Health Benefits of Ginger (Adrak)

About Ginger/Ginseng/Adrak

Ginger root is one of the most famous spices used in various Indian dishes and in other ways all over the world. It is also known as the ginseng or most commonly adrak in India. It is specially used as a spice and therapeutic purposes for its great nutritional health benefits. It belongs to the family Zingiberaceae like cardamom, turmeric and galangal. Its cultivation was first started in the South Asia and then distributed to East Africa and other regions of the world.

Benefits of Ginger/Adrak

Ginger has very strong spicy aroma used in many Indian cuisines in any form like fresh, dried, powdered, pickled, juice, oil or other forms.  Ginger tea is one of the most famous teas of the India used for medicinal purposes especially in the winter season. Some of the nutritional health benefits of the ginger are mentioned below:

Benefits of Ginger for Respiratory System

Relieves Cold and Cough

• It provides instant relief from the symptoms of cold, cough and sore throat if one tsf of ginger juice is taken with honey for some days.

Keeps Airway Clean

• It helps in reducing the airway contraction and stimulating proper mucus secretion.

Treats Throat and Nose Congestion

• It is very effective for treating the throat and nose congestion if ginger tea is taken for some days.

Cures Asthma

• Ginger helps in curing asthma if the mixture of ginger juice, fenugreek and honey is taken.

Prevents from Respiratory Tract Infection

• It helps in preventing from the upper respiratory tract infection like bronchitis, throat infections and etc.

Benefits of Ginger for Digestive System

Relieves Digestive Disorders

• It provides relief from the digestive disorders like nausea and vomiting if small pieces of the fresh ginger are chewed.

Cures Loss of Appetite

• Ginger provides relief from the symptoms of the loss of appetite by increasing the frequency of appetite if fresh ginger is eaten just before the meal.

Improves Essential Nutrients Absorption

• It aids a lot in the food digestion, improves the absorption of some essential nutrients by enhancing the secretion of gastric and pancreatic enzymes and protein digestion by breaking down into small parts.

Protects from Stomach Ulcer

• It calms down the upset stomach and protects stomach from ulcers by enhancing the proper mucus secretion.

Relieves Flatulence

• Its carminative property provides instant relief from the bloating and gas problems thus helps in reducing flatulence.

Treats Digestive System Disorders

• Adrak is used in many medications as an essential ingredient like laxative, antacid and anti-gas treating medications.

Relieves Nausea and Vomiting

• It provides instant relief from the nausea, motion sickness, dizziness, vomiting, cold sweating and etc.

Benefits of Ginger for Pregnant women

Relieves Morning Sickness

• It provides relief from the morning sickness (nausea and vomiting, known as hyperemesis gravidarum during pregnancy) to the pregnant women however it should be consulted by the physician.

Benefits of Ginger for Women

Reduces Menstrual Pain

• It reduces pain during menstruation among women when taken before the occurrence of menstrual period.

Prevents Risk of Ovarian and Breast Cancer

• Ginger helps in preventing from the ovarian and breast cancer to the women by inducing the cancer cells death through the apoptosis process.

Benefits of Ginger for Brain

Relieves Headache

• It provides relief from the headache during migraine (by inhibiting the secretion and synthesis of prostaglandin) if diluted ginger paste is applied to the forehead.

Relieves Stress and Tension

• Adrak makes the mind calm by providing relief from the stress and tension.

Cures Alzheimer’s Disease

• It helps in curing and preventing from the Alzheimer’s disease by reducing loss of brain cells.

Benefits of Ginger for Bones and Joints

Relieves Pain and Inflammation

• Its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties (due to presence of a compound called gingerols) provides relief from the joints pain and joints inflammation during arthritis if taken regularly.

Relieves Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Ginger provides relief from the symptoms of the rheumatoid arthritis if taken on regular basis.

Benefits of Ginger for Cancer

Prevents from Cancer

• Ginger is very powerful antioxidant spice as it contains high level of antioxidants compounds which helps in preventing from the various cancers.

Reduces Bad Effects of Chemotherapy

• It is very beneficial in reducing the bad effects of chemotherapy.

