Ginger is the root of the plant Zingiber officinale, commonly used for sweet foods in the West and as a medicine, a delicacy and a fragrant spice in the East.

As the benefits of raw and natural produce continues to take hold in the West, the health benefits of juicing ginger are also creeping into western knowledge.

Ginger is best known for treating nausea, treating joint pain, and reducing your risk of cancer. Here these are in a bit more detail, plus 4 other ginger juice benefits.

Benefits of Juicing Ginger

1. Treating Nausea

Ginger provides effective relief from feelings of queasiness, including nausea, vomiting, cold sweats and dizziness. Science has also shown that it is effective for pregnant women, people undergoing chemotherapy, motion sickness, and for preventing nausea after a surgical procedure:

• Ginger is more effective than dimenhydrinate for motion sickness.
• Ginger is effective for relieving the severity of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.
• Ginger reduces chemotherapy induced nausea.
• Ginger is more effective than a placebo for preventing postoperative nausea.

2. Reduces Joint Pain, and Other Aches

When joints are inflamed, they become painful. Ginger houses powerful anti-inflammatories called gingerols which are effective in treating joint pain, and some other aches which crop up with no apparent reason.

Ginger has also been shown to be effective for reducing knee pain for osteoarthritis patients, making ginger a good choice for controlling pain in arthritic patients.

3. Cancer Prevention

One of the best long term benefits of juicing Ginger is cancer prevention due to its high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. The most unique cancer preventing features of ginger come from the gingerols and paradols.

What’s most interesting of all is that there is preliminary data to show that gingerols could inhibit the spread of breast cancer cells.

4. Lowers Blood Pressure

Ginger has been shown to lower blood pressure by widening the arteries. Lowering your blood pressure significantly reduces your chances of heart attacks and strokes, regardless of your age.

5. Boosts Your Immune System

Ginger also has antiviral and antibacterial properties which boost your immune system and help fight viral and bacterial infections.

When added to the ginger juice benefits of easing the queasy feelings of sickness, ginger juice becomes a powerful ally in treating the common cold and other infections.

6. Lowers Cholesterol Levels

Just like tomato juice, ginger juice also decreases LDL cholesterol levels and reduces LDL oxidation. This is especially useful since high levels of LDL oxidation are linked with an increased risk of coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis.

A lower level of cholesterol lowers your risk of heart attacks and strokes, and also ensures proper blood circulation to the parts that need it the most.

7. Stimulates Digestion

One of the ginger juice benefits which has been used for centuries is its power in treating digestive problems.

And at long last, science has started to catch up. Ginger juice is beneficial for anyone ailed with gastrointestinal problems.

How To Make Ginger Juice

As always it’s best to make your own juice rather than buying store-bought. That way you know there are no nasty artificial additives, preservatives, colorings or flavor enhancers - it’s 100% natural juice.

Ginger gives any juice a wonderful hot and aromatic flavor - if you’re a fan of Eastern cuisine, you’ll love ginger juice. I’m a huge fan, and because of this I add a thumb of ginger to everything I juice - it enhances the existing taste of whatever juice you’re drinking without overpowering it.

You can use any vegetable juicer to juice ginger. If you don’t have one yet, our guide will help you find the right one to suit your needs, lifestyle and budget.

Another great way to enjoy ginger juice is to have a Ginger Shot:

Ginger Side Effects

In some rare cases, the side effects of ginger include gas, heartburn, upset stomach, or mouth irritation.

2 Surprising Uses For It

1. For Hair Growth

Ginger is great for treating hinning hair since it increases both the flow of blood to the scalp, and blood circulation once there. This stimulates the hair follicles and encourages growth.

If you’re a man, there’s only one guarantee when it comes to male pattern baldness - once it starts, it won’t stop.

So it pays to try whatever you can and keep doing what seems to be working for you. Try it as soon as possible too - after your hair starts shedding, you’ve only got a window of about a year to restart growth until the root is dead forever.

So add ginger juice to the list and see if it works for you.

To use, simply massage ginger juice into your scalp, leave it for 30 minutes, and wash off as normal.

2. For Youthful Skin

Ginger can also help turn back the clock on your skin by making it look healthier, and also help control blemishes and outbreaks. This is due to its high levels of antioxidants (which remove free radicals which damage and age skin) and antibacterials.

You can use ginger juice as a face wash, or as a face pack.

• For a face wash, simply use ginger juice as you would a face wash.
• For a face pack, add it to raw honey to make a thick paste, apply it to your face, and wash off after 15-30 minutes.

What other uses have you found for ginger juice? Let us know below!

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Photo credit: sweetbeetandgreenbean