How to make Ginger Water? Benefit and Risk

5 minutes read. 

The ginger plant is rich in curative phytochemicals that can promote your health and wellness.

Whether hot ginger water or cool ginger water, all have the same benefits and uses.

Both are typically made with ginger root and contain a number of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds that support the digestive, immune, and cardiovascular systems.

Both beverages are the same only that each is consumed at different temperatures.

In Indian, Japanese, Chinese, and other cuisines, ginger has been used for thousands of years to promote healthy digestion and nutrient absorption.

It’s also the key ingredient in some folk remedies, such as herbal teas, lozenges, and ginger water that are intended to help treat stomach bloating, abdominal pain, and nausea.

Taking ginger water, also known as ginger tea, is one way to enjoy the benefits of ginger.

Ginger can be found in food and medicine worldwide.

In this article, I will show you how you can start making your ginger water and save a lot of money from buying ginger tea supplements.

Feel free to skip ahead:

• Benefits
• Risk and Side Effects
• How to make Ginger water?
• Conclusion

Benefits

Ginger, scientifically known as Zingiber officinale, is a root that can be consumed fresh, dried, or ground into powder. To make ginger water, the fresh root is usually sliced, zested, or grated. (Ginger can also be juiced, pickled, or infused into beverages.)

You may have tasted ginger beverages at some point, such as ginger ale or ginger beer, but these are usually highly sweetened and contain almost no antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds found in real ginger.

Ginger water naturally has a sharp, peppery flavor, so while it might taste better when mixed with sugar, it’s healthiest when you don’t add any sweetener (or better use a small amount of honey).

Studies show that ginger contains many valuable compounds like gingerol, shogaol, paradol, and zingerone. Its gingerol content is the most valuable, making it one of the top anti-inflammatory herbs and spices.

Ginger root also contains small amounts of potassium, copper, manganese, magnesium, choline, and vitamin C.

Can drinking ginger water every day be beneficial to health?

Yes. At least one glass of ginger water before or in between meals per day is moderately safe for a healthy person, it helps you stay hydrated. However, if you want to use it to remedy a particular health ache the daily intake may increase to 2 to 3 glasses per day for the maximum result if you can tolerate it.

Here are some of the benefits of consuming this ancient beverage:

1.Can Help Decrease Nausea

Ginger water and tea are both considered natural remedies for nausea, indigestion, ulcers, motion sickness, irritable bowel syndrome, and morning sickness.

It also can be given to patients receiving chemotherapy treatments who are prone to severe nausea or pregnant women dealing with morning sickness.

Other reasons to drink ginger water include helping reduce bloating and potential constipation and intestinal sensitivity due to IBS since ginger promotes gastric motility and may speed up stomach emptying and the water is hydrating, which helps with elimination.

2. Supports a Strong Immune System

Ginger root has been shown to possess antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.

In addition, this plant’s protective compounds, including gingerol, shogaol and paradols, help fight oxidative stress, free radicals, and inflammation that can contribute to a number of health conditions.

Studies have found that consuming ginger water and tea may help reduce symptoms related to:

• colds
• allergies
• respiratory infections

And possibly even heart disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and some types of cancer.

3. Promotes Healthy Blood Sugar and Cholesterol Levels

According to some research, ginger has the ability to help you maintain normal blood sugar levels and potentially reduce the risk of insulin resistance.

It’s also associated with support for cardiovascular health and reduced total, LDL (#bad) cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Some reports have also demonstrated that ginger, especially when consumed as a beverage, may help decrease your appetite and potentially have anti-obesity effects.

For example, one 2020 study concluded that ginger water helped lower body weight gain, likely because of how it affects energy metabolizing proteins.

4. May Dull Pain and Inflammation

Because it contains anti-inflammatory compounds, ginger has been shown to help alleviate muscle and joint pain, menstrual cramps, and discomfort caused by osteoarthritis or exercise-induced muscle strain.

Risks and Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of ginger water?

While ginger water is generally well-tolerated and safe for most people to consume, it’s possible you may experience mild side effects like heartburn, diarrhea, and stomach pain when beginning to consume it.

Drinking ginger water on an empty stomach may increase ulcers or other gastrointestinal problems like bloating intestinal gas, or heartburn, however, if you must do be sure to have your food ready in 20 minutes time or less.

Some people may also experience an allergic reaction to ginger in rare cases. Stop consuming ginger water, ginger tea, and ginger supplements if you experience hives, itching, or swelling.