Benefits of Ginger for Heart

Regulates Blood Pressure

• Ginger helps in regulating the normal blood pressure thus prevents from the hypertension.

Reduces Blood Cholesterol Level

• Adrak helps in reducing the blood cholesterol level thus reduces the occurrence of heart problems.

Benefits of Ginger for Immunity

Strengthens Immunity

• It boosts up and strengthens the immunity system thus prevents body from the various infections.

Contains Unique Phytochemicals

• It contains some unique phyto-chemicals substances which give it a disease preventing ability and health promoting properties.

Benefits of Ginger for Men

Stimulate Sexual Desire

• It aphrodisiac properties stimulate the sexual desire among men thus spice up the life.

Increases Sperm Count

• Regular use of ginger increases the sperm count and quality as well as enhances the production of testosterone hormone.

Treats Erectile Dysfunction

• It is very effective in treating the erectile dysfunction in males.

Benefits of Ginger in Diabetes

Controls Blood Sugar and Insulin Level

• It helps in controlling the blood sugar level and increasing the plasma insulin level among people with type-2 diabetes.

Prevents from Cataract

• Ginger reduces the risk of cataracts among diabetic patients.

Benefits of Ginger Juice

Relieves Burned Skin

• Applying ginger juice directly to the burned skin provides instant relief.

Reduces Joint Inflammations

• Its anti-inflammatory property and antioxidant nature helps in reducing joint inflammations among people suffering from thyroid gland problems or arthritis.

Kill Cancerous Cells

• It has ability to kill cancerous cells in the body thus prevents from the growth of breast cancer cells.

Manage Blood Pressure

• Its blood thinning property helps in managing blood pressure among people suffering from hypertension.

Treats Digestive Disorders

• It is a natural pain killer and solves various digestive disorders.

Cures Seasonal Problems

• Its anti-viral property helps in curing seasonal problems like cold, cough, nausea and flu.

Prevents from Ageing

• Its antioxidant nature because of the vitamin C availability prevents from the free radicals, environmental toxins and thus premature aging.

Benefits of Ginger Oil for Hair, Skin and Tooth

Reduces Muscle and Joint Pain

• It helps in reducing the muscle pain and joints pain if ginger oil is used to massage and bath.

Contains Essential Oils

• It contains lots of health beneficial essential oils (zingerone, gingerol, shogaol, β-phelladrene, farnesene, cineol, citral and etc) which helps in improving intestinal motility, soothes nerves, lower down fever and etc.

Prevents from Infection

• Garlic oil is a very good agent having antibacterial, anti viral, anti microbial and anti fungal medicinal properties which can be used orally and topically to get relief.

Cures Dandruff

• Ginger helps in curing dandruff if garlic oil is massaged to the hair scalp.

Treats Infections

• It helps in treating infections caused by the bacteria, virus, microbes or fungus.

Relieves Toothache

• Applying garlic oil cotton balls to the tooth for 8 to 10 mins provides relief from the toothache.

Boosts Hair Growth

• It is loaded with the lots of nutrient which boosts up the hair growth and prevents hair loss by enhancing blood circulation to the hair roots.

Relieves Fungal Infections

• Adrak provides relief from the fungal infections, itch, ringworm, warts and etc if applied to the affected skin.

Benefits of Ginger Tea

Relieves Cold Symptoms

• Ginger tea provides immediate relief from the symptoms of cold, cough, sore throat and blocked nose.

Provides Relief from various Disorders

• It soothes nerves, prevents vomiting, headaches, relief from stomach discomfort, reduces inflammations, looses phlegm and expands lungs, improves blood flow, prevents fever, enhances immunity and etc.

Benefits of Ginger Tea for Weight Loss

Burn Extra Fat

• It has fat burning property which burns excess fat of the body and helps in maintaining the general weight if ginger tea is taken on regular basis.

Improves Metabolism

• Ginger enhances the rate of metabolism and burns off the extra stored fat in the body.

Reduces Bad Cholesterol

• It helps in reducing the bad cholesterol level and triglyceride levels in the body which burns body fat.

Keeps Stomach Full

• It helps in improving weight loss by making the stomach feeling full for long after a meal.

