by Power of Positivity
Have you ever wondered what ginger does to your body?
To help answer these questions, here are a few facts pertaining to Zingiber officinale, aka, ginger:
“Ginger is the rhizome, or stem, of the Zingiber officinale plant, and it has been used for centuries as a food, spice, and medicine…” – Owen Bond
**Ginger is a vasodilator – a fancy word for saying that it widens your arteries and enhances blood circulation. This vasodilation effect increases body temperature (called the ‘thermogenic effect’), which stimulates metabolism and burns calories.
**Ginger increases the production of gastric juices, which helps to enhance digestion and burn calories.
**Animal studies demonstrate that ginger increased metabolism rates by as much as 20 percent.
“…Ginger promotes digestion and stimulates metabolism, which leads to increased calorie burning.” ~ Owen Bond: “Does Ginger Burn Fat?”
**Besides weight loss, ginger helps to relieve upset stomach, constipation, and indigestion.
**The root or underground stem (rhizome) of the ginger plant can be consumed fresh, powdered, dried as a spice, in oil form, or as juice. Ginger is part of the Zingiberaceae family, alongside cardamom and turmeric. It is commonly produced in India, Jamaica, Fiji, Indonesia, and Australia.
Ginger is also tasty, which is a good thing because we’re going to be stirring up some ginger water. Ginger root is widely available, so finding the main ingredient should easy.
So, are you ready to whip up some ginger water? Us too!
Here are the 5 simple steps for making ginger water:
1. Get either some dried ginger root powder or some fresh ginger.
(Note: If using fresh ginger, slice it nice and thin!)
2. Bring two cups of water to a boil.
3. Pour hot water into a cup.
4. Add ginger powder or slices. (Note: If using slices, wait 15 minutes until drinking.)
5. (Optional) Add a slice of lemon or a bit of honey to give it some extra taste. Bonus: both honey and lemon are excellent natural remedies for burning body fat. WIN!
To maximize the fat-burning effectiveness of ginger water, drink a cup 2-3 times a day. Remember: ginger – and ginger water – isn’t just great for weight loss; it helps support digestion and metabolism, too.
(Here are more health benefits that go along with drinking and eating Ginger!)
Megan Ware, RDN, LN, states that other potential health benefits of ginger include loss of appetite, relief from motion sickness, and pain relief.
Ginger is available in fresh or dry form, and as an extract or oil. Whole food stores and nutrition establishments sell ginger in supplement form.
Foods that contain ginger include: cookies, ginger ale, gingerbread, and ginger snaps. You may also be able to find ginger as a capsule, tablet, or tincture.