Food poisoning: Was there poison in the food you ate?

Did someone actually put poisons in the food you ate that caused you illness? This thought first come to our mind when we hear about food poisoning. Let's find out what actually happened.

What is food poisoning?

Foodborne illness, more commonly referred to as food poisoning, is the result of eating contaminated, spoiled, or toxic food. The most common symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Symptoms

Food poisoning symptoms vary with the source of contamination. Most types of food poisoning cause one or more of the following signs and symptoms:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Watery or bloody diarrhea
• Abdominal pain and cramps
• Fever

Signs and symptoms may start within hours after eating the contaminated food, or they may begin days or even weeks later. Sickness caused by food poisoning generally lasts from a few hours to several days.

When to see a doctor

If you experience any of the following signs or symptoms, seek medical attention.

• Frequent episodes of vomiting and inability to keep liquids down
• Bloody vomit or stools
• Diarrhea for more than three days
• Extreme pain or severe abdominal cramping
• An oral temperature higher than 100.4 F (38 C)
• Signs or symptoms of dehydration — excessive thirst, dry mouth, little or no urination, severe weakness, dizziness, or lightheadedness
• Neurological symptoms such as blurry vision, muscle weakness and tingling in the arms

Causes of food poisoning

Most food poisoning can be traced to one of three major causes: bacteria, parasites, or viruses.

These pathogens can be found on almost all of the food humans eat. However, heat from cooking usually kills pathogens on food before it reaches our plate. Foods eaten raw are common sources of food poisoning because they don’t go through the cooking process.

Occasionally, food will come in contact with the organisms in fecal matter or vomit. This is most likely to occur when an ill person prepares food and doesn’t wash their hands before cooking.

Meat, eggs, and dairy products are frequently contaminated. Water may also be contaminated with organisms that cause illness.

Bacteria

Bacteria are by far the most common cause of food poisoning. Bacterial causes of food poisoning include:

• E. coli, in particular Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC)
• Listeria monocytogenes
• Salmonella
• Campylobacter
• Clostridium botulinum
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Shigella
• Vibrio vulnificus

When thinking of dangerous bacteria, names such as E. coli and Salmonella come to mind for good reason.

Salmonella is the biggest bacterial cause

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 of food poisoning cases in the United States. According to the CDC

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, an estimated 1,350,000 cases of food poisoning, including 26,500 hospitalizations, can be traced to salmonella infection each year.

Campylobacter and C. botulinum are two lesser-known and potentially lethal bacteria that can lurk in our food.

Parasites

Food poisoning caused by parasites isn’t as common as food poisoning caused by bacteria, but parasites that spread through food are still very dangerous. They include:

• Toxoplasma gondii
• Giardia lamblia
• various tapeworms, such as:
  • Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm)
  • Taenia solium (pork tapeworm)
  • Diphyllobothrium latum (fish tapeworm)
• Cryptosporidium
• Ascaris lumbricoides, a type of roundworm
• flukes (flatworms), such as Opisthorchiidae (liver fluke) and Paragonimus (lung fluke)
• pinworms, or Enterobiasis
• Trichinella

According to the CDC

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, toxoplasmosis is a leading cause of death attributed to food poisoning in the United States. Toxoplasma gondii is also found in cat litter boxes.

Parasites can live in your digestive tract and go undetected for years. People with weakened immune systems and pregnant people are at risk of more serious side effects if certain parasites take up residence in their intestines.

Prevention

To prevent food poisoning at home:

• Wash your hands, utensils and food surfaces often. Wash your hands well with warm, soapy water before and after handling or preparing food. Use hot, soapy water to wash utensils, cutting boards and other surfaces you use.
• Keep raw foods separate from ready-to-eat foods. When shopping, preparing food or storing food, keep raw meat, poultry, fish and shellfish away from other foods. This prevents cross-contamination.

• Cook foods to a safe temperature. The best way to tell if foods are cooked to a safe temperature is to use a food thermometer. You can kill harmful organisms in most foods by cooking them to the right temperature.

  Cook ground beef to 160 F (71.1 C); steaks, roasts and chops, such as lamb, pork and veal, to at least 145 F (62.8 C). Cook chicken and turkey to 165 F (73.9 C). Make sure fish and shellfish are cooked thoroughly.

• Refrigerate or freeze perishable foods promptly — within two hours of purchasing or preparing them. If the room temperature is above 90 F (32.2 C), refrigerate perishable foods within one hour.
• Defrost food safely. Don't thaw food at room temperature. The safest way to thaw food is to defrost it in the refrigerator. If you microwave frozen food using the "defrost" or "50% power" setting, be sure to cook it immediately.
• Throw it out when in doubt. If you aren't sure if a food has been prepared, served or stored safely, discard it. Food left at room temperature too long may contain bacteria or toxins that can't be destroyed by cooking. Don't taste food that you're unsure about — just throw it out. Even if it looks and smells fine, it may not be safe to eat.

Food poisoning is especially serious and potentially life-threatening for young children, pregnant women and their fetuses, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. These individuals should take extra precautions by avoiding the following foods:

• Raw or rare meat and poultry
• Raw or undercooked fish or shellfish, including oysters, clams, mussels and scallops
• Raw or undercooked eggs or foods that may contain them, such as cookie dough and homemade ice cream
• Raw sprouts, such as alfalfa, bean, clover and radish sprouts
• Unpasteurized juices and ciders
• Unpasteurized milk and milk products
• Soft cheeses, such as feta, Brie and Camembert; blue-veined cheese; and unpasteurized cheese
• Refrigerated pates and meat spreads
• Uncooked hot dogs, luncheon meats and deli meats

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Best and Worst Foods for Heart Failures

 The best food for heart failures are:

1.Fruits and vegetables

Fresh produce is the backbone of a heart-healthy diet. Fruits and vegetables are high in nutrients and low in calories and salt. The more colorful your plate, the better. Berries are packed with fiber and plant nutrients. Green veggies like kale, broccoli, and spinach are good sources of vitamins C, E, and folate. With orange fruits and veggies like carrots, sweet potatoes, and cantaloupe, you’ll get your fill of beta-carotene and fiber.