Benefits of Ginger Tea for Skin

Improves Skin Complexion

• It contains a powerful antioxidant (gingerol) which prevents skin from the free radicals and pre-mature aging as well as enhances skin complexion.

Improves Blood Circulation

• Adrak is a good vasodilator which improves the blood circulation throughout the body by expanding the blood vessels thus makes the skin healthy and glowing.

Relieves Skin Problems

• It reduces the skin inflammations, prevents from the acne, psoriasis and etc skin problems.

Benefits of Ginger and Lemon Juice

Provides Relief from Cold and Sore Throat

• Drinking the mixture of ginger root slices boiled into water, lemon juice and honey acts as a best ayurvedic medicine and provides relief from the common cold, cough, headache and sore throat.

Benefits of Ginger Powder

Good Skin Toner

• It acts as a good skin toner if the mixture of boiled ginger powder into water and rosemary oil is applied to face skin cotton balls. It clears out the skin dust, hydrates, reduces dryness and tone up the skin.

Cures Stomach Irritation

• It helps in curing stomach irritation if taken with sugar cane juice everyday in the early morning.

Relieves Headache

• Applying dried ginger powder paste to the forehead provides relief from the headache.

Relieves Chest Pain

• Taking the mixture of ginger powder and sugar with coconut water provides relief from the chest pain.

Relieves Arthritis Symptoms

• It provides relief from the symptoms of arthritis if the boiled water of ginger powder is taken. It also cures common cold.

Treats Urinary Tract Infections

• It helps in treating the urinary tract infections if dried ginger powder is taken with milk and sugar.

Benefits of Galangal Ginger

• It is a blue ginger used in the East Asian regions of the world (Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and etc). It has mild flavor and less pungent taste than the normal ginger with the common health benefits.

Other Health Benefits of Ginger

Treats various Body Ailments

• Ginger is used to treat various body ailments because of its powerful therapeutic and strong preventive effects.

Prevents from Bacterial and Viral Infection

• It prevents from many health problems due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-emetic, analgesic (pain reliever), antioxidant, antiviral and antibacterial properties.

Reduces Pain, swelling and Inflammation

• It helps to reducing inflammations, pain and swelling anywhere in the body as it inhibits the synthesis of prostaglandin and leukotriene.

 Relieves Intestinal Gas

• Ginger has carminative property and provides relief from the intestinal gas by inhibiting the serotonin receptors.

Prevents from Early Ageing

• It has antioxidant property which makes it able to prevent from the early ageing.

Suppress Allergic Reactions

• It has antihistamine property which makes it able to suppress various allergic reactions in the body.

Prevents from Harmful Effects of Free Radicals

• Adrak gives protection to the body against the harmful effects of the free radicals as it contains active phenolic compounds like 6-gingerol which inhibits nitric oxide production thus prevents from early ageing.

Rich Source of Antioxidants

• It is the rich source of antioxidant substances which helps in protecting the body tissues and organs from various oxidation-inducing substances.

Nutritional Benefits of Raw Ginger/Adrak per 100 g

(Source: USDA Nutrient Database)

Energy: 80 kcal

Carbohydrate: 17.77 g

Sugar: 1.7 g

Dietary fibers: 2 g

Protein: 1.82 g

Total Fat: 0.75 g

Saturated fat: 0.2 g

Polyunsaturated fat: 0.2 g

Monounsaturated fat: 0.2 g

Vitamins

Thiamine: 0.025 mg

Riboflavin: 0.034 mg

Niacin: 0.75 mg

Pantothenic acid: 0.203 mg

Vitamin B6: 0.16 mg

Folate: 11 μg

Vitamin C: 5 mg

Vitamin E: 0.26 mg

Vitamin K: 0.1 µg

Electrolytes

Sodium: 13 mg

Potassium: 415 mg

Minerals

Calcium: 16 mg

Iron: 0.6 mg

Magnesium: 43 mg

Manganese: 0.229 mg

Phosphorus: 34 mg

Zinc: 0.34 mg

Copper: 0.226 mg

How to Select and Store Ginger

Always buy fresh, mature and healthy ginger or adrak from the market. Avoid buying dried, bruised, spotted and bad smelling gingers from the market. Ginger can be enjoyed in many ways such as tea, spice, oil, juice, ginger lemonade, ginger juice with honey, cane sugar or water, pickle, grated ginger with salad, powder and etc. It can be stored for long period of time in the refrigerator by placing it in the airtight container or polybags.

