the digestive system to function properly.
Natural Yogurt has great benefits for the immune system as it is one of the best sources of probiotics. The probiotics in yogurt are gut-friendly bacteria that aid and dictate our health. Yogurt is a dairy-fermented milk product that provides both calcium and protein. Its health benefits help protect against osteoporosis, heart disease and issues around weight. If there is an imbalance in the gut bacteria, this will lead eventually to an immune deficiency and many health problems.
Healthy bacteria help to turn on enzymes that will create a healthy gut and boost the immune system to fight off unhealthy bacteria such as fungus related infections as well as other health issues. Yogurt’s friendly bacteria help break down food as it enters the gut, absorbing the nutrients into the body. This helps to fight off any unfriendly, harmful organisms that could potentially cause infections, diseases, diarrhoea or other issues.
Look for a natural Greek yogurt, high in probiotics, that has a “live
and active cultures” seal as this will help build a strong immune system.
11. GREEN TEA
Green Tea
Green tea has been widely used throughout Japan, China and India and its origins are known to date back 3000 years. There is a great correlation between drinking green tea and the improvement to health and it has a direct effect on the body’s immune system.
The benefits of drinking Green tea are numerous. Chinese traditional medicine long held the
view that drinking Green tea helped relieve the body’s aches and pains,
improved digestion and had a detoxification effect, thus improving quality of
life.
Drinking Green tea two or three times a day can provide valued benefits
for a healthier lifestyle.
Green tea has natural antioxidants called
flavonoids that help to prevent cell damage in the body. It is also beneficial to those who want to
lose weight because it helps improve the body’s metabolic capabilities and
increase fat burning and weight maintenance. It may also help those with Type 2 Diabetes.
Drinking Green tea helps improve health for those with a weakimmunesystem.
The antioxidants in green tea help promote heart health, thereby reducing the risks of high blood pressure and stroke. These antioxidants help improve and regulate blood pressure function and cholesterol levels, thereby strengthening the immune system. Green tea is an immune booster food that greatly reduces inflammation damage which can have an effect on the reduction of tumour incidences lowering the risks of cancer. It also helps reduce risk of bacterial infections and viral diseases.
Drinking green tea is one of the best ways to build a strong immune system, while improving heart health by antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, with healing benefits.
Here are some of the immune system boosting teas that may also improve blood pressure:
Try some of the following teas as foods to boost immunity…
Lemon balm tea may help relieve anxiety, insomnia and stress as well as nausea and indigestion. Lemon balm has antiviral properties as well and helping improve cognitive function.
Sage tea may help promote healthy skin cell growth as it is rich in anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants.
Green tea and Black tea.
Hibiscus and Nettle tea, blended together Hibiscus and Nettle tea not only taste great, but they are all-round “immune booster teas”
We should all choose immune boosting foods as these foods are vital for optimum health and nutrition. These “immune system booster foods” provide energy, health and wellbeing, strengthening the overall immune system.
