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You can use ginger for gut health by adding a small amount to your daily routine to reduce inflammation. Try it as a tea or in recipes listed below!
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Using ginger for gut health has been around for centuries. Ginger or Zingiber officinale is a vey versatile herb that can spice up any dish. Its medicinal properties and oily resin in the roots of the ginger plant contains many bioactive compounds such as gingerols and shogaols. This is why ginger has been used for thousands of years as an ancient remedy for ailments from head to toe, including bloating, nausea, pain, inflammation, and so much more. Needless to say, ginger is a powerful plant. In fact, did you know it is considered to be an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antioxidant? It really is an all in one remedy and powerhouse superfood!
While there are many reasons someone should incorporate ginger into their routine, I am a huge advocate for including ginger into a routine specifically for individuals who are experiencing GI distress and trying to heal their gut.
Regardless of the stage you are in along your gut and autoimmune journey, protecting and soothing the integrity of the gut lining is always our main priority. While there are many steps to healing the gut, cooling down inflammation along the tissue and villi is always a place we want to focus on. If you have active autoimmunity, Celiac disease, leaky gut, or other inflammatory conditions, ginger might be a great addition to your wellness routine.
GUT HEALTH BENEFITS OF GINGER
- Soothes the Gut Lining-Ginger increases the presence of prostaglandins, which are hormone like substances in the body. They fight against inflammation, which protects and heals the gut lining.
- Reduces Villi Inflammation– Ginger helps the gut mend once it’s in the repair stage by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in the villi. The villi have an important job in the body- to absorb nutrients from food. So, when they’re healthy, villi can function properly and do their job well.
- Improves Digestion– Ginger activates digestive enzymes in the gut, which helps optimally break down food and promote healthy digestion. Consequently, you can kiss bloating, gas, and stomach distress good-bye!
- Protects Against Toxins– Ginger has actually been shown to protect the gut from various toxins, such as alcohol, environmental pollutants, and chemical exposure. Consuming ginger regularly can also help prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
- Removes Pathogens and Other Toxins- Pathogens are dangerous to our health, so it’s important to identify and remove any that are present in the body. Luckily, ginger can help rid the body of various toxins like heavy metals, radiation exposure, bacteria, and fungus.
- Reduces Nausea and Vomiting– Ginger prevents and reduces nausea and vomiting by blocking excess amounts of serotonin and activation of the vagus nerve- both of which are associated with nausea. Supplementing with ginger can help ease morning sickness in pregnant women or even negative side effects of chemotherapy.
HOW YOU CAN ADD MORE GINGER TO YOUR DIET
You can use ginger in many different forms such as fresh, dried, pickled, candied, or powdered and add it to your meals, bone broth, and smoothies. It’s great when used in a stir fry, for sushi, blended as a dressing, pickled with sweet vinegar, and used in baking. My personal favorite way to enjoy it though, is as a tea.
Ginger tea is incredible healing and the best way to incorporate it into a gut healing routine. You can add other spices to it, such as cinnamon for extra blood sugar support to improve insulin sensitivity, or even turmeric which contains curcumin and provides an extra anti-inflammatory kick.
HOW TO PREPARE AN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY GINGER TEA FOR GUT HEALTH
Preparing a fresh and healing ginger tea is easier than you might think. Simply sipping on warm ginger water throughout the day provides many health benefits for your digestive tract. Here’s the low-down on implementing a ginger tea so that you can use fresh ginger for gut healing.
- Find fresh organic ginger root at your local health food store, farmers market, or grocery store.
- Cut a 2” chunk of fresh ginger and peel off the skin. Either add the whole chunk of ginger or grate it into a mug.
- Add 8-12 oz of filtered, hot water. Let sit and cool for 5 minutes before sipping.
HOW MUCH GINGER SHOULD YOU HAVE PER DAY?
Studies reveal incredible results when participants consume just 1 serving of fresh ginger per day after only a few weeks (PRO TIP: 1 serving of fresh ginger root is equivalent to 1 TBSP).
Consuming ginger is considered generally safe with little interactions, although the mechanisms of action are still widely misunderstood. Individuals on blood thinning medications are advised to keep consumption below 4g per day to prevent the risk of hemorrhage and should always speak to their physician before consuming ginger tea daily. In addition, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should keep consumption below 2g per day. As with any herb, consuming too much of a good thing is possible and can lead to diarrhea, heartburn, or irritation in the mouth.
HOW TO USE GINGER FOR IMPROVED GUT HEALTH
It’s best to sip first thing in the morning before food or coffee. You can add fresh lemon juice (from 1 wedge) and 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar, too. These health foods help balance your pH, alkalize the body, and improve the breakdown of food you eat throughout the day. This potent combination activates natural gastric juices and enzymes to enhance optimal digestion and nutrient absorption.
After your first cup in the morning, sip just the ginger and hot water before lunch and dinner to improve reflux and balance stomach acid.
If you’re dealing with chronic bloating and gas, arthritic pain, PMS, chemotherapy side effects, or morning sickness, you might want to consider sipping on ginger tea throughout the day in between meals. Not only can ginger ease your symptoms, it can also reduce inflammation and help heal your body from the inside out.
Do you currently use ginger as part of your wellness routine?
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