Disadvantages, Side Effects and Precautions of the Ginger

In spite of having lots of health benefits, it causes some serious problems and need to be taken with precautions. Some of are mentioned below:

• Taking ginger tea more than the requirement may cause diarrhea, irritation, heartburn, nausea, restlessness and sleeplessness.
• Drinking ginger tea should be avoided with empty stomach, during pregnancy and patients having gallstones problems.
• It should be avoided by the person with some medications or must consult by the doctor.
• It is avoided by the person suffering from bleeding disorders or taking blood-thinning medications, diabetes medications and high blood pressure medications.
• Higher doses should be avoided by the heart patients.

How Much Ginger to Eat

It can be taken according to the health problems to get instant relief however it depends on the age, sex, weight and health condition of the person. High dose may lead to some serious health problems so it should be taken within limit.

Health Benefits of Pears (Nashpati) fruit and Juice

About Pears/Nashpati

The pear or nashpati fruit is an amazing fruit bestowed by the God as a gift for making good health. Pear tree is a shrub and belongs to Rosaceae family. It is cultivated in the coastal and temperate regions of the world like North Africa, East Asia and Western Europe.

There are more than one edible species types are found of the pear. It is a pome fruit like apple. Pear is famous for its shape and stone cells (grit) contents. Different varieties of the pear are Chinese pear, Korean pear, Siberian or Manchurian pear and Japanese pear. Approximately, 3,000 varieties of the pears are found all across the world. The varieties of pears are available in various colors like red, yellow, golden, green and brown.

Some of its varieties are listed below:

• Bartlett
• Starkrimson
• Bosc
• Forelle
• Comice
• Seckel
• Red Anjou
• Concorde
• Green Anjou
• Red Bartlett

Benefits of Pears/Nashpati

Here I am pointing some amazing health benefits of the pear fruit:

Source of Dietary Fibers

• Pears are very good source of dietary water soluble fibers, vitamin and minerals.

Lowers Bad Cholesterol

• High level of pectin is found in pear which helps in lowering the cholesterol levels in blood as well as tones up the intestines.

Rich Source of Antioxidants

• Pear or nashpati fruit has powerful antioxidant property (because of vitamin E and C) and all the essential nutrients required for the good health.

Prevents from High Blood Pressure and Stroke

• Pear fruit plays a great role towards preventing the blood pressure and stroke because of its anti-oxidant and anti-carcinogen (glutathione) contents.

Prevents from Cancer

• Pear fruit assists in the cancer prevention because of its copper, vitamin K and high vitamin C contents. It helps in protecting the cells from getting damaged by the free radicals.

Prevents Colon Cancer

• Regularly eating pear fruit prevents the colon from colon cancer because of its high dietary fiber availability.

Relieves Constipation

• Pectin found in the pear fruit acts as a good diuretic and has mild laxative effect to the colon thus helps in relieving the constipation.

Boosts Immunity

• Pear works as an immune booster as it is full of the anti-oxidant nutrients which are the main building blocks of the immune system.

Relieves Pain and Inflammation

• Pear fruit is also a good anti-inflammatory agent as it gives relief from the pain and variety of inflammations.

Reduces Risk of Osteoporosis

• Pear fruit greatly assists in preventing the osteoporosis because of the high boron level availability. Boron enhances the capability of the body to retain calcium and thus prevents or reduces the osteoporosis.

Regulates Blood Sugar Level

• Its high fiber contents helps in regulating the blood sugar levels thus prevent from diabetes.

Eliminates Extra Fat

• The pectin (soluble fiber) content of the pear helps in the elimination of the fatty substances from the body by binding them in digestive tract.

Keeps Heart Healthy

• Nashpati reduces the risk of heart diseases and variety of cancers because of the high fibre content.

Improves Metabolism and Tissue Repair.

• Pear fruits are good source of Vitamin C which works as an antioxidant and assists in metabolism and tissue repair.

