This superfood has long been used as a digestive aid and adds a nice zest to many dishes, but not many people know about its diabetes health benefits.
What superfood am I talking about?
Ginger!
Ginger contains powerful anti-inflammatory and diabetes health promoting benefits, making it an excellent addition to your diet.
The Benefits of Ginger
A group of researchers has found that ginger can help lower blood sugar in those with Type 2 diabetes!
It turns out ginger can help you better manage your diabetes while spicing up your recipes and support your immune system all at the same time.
So, what exactly did the research show?
The Research
The study looked at 88 people living with Type 2 diabetes who had been living with diabetes for ten years or longer.
The participants who took ginger powder capsules observed a decrease in their blood sugar levels after 8-weeks.
While the researchers aren’t 100% sure what causes this blood sugar drop, they think it may have something to do with its potential to inhibit hepatic phosphorylase, an enzyme that breaks down glucose storage molecules.
When glycogen is broken down, glucose rises. Thus, inhibiting this process would ultimately help lower blood sugar levels.
The Other Benefits of Ginger
Not only has ginger been shown to help support diabetes management, but its anti-inflammatory properties may also be able to help reduce things like pain and even headaches.
Ginger could be a great addition to your diet for a handful of reasons.
Getting Ginger Into Your Diet
If you’re interested in adding this superfood to your diet, you can very easily do so! Here are a couple of ways to add ginger to your diet:
- Make a ginger tea with freshly grated ginger and squeezed lemon juice
- Add freshly grated ginger to your smoothies
- Enjoy ginger in your stir-fry dishes
Ginger is easy to use, easy to find, and doesn’t cost a ton of money. Keep in mind that, although a natural remedy, ginger may not be safe for everyone. Be sure to check with your doctor before adding it to your diet.
Once you have clearance, try adding this superfood to your diet to see how your blood sugar levels could benefit!
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