Don’t give ginger beverages or extracts to children under the age of 2 unless you’ve cleared it with your doctor.

For a healthy individual, it’s recommended to stick to one cup of ginger water per day. To maximize the benefits you can increase it to 2 to 3 cups if you can tolerate it.

How to Make Ginger Water?

Follow this direction to make two servings of ginger water.

Ingredients:

• 1 2-inch pieces fresh ginger root (peel and rinse the root before using it)
• 2 cups water
• 1 large lemon (optional)
• 1 dash of ground turmeric, fresh black pepper, and cayenne pepper (all optional)

Directions/Methods

1. First, rinse peel, and slice the ginger into small chunks.

2. Bring the water to a boil, then add the ginger to each cup and top with water. Give the ginger several minutes to steep before removing it.

3. If using the other ingredients, also add sliced lemon in each cup or squeeze half a lemon into each.

4. Now add black pepper, turmeric, and cayenne.

Either enjoy warm or chill in the refrigerator. For the most benefits drink within about one day/24 hours.

Reasons to Add Fresh Lemon

What does lemon and ginger water do to your body?

Like ginger, fresh lemon juice can support digestive processes and detoxification. Some people find that lemon juice helps curb indigestion and bloating.

Other beneficial ingredients you can add to ginger water for extra health perks include:

Turmeric – This root contains curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It can help reduce pain, support digestion, and more.

Raw honey – Not only does honey improve the taste, but it also provides enzymes, vitamins, and minerals that can help fight cold and flu symptoms as well as allergies.

Cayenne pepper – Cayenne supplies you with the compound capsaicin, which can be beneficial for your metabolism and may reduce stomach pains and discomfort.

Are you interested in making wellness shots instead, with some of the same ingredients? Try ginger shot

Dosage

A general recommendation is to consume about one to three cups of ginger water or ginger tea per day. This equates to having about one teaspoon of powdered ginger or one to two teaspoons of grated raw ginger daily.

When should you drink ginger water?

Answer

Whenever you prefer, such as first thing in the morning to become more hydrated or between meals to settle your stomach.

The ginger extract itself (such as supplements containing the root) should not be consumed in dosages of more than three to four grams per day.

Can ginger water work as a detox?

Answer

Detox rituals aim to slowly rid your body of toxins over time. Some people use ginger water mixed with lemon juice as a detox. There is only anecdotal evidence to support this use.

Since ginger may fight germs, illness, inflammation, and cancer-causing molecules, taking a little bit every day can support your overall health. Ginger is a natural root, so drinking it will also give you added nutrients.

Is ginger water safe during pregnancy?

Answer

Scientific researchers have looked at the role ginger may play in helping treat nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.

One study noted that the evidence supports the efficacy of ginger for the treatment of pregnancy nausea, but that there may be safety risks for some women. A systematic review of studies, however, found no adverse effects caused by ginger consumption in pregnant women.

Talk to your doctor before taking any supplements or herbs during pregnancy. In some cases, diet and lifestyle changes may help reduce nausea in pregnancy:

eat regular, small meals

avoid greasy or spicy foods, since they may upset your stomach

sleep at least 6 hours each night

stay hydrated (drink enough water)

Conclusion

Ginger water naturally has a sharp, peppery flavor, so while it might taste better when mixed with sugar, it’s healthiest when you don’t add any sweetener (or better use a small amount of honey).

Studies show that ginger contains many valuable compounds like gingerol, shogaol, paradol, and zingerone, as small amounts of potassium, copper, manganese, magnesium, choline, and vitamin C. Its gingerol content is the most valuable, making it one of the top anti-inflammatory herbs, and spices

To make ginger water, the fresh root is usually sliced, zested, or grated. (Ginger can also be juiced, pickled, or infused into beverages.)

Whether hot ginger water or cool ginger water, all have the same benefits and uses.

Drinking ginger water on an empty stomach may increase ulcers or other gastrointestinal problems however if you must do be sure to have your food ready in 20 minutes time or less.

Some people may also experience an allergic reaction to ginger in rare cases. Stop consuming ginger water, tea, and supplements if you experience hives, itching, or swelling.

Don’t give ginger beverages or extracts to children under the age of 2 unless you’ve cleared it with your doctor.

For a healthy individual, it’s recommended to stick to one cup of ginger water per day. To maximize the benefits you can increase it to 2 to 3 cups if you can tolerate it.

Benefits of ginger water range from; decreasing nausea, increasing the immune system, promoting healthy blood sugar and cholesterol, and reducing inflammation.

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