Last Updated on October 26, 2024
Ginger has been used for thousands of years to add flavor to recipes and as homemade medicines. People have been using ginger to cure colds, assist in digestion, and reduce nausea. Some studies have shown that ginger can even be used to reduce muscle pain from exercising. A recent survey may have shown yet another incredible health benefit of ginger. This additional benefit is that it could help you with the management of your type 2 diabetes.
The ginger root has been shown to help lower glucose levels in type 2 diabetes. A study that was completed by Shahid University of Medical Sciences in Iran looked at the effect of ginger on 88 type 2 diabetics. All of the diabetics had been diagnosed with diabetes for at least ten years. There was no information on how well their glucose levels were managed before the study.
The diabetics were split into two separate groups; one group was given a one-gram capsule of ginger, and the other was given a placebo. After eight weeks of taking the capsules, the ones that were taking the ginger saw a marked decrease in their glucose levels versus the group that was taking the placebo pills.
All of the participants in the study were middle-aged and overweight, but none of them were considered to be “obese.” The researchers from the study noted that the group that used the ginger was in worse shape than the placebo group before the study began and they had the most change, which eliminates the idea that the change could have been “random” or because of external factors.
The reason for ginger’s effect on blood sugar isn’t known. There are several guesses, but none has been proven. One idea is that ginger contains hepatic phosphorylase, which is an enzyme that breaks down glycogen, which contains glucose cells. While this idea isn’t proven, it would explain the interesting impact of ginger on diabetics.
Ginger can be used as a fresh root, ground into a powder, used as oil, or dried. There are thousands of different recipes that you can use to incorporate ginger into your diet without having to spend hours in your kitchen every night.
One of the easiest ways to add ginger is adding it to a salad. The taste of ginger goes well with most salads. You can peel and cut the ginger finely and add it to any side salad with your dinner. This is one of the quickest ways to add this root to your diet without changing the foods you already eat.
Looking for the perfect way to add ginger to your side dishes for dinner? A ginger broccoli stir-fry is not only delicious but healthy as well. With some broccoli, vegetable stock, cooking oil, garlic, ginger, and soy sauce you can make a quick and healthy side dish. The whole recipe will take you less than 30 minutes from prep to finish.
If you’re looking for a way to DRINK your daily dose of ginger, you’re in luck! There are several ways to mix in some ginger with a smoothie or drink. Add a small slice of fresh ginger to a cup of green tea. You can sprinkle ginger into a fresh fruit smoothie. The ginger adds a perfect flavor mixture to the smoothie and makes a healthy snack during the day.
Ginger has been known to cure dozens of different ailments, conditions, and discomforts, but it could have hidden benefits for type 2 diabetes. We may not know why ginger has such fantastic effects, but you should consider adding it to your meals.
