The more time that goes by, the more benefits science finds for ginger. Now, it’s being hailed as an anti-aging powerhouse! Fights all 12 ‘clinical hallmarks of aging’! No wonder this ancient root – used medicinally for millennia – is gaining in popularity again…
Centuries of ‘intrigue’
“With over 400 bioactive compounds, ginger’s anti-aging properties have intrigued our ancestors for centuries,” says Kathleen Moore, a nutritionist at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. “While research often breaks food down into components, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Ginger’s mysteries may never be fully understood.”
The specific whys and wherefores of ginger’s effects on aging are many. They range from influencing how some genes are expressed, to fighting systemic inflammation, to strengthening your gut micro-biome. And so much more!
What we know
“Some human studies have found ginger to be beneficial in the pathways within our body that help to manage metabolism and energy production, chronic inflammation, and alteration in the gut micro-biome,” says Jennifer Tomesko an associate professor at Rutgers University. “More research is needed to examine ginger supplementation to promote longevity.”
But we do know, thanks to previous studies, that: “[G]inger may also help decrease blood sugar, cho-lesterol levels, and inflammatory markers in people with Type 2 diabetes,” Tomesko explains.
Ginger can has also been proven to help with a range of gut issues. “In many, it improves digestive health, reduces nausea, supports metabolic health by improving insulin sensitivity, and helps coun-ter metabolic syndrome,” adds Scott Keatley, co-owner of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy.
Effects on aging
The latest ginger study, investigating the plan’s effects on aging, shows the fresh root can have be-neficial effects on all 12 ‘clinical hallmarks of aging’, as doctors call them.
And that’s very good news for folks who already include ginger in their day-to-day routines.
For the rest of us, it should serve as notice, to all of us, to use more fresh ginger in our cooking. That can include stepping up from ground, dried ginger to minced or crushed fresh ginger root. You can also serve more dishes that call for ginger. Which just naturally brings to mind whole cook books full of delect-able Asian mains, soups and sauces. And that’s just a start…
Not to mention… We can all benefit from a cup or two of fresh-ginger tea every day…
~ Maggie J.