Ginger is a great way to get the blood flowing and keep chills away. Eating the raw root is the best way to maximize its benefits, as it helps strengthen the immune system and promote sweating. This sweating is part of the body's protective response, as it releases demicidin, an antimicrobial protein that eccrine sweat glands secrete on the surface of the skin. Stress from everyday life, such as traffic, bills and deadlines, as well as lifestyle factors like unhealthy eating and lack of sleep can all cause inflammation in the body.
Chinese medicine can be useful in this regard, as it classifies foods based on their heating or cooling properties. Choosing foods that warm or cool the system can help calm inflammation and cool down “heat patterns” caused by stress. Alcohol consumption is another example of how heat can increase in the body. If you've ever noticed someone's cheeks or eyes turn red when drinking alcohol, that's an indication that the 'heat' is increasing.
However, no diet is the same for everyone, so it's important to find what works best for you. In 1991, a randomized, double-blind trial was conducted on the efficacy of ginger root powder versus placebo in hyperemesis of arum gravidarum, an extreme form of morning sickness. The results showed that 1 gram of ginger root powder per day for four days was more effective than placebo in reducing symptoms of morning sickness. In a preliminary study, a drink containing 0.116% ginger extract had a hyperthermic response regardless of its temperature.
The temperature of the palm of the hand was higher at 20, 40 and 60 minutes after consumption of the ginger drink compared to the placebo drink. The temperature of the palm of the hand increased immediately up to 10 minutes after ingestion in both groups (+3.2°C after ginger and +2.9°C after placebo versus 0 minutes). Incorporating ginger into your diet can be part of your overall strategy to lower your chances of developing ovarian cancer. It can also help accelerate muscle strength recovery after intense exercise sessions.
Commercially available ginger drinks contain low levels of gingerols, so it's important to measure 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol content when consuming them.