Ginger juice is obtained from the ginger root, a rhizome of the flowering plant Zingiber officinale, largely used in folk medicine for centuries and also as a spice and delicacy. [4] The juice from ginger root is strong, with a kick of heat and flavor that is highly refreshing and adds a distinct character to many other juices and dishes. Also, ginger juice and extracts are used for their immense pharmacological value in many Ayurvedic formulations.
In Ayurveda, ginger is referred to as shuntha (dry ginger) or Ardrakam (raw ginger) and enjoys a special status. It is known as “Vishvabhesaja” (world or universal herb) and “Mahaushadha” (great medicine). [1] The juice from ginger and ginger as a whole are Vata and Kapha pacifying and can be utilized both topically and internally. [2] Combining Guda (jaggery) with ginger juice reduces its spiciness and enhances its Gunas. When juicing the ginger root or raw, fresh ginger needs to be used.
In this article, we will talk about the nutrients in ginger juice, several benefits of ginger juice, how to juice ginger, how to use ginger juice, potential ginger juice side effects, and more.
Nutritional value of ginger juice
The nutrients in 75 ml of ginger juice and their value are given below:
Nutrients | Value |
Calories | 60 Kcal |
Total Carbs | 13 grams |
Total Sugars | 3 grams |
Calcium | 13 mg |
Protein | 3 grams |
Sodium | 10 mg |
Properties of ginger juice [20] [21]
Ginger juice comes with the following medicinal properties:
- Anti-inflammatory property
- Antioxidant property
- Gastrointestinal property
- Pain-relieving property
- Antiviral property
- Antiemetic property
- Hypolipidemic property
- Anti-ulcerogenic property
- Anti-motion property
15 best ginger juice benefits
1. Relieves cough and cold
Ginger juice has certain active constituents which can eliminate phlegm from your system. Ginger juice for cough can, therefore, cleanse your respiratory tract and bring relief from asthmatic discomforts, nighttime coughing and wheezing, etc. Inhaling steam infused with ginger juice may clear your airways and alleviate cold. [4]
The Ushna or hot property of ginger juice, as per Ayurvedic principles, makes it an ideal cold and cough remedy or Kasahara and Sheeta Prashamana. The juice may be combined with honey or lemon juice and taken daily to relieve sore throat, throat irritation, and dry cough. Ginger juice and warm honey mixture may be a powerful natural treatment for dry cough in children. [3] Also, when you mix ginger juice and lemon juice, the potency of the natural cold and cough remedy is increased tenfold due to the lemon’s high Vitamin C content. This is one of the most notable ginger and lemon juice benefits for cold and cough.
2. Stops nausea and vomiting
Bioactive secondary metabolites in ginger and ginger juice can serve as an effective natural cure for nausea and vomiting. This can be a safe treatment for pregnancy-related nausea, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, motion sickness-related vomiting, and post-surgery nausea. [5]
3. Improves your digestive health
Ginger juice is a great remedy for bloating, flatulence, and dyspepsia. By taking ginger juice, you can get rid of intestinal cramping gas formation and also reduce the pressure on the esophageal sphincter muscles, thereby reducing the issues of heartburn and abdominal discomfort. [6]
4. Relieves migraine
Ginger juice benefits include its capacity to manage migraine headaches and the nausea associated with bouts of migraine attacks. With raw ginger or ginger juice, one can get relief from this annoying tension-type headache. [7]
5. Helps you manage diarrhea
Ginger juice is highly effective for diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome. Defecation frequency and abdominal cramps during diarrhea may reduce significantly with ginger juice. [8]
6. Helps in weight management
Ginger juice should be taken daily if you wish to lose your waistline and shed extra pounds. Ginger juice can curb your hunger pangs and promote enhanced thermogenesis for improved weight management. [9] Also, try taking ginger lemon juice on an empty stomach every day for better weight loss results.
7. Boosts hair growth
Ginger juice for hair has shown proven benefits in hair regrowth and strengthening of hair roots in those suffering from Alopecia Areata by reduction in oxidative stress. [10] Ginger juice for hair growth can stimulate hair regrowth by improving blood circulation at the roots.
8. Safeguards your kidneys
Ginger juice can support the functioning of the kidneys. Antioxidants in ginger can keep the creatinine levels in check and promote kidney health. Also, ginger juice can reduce the chances of kidney damage and injury. [11]
9. Heals abrasion wounds on your skin
Ginger juice may be used along with turmeric to heal abrasion skin lesions. Compounds in ginger can promote skin repair and speedy wound healing. [12]
10. Manages Diabetes
Studies show that by taking ginger juice, glucose levels in the blood in the case of Type 2 diabetes can be managed effectively. Ginger can inhibit the enzymes affecting insulin sensitivity and carb metabolizing processes. [13]
11. Reduces Bad Cholesterol Level
Ginger juice has lipid-lowering and triglycerides-lowering properties. [14] That makes ginger juice a potent herbal ingredient for cardiovascular health.
12. Lessens muscle pain
Ginger juice may be used as a home remedy for muscle pain management. The hypoalgesic effects of ginger and its anti-inflammatory properties can make ginger juice an effective natural pain reliever in case of exercise-induced muscle pain and injury. [15] Therefore, the Vedana Sthapana attribute of Ginger juice can be used to reduce aches and pains.
