HEALTH BENEFITS OF LEMON AND GINGER TEA

HEALTH BENEFITS OF LEMON AND GINGER TEA

By: Mallya Godfrido RN, Art in Tanzania Internship

Medical and Public Health

Ginger is grown in Kilimanjaro, Kigoma, Ruvuma, Morogoro, Kagera and Mbeya regions.

Currently, Ginger in Kilimanjaro is widely grown in the Same District, particularly on the slopes of the Usambara Mountains, the ancient range in northeast Tanzania, which is part of the Eastern Arc.

Ginger is a versatile botanical plant used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. Drinking ginger tea can provide you with many health benefits. Not everyone can benefit from ginger tea. However, you should check with your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, using blood thinners, or have bleeding disorders, heart disease or high blood pressure before using ginger or its products, according to the Physicians’ Desktop Reference.

Apart from enhancing flavour in cooking as a spice condiment,s ginger has also been used by Humans for medical purposes

Gingerol Benefits

Ginger root contains gingerol, which increases the motility of the gastrointestinal tract, according to Nutrition. Gingerol also contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Nausea and vomiting relief

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), ginger has been a treatment for upset stomach, diarrhoea and nausea for over 2,000 years. Although you can eat ginger raw, as candy or cooked, the tea form is most common for medicinal purposes. In a study reprinted on the UMMC website, a gram of ginger daily for up to four days was shown to help relieve nausea. This relief was more significant for pregnant women than for people with motion sickness or nausea from a surgical operation.

Increase Vitamin C Level

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that the body cannot produce or store; you must take it daily to avoid vitamin C deficiency. The lemon in ginger and lemon tea contains vitamin C, although the amount varies according to how much you add to the tea. Vitamin C prevents certain cancers, such as those in the mouth, stomach, and breast. This vitamin is also an antioxidant that helps protect the cells against free radical damage. These harmful molecules form in the body due to anything from cigarette smoke to chemicals in foods.

Cold and Flu relief

Ginger and lemon are both known for their vitamin C content. When you have a cold or flu, stock up on these antioxidants to help boost your immune system and recover quickly. Ginger with honey can relieve coughing, sore throat and runny nose, according to Organic Facts. Lemon is also a traditional remedy for colds and sore throats. Brew lemon and ginger tea and add honey for a cold remedy.

Antiviral

Balch writes that ginger tea may offer antiviral properties. Fresh ginger root may help destroy virus cells that cause common colds, influenza, cold sores and genital herpes. It may also help fight the spread of established viruses, speeding recovery from colds and flu and reducing the frequency and severity of herpes outbreaks.

Cancer therapy

According to Castleman, the chemicals in fresh ginger tea may help shrink cancerous tumours. This may help prevent the spread of cancer and increase your chances of cancer remission. However, scientific studies have only been conducted on animals, so the anti-cancer benefits of ginger tea for humans are unclear.

Arthritis treatment

Fresh ginger tea may help reduce inflammation of muscles and connective tissues. This may help ease pain and stiffness associated with arthritis. However, ginger tea cannot prevent the degradation of muscle and bone cells associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Digestive Health

Lemon ginger tea may benefit your digestive health and function. A compound in ginger root called gingerol may stimulate mobility in your intestines, relieving constipation. Gingerol may also have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which help keep your gastrointestinal tract healthy. Ginger may also alleviate some gastrointestinal distress symptoms, such as an upset stomach, nausea, and diarrhoea. Ginger root extracts, including those in lemon ginger tea, have been used during pregnancy and after surgery to treat acute nausea.