The Amazing benefits of ginger

What is ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Ginger is a fantastically warming plant, whose root is widely used as a cooking spice and for herbal lifestyle support. Grown all over the tropical world, ginger, turmeric, and galangal are all from the same plant family. Ginger’s spicy nature supports our ability to digest food, as well as stimulating digestion and calming an upset stomach. It also supports a healthy circulation, leaving you feel positively uplifted for the rest of your day. The ginger we use in Three Ginger, Turmeric Active and our Chai teas, is grown in India where it soaks up the sun giving it intense heat in the roots.

So why's ginger so special?

Ginger has a long history of use in Ayurveda, India’s traditional science of well-being, as well as Traditional Chinese medicine. Indeed, ginger was once the most valuable natural commodity in human history. The dried root was carried long distances from Asia to Europe and was once worth more than its weight in gold!

Ginger is so good for you as it is fantastically warming. Traditionally, it us used to warm you up, especially your digestive and respiratory systems. This is due to its high levels of different volatile oils, such as gingerols and zingerone. In India, and other hot and humid climates, ginger is widely used in cooking because of its taste and stimulating effect on the digestive system. Its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties also make it an excellent food preservative.

Why is ginger good for you?

The warming and invigorating health benefits of ginger have been widely researched (1) and include:

• Ginger supports the digestion system and the ability to digest food by increasing the digestive fire (known as agni in Ayurveda) and digestive enzymes.

• Ginger stimulates circulation, helping to warm up the inner body as well as cold extremities such as hands and feet.

• Ginger supports immunity, the lungs and respiratory system and may help to clear congestion.

• Ginger supports troublesome aches due to its soothing volatile oils which is why it’s included in our Turmeric Active tea.

How we grow our highest quality ginger

Pukka’s ginger is grown in warm and wet areas of India. We have worked with Indian farmers for 15 years to increase the amount of land to grow our organic ginger. So, the ginger in your herbal tea or supplement is the product of a community of organic farmers working in harmony with nature. We capture its fiery nature, and harness its gingery-glow in a wide variety of our teas, including our warming and invigorating Three Ginger Tea..

After hearing about all of ginger’s warming benefits, why not try it out along with its ‘cousin’ turmeric by making a Turmeric and Ginger Fizz Mocktail | Pukka Herbs.

Or make a raw ginger appetiser to stimulate digestion and support the absorption of food. Take 5 cm of fresh peeled ginger and cut into thin slices. Squeeze the juice of either half a lime or lemon and the sprinkle on half a teaspoon of sea salt then mix. Allow to marinate for an hour then eat a couple of slices 15 minutes before meals.

1. Mao QQ, Xu XY, Cao SY, et al. (2019) Bioactive Compounds and Bioactivities of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). Foods. 8(6): 185