13. Manages PMS & menstrual cramps
Menstrual cramps are a common symptom every woman faces during their monthly cycle. Taking ginger juice can relieve menstrual pain as well as the bloating that occurs due to PMS. Inhibition of prostaglandins through the use of ginger juice can result in menstrual pain relief. [17]
14. Enhances brain health
Chronic inflammation may negatively impact your brain health and lead to a decline over time. One of the ginger juice benefits for health is that it can protect your brain from cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and memory function. [16]
15. Cancer-prevention attributes
The potent polyphenols in ginger make ginger juice capable of preventing certain types of cancer. Shogaols, Gingerols, and paradols in ginger can arrest cancer cell proliferation. [18]
How to make ginger juice?
If you wish to know how to make ginger juice, you need to follow the given steps:
- Scrub and peel the ginger
- Slice it into small bits
- Add clean, filtered water and run the blender. You’ll get a smooth mix of ginger pulp and juice.
- Now, you need to separate the juice from the pulp. Use cheesecloth for this purpose.
- Squeeze the ginger pulp to extract as much juice as you can.
- Strain and store in an airtight container.
How to use ginger juice?
Ginger juice is a versatile Ayurvedic preparation from a simple kitchen ingredient. There can be many uses of ginger juice. Read below:
- Freshly extracted ginger juice may be used as a natural cough medicine. The potency of the medicine may be increased by adding the juice of tulsi leaves and honey to the mixture. This is an anti-cough home remedy.
- You may also add ginger juice to several other drinks as given below:
- Smoothies
- Lemonade
- Minty drink
- It can be used to craft a homemade cocktail
- It can be used to make ginger popsicles
- It can be used as a substitute for grated ginger in cooking.
Potential side effects of ginger juice [19]
Taking ginger juice benefits your health in various ways but over-consumption may lead to certain unwanted side effects. However, most of these side effects are not that severe mostly associated with gastrointestinal symptoms. The common side effects include:
- Heartburn
- Gas
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Epigastric distress
Other symptoms projected as side effects of ginger juice include:
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Mild cardiovascular symptoms
- Mild respiratory symptoms
FAQs
1. What does Ayurveda say about ginger juice?
Ayurveda considers ginger juice to be a revered formulation. It is tridoshic in nature and can ignite the Agni or digestive fire. Taking ginger juice before and after meals can eliminate all digestive ailments. Furthermore, ginger juice is Hrudya (heart-protective), Ruchya (appetizer), Sulahara (analgesic), Shotha hara (anti-edematous), and jwara graha (fever-reducing) in nature.
2. Can ginger juice be taken daily?
Yes, ginger juice can be taken every day but in moderation for improved health. You will experience the benefits of ginger juice daily only if you take the juice in moderation.
3. Can ginger juice be used in mocktails?
Yes, ginger juice can be used in mocktails like Pear, Lemon, Pineapple, and the like.
4. Can freshly grated ginger be added to other juices?
Yes, freshly grated ginger may be added to other juices. Ginger can add spiciness to the juices as this Ayurvedic root has a unique aroma and a kind of sting!
To reap the benefits of ginger in juice, you must add the ginger in a proportion that fits in well with the other ingredients in the juice.
5. How can you make your ginger juice taste better?
If the spiciness of the ginger juice is too much for your taste buds you can mix ingredients like honey or Maple syrup to make it taste better.
Conclusion
Ginger juice is packed with several ginger juice benefits, as discussed in this article. The secret of juicing ginger perfectly lies in the perfect ginger-to-water ratio. When you have mastered the art of juicing ginger and including it in your daily life, you’ll have access to a plethora of benefits that ginger juice can offer.
Disclaimer
This article is written from a health and wellness perspective and is not medical advice. Kindly seek the help of a certified medical practitioner before initiating any treatment.
References
- Zingiber officinale: Ayurvedic Uses of the Plant and In Silico Binding Studies of Selected Phytochemicals With Mpro of SARS-CoV-2
- ZINGIBER OFFICINALE (GINGER): A REVIEW BASED UPON ITS AYURVEDIC AND MODERN THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES
- Comparative effect of mixture of ginger and honey with dextromethorphan in dry cough in children
- Ginger_Facts And Health Benefits
- The Effectiveness of Ginger in the Prevention of Nausea and Vomiting during Pregnancy and Chemotherapy
- Ginger in gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review of clinical trials
- Ginger for Migraine
- Ginger relieves intestinal hypersensitivity of diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome by inhibiting proinflammatory reaction
- The effects of ginger intake on weight loss and metabolic profiles among overweight and obese subjects: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- Ginger Extract Reduces Oxidative Stress and Improves the Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Alopecia Areata
- Therapeutic Potential of Ginger against Renal Injury Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride in Rats
- A COMBINATION OF CURCUMIN AND GINGER EXTRACT IMPROVES ABRASION WOUND HEALING IN CORTICOSTEROID-DAMAGED HAIRLESS RAT SKIN
- Dietary ginger as a traditional therapy for blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
- Investigation of the effect of ginger on the lipid levels. A double blind controlled clinical trial
- Ginger (Zingiber officinale) reduces muscle pain caused by eccentric exercise
- Zingiber officinale Improves Cognitive Function of the Middle-Aged Healthy Women
- Efficacy of Ginger in the Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
- Ginger Extract (Zingiber Officinale) has Anti-Cancer and Anti-Inflammatory Effects on Ethionine-Induced Hepatoma Rats
- Ginger on Human Health: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of 109 Randomized Controlled Trials
- Ginger Physico Chemical Properties and It’s Consumer Products processing: A Review
- Medicinal properties of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.)