Prevents from Ageing

• It prevents the body from ageing by preventing from free radicals (by-product of metabolic process).

Prevents from Infections

• Its Vitamin C content also helps in healing of the wounds, cuts and bruises by preventing from the infections.

Reduces Risk of Breast Cancer

• Eating a pear a day helps in preventing the breast cancer by 34% after menopause in women.

Prevents from Allergenic Reaction

• Its keeps a person away from any type of the allergenic reaction.

Improves Digestion

• The high fiber content of the pear helps in improving the digestion.

Prevents various Disorders

• It prevents the occurrence of the gallbladder problems, gout, arthritis, colitis, and etc if eaten regularly.

Prevents from Stomach and Lungs Cancer

• One of the acid found in the pear fruit known as hydroxycinnamic acid helps in preventing the cancer of stomach and lungs.

Reduces Risk of Age-Related Problems

• Eating pear fruit regularly lowers the threat of age-related macular degeneration (also called ARMD).
• A famous antioxidant called Quercetin is found in the skin of pears which prevents from cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and artery damage.

Rich Source of Phytonutrients

• Pear’s skin also has important phytonutrients like anti-inflammatory flavonoids (flavan-3-ols, flavonols, epicatechin, catechin and anthocyanins), antioxidant (vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids), anti-cancer phytonutrients (cinnamic acid) and dietary fiber, that’s why it is necessary to eat pear with its skin.

Prevents from Chronic Heart Diseases

• Some other phenolic phytonutrients found in pear like Hydroxycinnamic acids (ferulic acid, coumaric acid and 5-caffeoylquinic acid), Hydroxybenzoic acids (gentisic acid, chlorogenic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid), Flavonols (isorhamnetin and kaempferol), Hydroxyquinones (arbutin), Anthocyanins and Carotenoids (beta-carotene, zeaxanthin and lutein) are beneficial for preventing the body from chronic heart diseases and type 2 diabetes.

Rich Source of Potassium

• A medium sized pear provides 212 mg of potassium which helps in maintaining the heart beat normal and muscles strength.

Rich Source of Vitamin A and K

• Vitamin A maintains the eye sight and vitamin K helps the blood to clot as soon as possible at the cut areas.

Useful in Acid Reflux

• Pear fruit helps in absorbing excess stomach acids thus used in acid reflux.

Removes Gallbladder Stones

• Malic acid contents of the pear fruit helps in gradually disintegrating the gallbladder stones or other stones.

Benefits of Pear Juice

Energizes Body

• Pear juice is full of natural and quick energy because of its high fructose and glucose amounts.

Relieves Fever

• Nashpati juice has cooling effect on the body thus helps in relieving the fever.

Relieves Cold

• Drinking pear juice regularly is very helpful for the one who is suffering from cold as it gives relief from the cold.

Prevents Throat Problem

• Drinking pear juice in the morning as well as night during summer has cooling effect on the body and helps preventing the throat problems.
• Drinking luke warm juice of two boiled Chinese pear (mixing with raw honey) provides relief from the throat and vocal cord problem.

Regularizes Bowel Movements

• Having pear juice also on daily basis maintains the regular bowel movements.

Benefits of Pears for Kids

Prevents from Shortness of Breath

• Eating pear fruit or drinking its juice on daily basis prevents the shortness of breath with extreme phlegm in the children during the summer season heat.

Benefits of Pears for Babies

Best Weaning Food

• Nashpati or pear is the only fruit which can be easily given to the weaning children/baby because of its hypoallergenic and low acidic property. It is good for digestion without creating any problems. But, strictly avoid giving pear to the children with diarrhea.

Benefits of Pears for Weight Loss

Have no Cholesterol and Low Calorie

• Pears also assists in the weight loss as it has no cholesterol, low Glycemic index, low calorie, high dietary fibers and low fat contents.

Benefits of Pears during Pregnancy

Prevents Defects in Babies

• Pear fruits are well-known for its high folate (folic acid) content which assists in preventing the neural tube defects in the infants, if regularly taken by the pregnant women.

