Last Updated on March 18, 2021 by Filip Poutintsev
We are all in the lookout for healthy diet. Ginger beer is a drink that has been around in diverse forms for around 200 years, originating in England, but spreading from there. Many people confuse ginger beer with ginger ale, the popular stomach-settling cure, but they are prepared in two very distinct ways.
Significant Health Benefits of Ginger Beer
That being said, they may have effects on the body that are similar. This beer has a good ginger flavour and is typically sweetened and carbonated. The designation “beer” is due to the method of processing, which involves fermentation with a particular form of bacteria.
It rarely had an alcohol content of over 12 per cent when this beer was first launched in the mid-18th century, but today, something over 2 per cent is almost unheard of. Currently, the majority of ginger beer manufacturers have absolutely excluded alcohol. Even so in a variety of traditional cocktails, it remains a very common beverage option and is a key ingredient.
Ginger beer is gaining worldwide popularity, but this beverage is not only refreshing and versatile, but it can also have possible health benefits. Some of the benefits of ginger beer has been discussed below:
Benefits of Ginger Beer
1. Improves Digestion and Relieves Nausea
Stomach distress and nausea are closely linked to each other. The active substances in ginger, gingerol and shogaol, are effective agents to alleviate inflammation of the stomach and other digestive discomforts. In addition, these substances also help activate the production of saliva and bile in your body, and the latter mixes with the food content in your stomach and thus improves digestion.
Generally, working out regularly and keep a healthy diet will boost your metabolism, although this is not always possible. Some conditions such as sickness, accident recovery and pregnancy may not permit such regimens.
Drinking ginger beer can be a perfect solution in such cases. The active compounds of Ginger are an effective agent for activating different digestive functions such as bile production and stimulation of pancreatic lipase, which helps increase the energy balance of the body and eventually helps the body burn fat. Plus, ginger is all-natural, has been shown to be healthy, and has no side effects.
2. Slows Down Ageing
Ageing is a fact of life, but there doesn’t have to be the telltale physical signs of wrinkles! Drinking ginger beer will help to delay the process of ageing and the signs that go with it. Just its aroma can make us feel good and lift our spirits. The ageing process is accelerated by stress, whether emotional or psychological. Certainly, a glass of ginger beer will offer a sense of peace and can also give us the courage to keep up with our everyday routines.
3. Improves Mental Health
Ginger beer can promote better mental health. Traditionally, its main component, the ginger root, has been used to treat many mental problems such as memory loss, dementia, and even Alzheimer’s disease.
The intake of ginger can greatly increase the levels of important neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin in the brain. The activity of another significant neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, which is key to effective learning and memory, can also be promoted. So, consider drinking ginger beer as a preventive measure if you are someone with a family history of Alzheimer’s.
4. Good for Heart
Research has shown the beneficial impact of ginger on heart health, namely by lowering cholesterol and lowering blood pressure; although ginger beer has lower levels of active ingredients, it can still give you a cardiovascular boost.
5. Lowers the Risk of Cancer
The effectiveness of ginger beer in preventing cancer is not yet definitive, and further experimental research needs to be carried out. Early signs, however, are that the active compounds in ginger beer possess anti-cancer properties.
Findings from numerous studies such as the one conducted in 2013 by the Cancer Prevention Research stated that ginger destroyed human colorectal cancer cells and also stopped cancer from rising again.
Including gingerol and shogaol, Other active compounds such as zingerone and paradol work in combination to combat cancer cells. In addition, these compounds possess chemo-preventive properties that relieve the signalling molecules that induce inflammation and stop the cancer cells in our bodies to perform other destructive activities.
6. Anti-bacterial Properties
The anti-bacterial properties of Ginger help explain why it works as one of the key ingredients in many culinary recipes and traditional medicines available in the world today. Active compounds present in ginger make it an antibacterial agent that is very strong.
The Department of Life Sciences at the University of Bureau in Cameroon conducted a study on the antibacterial properties of ginger, and extracts were found to effectively suppress four distinct pathogens of the respiratory tract.
The research was also performed in Nigeria to see which among the ginger extract and several antibiotics was better at suppressing microbial activity, and results showed that the ginger extracts were superior to the antibiotics.
Making this drink a part of your health routine can help your body get rid of bacteria and fungi, and also save you from costly and potentially harmful antibiotics.
7. Reduces Inflammation
Body inflammation occurs when the white blood cells of the body are put into motion to defend our body against foreign substances. This sudden release of chemicals increases the flow of blood to the area affected, resulting in inflammation. Ginger contains active compounds that can inhibit inflammation efficiently and help alleviate pain as well.
The study published by the International Journal of Preventive Medicine says that daily consumption of ginger can help suppress inflammation of the tissue and can also help protect our body from diseases that can be contracted by different infectious agents and unhealthy behaviours, such as smoking cigarettes.
The potassium content of Ginger offers support for detoxification and works well with glutathione, a powerful antioxidant provided by our body that prevents harmful free radicals. Other ginger-based minerals such as manganese and silicon help protect the blood vessel lining of the heart and encourage healthy nails, skin, hair and teeth.
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