Raw ginger in a self-test: My conclusion after a year of testing
It's that time again! The days are short, we would like to turn the heating all the way up (if the energy prices were a little more humane) - and many people have the feeling that they are not only stumbling through the mud, but also from one cold to the next.
A feeling that I've known almost my entire life, regardless of whether it's right nowis or not. At school I only had to sit next to a sick child for an hour and the next day I was lying flat myself. The routine visit to the family doctor was always something of a final boss because I almost always came home with an illness that was currently rampant in the waiting room. And not only did I get everything that was floating around, it also regularly knocked me out for weeks, where others only needed a few days to recover. In short: my immune system was at its lowest.
I didn't know exactly where my weak defenses came from. There have been various diagnoses that I have received over the years:(a long-term autoimmune disease caused by gluten intolerance), thalassemia (a red blood cell disorder) and chronic intestinal inflammation. All things that are ourscan weaken. But there was still no clear explanation. However, it was very clear that at some point I couldn't and didn't want to continue like this anymore.
So I thought about how I could do it with as little effort as possible - and also without it being costly– could do something for my immune system. And one of the first things that is felt on every medical website andPharmacy look aroundis advertised is the famous ginger. But I already knew: If I'm serious about building up the immune system, I have to stick with the ginger for longer than just a few days. So I planned a year of self-therapy with the supposed miracle root. And unprocessed so that no active ingredients can be lost in the cooking process.
Raw ginger: THE solution for a strong immune system? This is how my self-test went
In the first few weeks I started my self-test the classic way, which all my colleagues always raved about. One shot per day. On the fourth night of my ginger week, I started getting a cold. But instead of developing the usual symptoms, I woke up the next day with only a mild oneon. Plus, my daily dose of ginger immediately relieved my blocked sinuses. For the first time in my life, I experienced a mild cold - and felt better within two days. It felt absolutely revolutionary.
But: Ginger shots were way too expensive for me in the long run, so I decided to go straight to the main ingredient of the health juice - the ginger root itself. To get the maximum effect, I decided to consume the ginger raw, which admittedly took some getting used to. Because the ginger leaves an intense, fiery feeling on the tongue, in the throat and, if you take it carelessly, too. So I tried to eat the small piece I put on the scale (5 grams in the morning and 5 in the afternoon to get the usual amount of a ginger shot) as quickly as possible and with as little mouth contact as possible swallow – and quickly got used to the ritual.
After three months of eating two tiny pieces of the spicy root every day, my newfound immunity was put to the test when a friend who was staying with me for a few nights got really sick and turned my one-room apartment into a Viral Palace transformed. Miraculously, I still stayed healthy.
It's been over a year now, and I only interrupt my ginger routine when I'm on vacation. And even though I can't say that I'll never feel sick again, I'll go through the winter much stronger - and the rest of the year. An extra bonus: because I no longer get sick so easily, I've been able to relax mentally and no longer have to feel like I have to move around when someone next to me sneezes on the subway.
Raw ginger: This is what an expert says about the health advantages and disadvantages
Of course, after the year, like you perhaps too, I asked myself how much it really had to do with the ginger and whether there wasn't a small placebo effect at play. So I asked an expert again what the specific health benefits of ginger root are.
Reema Pillai, Nutritionist forat Dietitian Fit, explains: Ginger actually has antiviral and antibacterial properties that can support the immune system in the winter months. Ginger can also help to dampen inflammation, which in turn has a positive effect on the immune system: “Gingerol is an anti-inflammatory substance contained in ginger and has been shown to reduce pro-inflammatory markers that can otherwise have a negative impact on our immune function,” explains Pillai continues. “If we have chronic inflammation, it can increase the risk of certain diseases and weaken immune defenses.”
The expert also points out that ginger is not just for...but can also be useful if you are already sick: “While there is no evidence that ginger speeds recovery when you are sick, it can support the immune system in fighting bacteria or viruses and help to reduce the severity of symptoms.”
The nutritionist also has good news for anyone who wants to try the ginger cure. Namely, that daily consumption of ginger would rarely lead to side effects. Unless you permanently exceed the recommended daily amount. I'm surprised to find that this is significantly less than the amount of a ginger shot, namely 2 to 4 grams. If consumed in excess, gastrointestinal problems such as heartburn or cramps could occur. “In this case, it would be important to reduce the total amount or the frequency of intake,” adds Pillai.
This article comes from our GLAMOR colleagues in the UK.