Loaded with Nutrients

• Pear contains B group vitamins (B2, B3 and B6), minerals (calcium, copper, potassium, magnesium, manganese and etc) and Folates which helps the nursing mother or pregnant women a lot to get their all the required nutrients during very important periods of life.

Maintains Fertility

• Eating pear regularly helps to maintain the fertility in woman by regulating the insulin levels. Pear fruits are used by the women who have some problems in getting pregnant because of the fluctuations in the insulin levels.

Benefits of Pears for Skin

Rejuvenates Skin

• Pear fruit is full of the crucial nutrient required for the healthy skin. It fights with free radicals and wrinkles to give rejuvenate look.

Removes Acne

• As pears have high levels of vitamins and minerals, it assists in removing acne problems by neutralizing the skin acids as well as regulating the skin pH balance.

Remedy to Oily Skin

• It is used as the face pack for the oily skin. Mix 1 tsf honey, 1 tsf cream and 1 crushed ripe pear and apply over the face or neck for 15 mins then wash with little warm water.

Why pear Fruit ranks on the Low Glycemic Index?

• Pear fruit is famous for its low Glycemic index as the carbohydrates available in it has low Glycemic index. As they are slow in getting converted to the sugar as well as enter to the bloodstream. That’s why pears are considered as the fruit having healthy carbohydrates and low Glycemic index.

Pear Leaves

• In the ancient time the pear leaves were used to smoke instead of tobacco when tobacco was not available.
• Pear leaves are also used for various medicinal purposes both internal and external.

Nutritional Benefits of Pear/Nashpati per 100 g

(Source: USDA Nutrient Database)

Energy: 58 Kcal

Protein: 0.38 g

Carbohydrates: 13.81 g

Sugar: 10 g

Dietary Fibers: 3.10 g

Fat: 0.12 g

Polyunsaturated fat: 0.1g

Monounsaturated fat: 0.1g

Vitamins:

Folates: 7 µg

Thiamin (B1): 0.012 mg

Riboflavin (B2): 0.025 mg

Niacin (B3): 0.157 mg

Pantothenic acid (B5): 0.048 mg

Pyridoxine (B6): 0.028 mg

Vitamin A: 23 IU

Vitamin C: 4.2 mg

Vitamin E: 0.12 mg

Vitamin K: 4.5 µg

Choline: 5.1 mg

Electrolytes:

Sodium: 1 mg

Potassium: 119 mg

Minerals:

Calcium: 9 mg

Copper: 0.082 mg

Magnesium: 7 mg

Phosphorus: 11 mg

Iron: 0.17 mg

Zinc: 0.10 mg

Manganese: 0.048 mg

Phytonutrients:

Carotenoids: 97 mcg

Beta-Carotene: 12 µg

Crypto-xanthin-ß: 2 µg

Lutein-zeaxanthin: 45 µg

How to Select and Store Pears

Always select pears with firm, smooth skin, fresh and free of marks while buying from market. Do not buy loose or over ripe pears as they cannot be stored for many days. Avoid buying pears having dark spots. Select firm pears by softly pressing it at top near the stem. Pears can be easily stored at room temperature where they are exposed to oxygen.

Real Facts about Pears:

• It was planted first in North America in the year 1620.
• Pears are available in approximately 3000 varieties around the world.
• It is called as “li” by the Chinese as a symbol of immortality.
• It is known by the nickname as “butter fruit” because of its softness and creamy texture.
• Musical instruments, wooden statues, wooden kitchen utensils and some furniture are made by using pear wood.
• In the ancient Greece, it was used as a natural remedy against to the nausea.
• China is the leading producer of the pears yearly. China produces approximately 15,000,000 tones pear per year.

Disadvantages/Side Effects of Eating More Pears

Overeating of anything can cause unexpected side effects to the body and its normal functioning. It is same with the eating of the pear fruit. Eating more pear fruit than the required amount may lead to the several problems. As pear fruit is loaded with the vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, phytochemicals, dietary fibres and etc, the overdose of each can cause variety of the ailments accordingly. It may lead to your stomach getting upset and feel unwell.

How Many Pears Should You Eat A Day

A pear a day is enough getting all the necessary healthy nutrients for the body however it can be eaten more than one according to the choice or energy needs of the body.