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This Common Kitchen Ingredient can Help Reduce Blood Pressure & Control Diabetes

Ginger is one of the most common spices found in every kitchen. The spice is known as a superfood due to its medicinal properties. People since long have been using this root for cooking and healing purposes. Ginger contains wide-ranging anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties. The spice also contains several types of potent antioxidants, including shogaols, gingerols and zingerones. And because of all these amazing properties ginger helps in curing several health issues.

Updated on: 31 January, 2019 6:03 PM IST By: Abha Toppo

Ginger is one of the most common spices found in every kitchen.  The spice is known as a superfood due to its medicinal properties. People since long have been using this root for cooking and healing purposes. Ginger contains wide-ranging anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties. The spice also contains several types of potent antioxidants, including shogaols, gingerols and zingerones. And because of all these amazing properties ginger helps in curing several health issues.

You can get ginger root in many forms - fresh, dried or even in the form of tablets or capsules. Regardless of the form, ginger is extremely valuable for your overall health.  In this article we will tell you how this spice can help in reducing high blood pressure as well as hypertension.

Ginger for Hypertension

Ginger is a great kitchen ingredient that helps in reducing high blood pressure by averting the formation of blood clots in the arteries and blood vessels. Blood clots can prevent or stop blood from flowing through the circulatory system that can further lead to high blood pressure. Hence by preventing blood clots, ginger can also help prevent heart problems like heart attacks and strokes.

The chemical compounds present in ginger can help reduce overall blood cholesterol and low density lipoproteins. These are the components of cholesterol that can cause heart disease. Low density lipoproteins and cholesterol can contribute to sticky plaque along the walls of the arteries and blood vessels and this creates blockage in the circulatory system that can lead to high blood pressure by confining the inner diameter of blood vessels and arteries. Plaque can also cut the elasticity of your arteries, which further leads to high blood pressure.

So, it is important to add ginger to your diet. Also Ginger is a healthy alternative than additives such as salt, which can raise the risk for high blood pressure if used in excess.

Ginger for Diabetes

Ginger is well known for its powerful, spicy flavor and aroma that offers numerous health benefits. Adding ginger in your diet can have a positive impact on your overall health. A study held in 2012 has confirmed that this spice can be effective for glycemic control in diabetes mellitus and can also improve the insulin sensitivity. Additionally, it is also demonstrated to have a protective effect against diabetic complications. Ginger also has a low glycemic index (GI) and this is very helpful for diabetics as low GI foods release glucose into the blood at a slow speed, preventing unnecessary spikes in blood sugar levels.

Ginger can be added to many dishes and beverages, which will enhance the taste of the food. You can also have a glass of ginger water in the morning.

Other benefits of ginger

  • Ginger can help calm muscle pain.

  • It is great for digestion.

  • Ginger helps to cure a cold and flu.

  • It can help protect from cardiovascular diseases.

  • Ginger will keep you away from the risk of cancer.

  • Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, this spice can help improve brain function also.

Just add this spice to your diet and see the magic!!!

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