2.Whole Grains

These are heart-friendly for several reasons. They're full of fiber, which lowers levels of artery-clogging cholesterol. Fiber also digests slowly, so it keeps you full for longer and could help curb your appetite. Whole grains are a good source of B vitamins that help your heart deliver oxygen to your body. Oatmeal, whole wheat, popcorn, and brown rice are all whole grains. If you're not sure, look for the words "whole grain" first on the ingredient list.

3.Beans

They really are good for your heart. Whether you prefer the kidney, lima, or pinto variety, they make a hearty and filling addition to meals. These colorful legumes will give you your daily protein without the calories and fat of meat. As part of a heart-healthy diet, they can help improve your cholesterol levels. If you buy canned beans for convenience, choose salt-free or rinse them first to cut the extra sodium.

4.Omega-3-Rich Fish

This is another good alternative to meat. Omega-3 fatty acids are unsaturated fats that bring down artery-damaging inflammation. Two servings of fish a week might also slightly lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of death from heart disease and cardiac arrest. Choose fish that are high in omega-3s but low in mercury, such as salmon, sardines, pollock, and albacore tuna.

5.Healthy Oils

Just as important as the foods you cook is what you cook them in. Use vegetable oils instead of solid fats like butter, margarine, shortening, or lard. Canola, olive, safflower, corn, and soybean oils have healthy monounsaturated fatty acids. Choose the one that tastes best to you. Use these oils to sauté, bake, or stir fry, but never to deep fry, which adds calories and fat.

6.Nuts

They're a filling snack and a good source of healthy fat, protein, and nutrients. Add them to your diet to help lower LDL or "bad" cholesterol. Nuts also reduce inflammation in your body. If you eat them a few times a week, they might lower your risk of a heart attack or of dying from heart disease. Just watch your portion sizes. Nuts are high in calories, so a few handfuls can add up fast.

7. Herb Blends

Excess salt raises blood pressure, which makes your heart work harder. But cutting salt doesn't mean you have to sacrifice flavor. Replace salt in your cooking with herbs and spices such as curry, garlic, ginger, lemon, pepper, parsley, oregano, and thyme. Use fresh herbs when possible. You can also buy pre-mixed spices at the supermarket, but watch the sodium. Many seasoning blends contain added salt.

The Worst food for heart diseases are;

1.Cheese, Butter, and Cream

Dairy products such as milk and yogurt are a good addition to your diet. They supply protein, plus bone-building calcium and vitamin D. But the type of dairy you choose matters. Whole milk, ice cream, butter, and cream are high in saturated fat, which raises levels of harmful LDL cholesterol. Stick to low-fat dairy. Buy plain yogurt without added sugar. And limit yourself to a small piece of cheese daily.

2.Salty Condiments and Sauces

Store-bought condiments and sauces often contain lots of salt. Some of the worst offenders are soy sauce, salad dressing, and hot sauce. Check the salt content on the label before you buy. Look for low-sodium alternatives. Better yet, make your own salad toppings and sauces with salt-free flavorings such as lemon, olive oil, and vinegar. Use orange or pineapple juice as a marinade for poultry and fish.

3.Processed and Smoked Meats

Bacon, sausage, and hot dogs, with their high fat and cholesterol content, don't do your heart any favors. These processed meats are smoked, salted, or infused with chemicals to preserve them. Both processed and fatty red meats like burgers are harmful to your heart. Fish, lean poultry, beans, and tofu are healthier sources of protein, and they also fit on a bun (whole grain, of course!).

4.Sweets

Sugary foods and drinks like cookies, cakes, candy, and soda contribute to obesity, which is harmful to your health. Sugar raises blood sugar and increases inflammation. That may be why people who overdo it on sweets face a greater risk of dying from heart disease. How much sugar is OK? The American Heart Association recommends that women get no more than 6 teaspoons and men no more than 9 teaspoons of added sugar a day.

5.Fried Foods

As soon as you dip foods like potatoes or chicken into batter and fry them in oil, you add fat and cholesterol. Eating fried foods on a regular basis leads to weight gain, which can raise your blood pressure. Research finds that fried foods increase the risk for heart disease and heart failure. Bake, broil, roast, or stir-fry vegetables and lean proteins like chicken and fish for a heart-healthy but still tasty meal.

6.Alcohol

A glass of red wine daily might be good for your heart, but once you have heart failure, it's best to abstain. Alcohol contains empty calories that put on weight without adding any nutrition. Plus, alcohol doesn't mix well with some blood pressure drugs and other heart medicines.

 7.Excess Fluids

Heart failure prevents your heart from pumping blood as well as it should. As a result, fluid builds up in your body. If you drink too much water and other fluids, you may gain weight and have symptoms like swelling and shortness of breath. Ask your doctor how much liquid you should drink each day. Watch for foods that have a lot of liquid, such as soup, fruit, and ice pops. And keep track of how much you drink each day.

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Top 10 Immune System Boosters

What is immune system?

 A complex network of cells, tissues, organs, and the substances they make that helps the body fight infections and other diseases. The immune system includes white blood cells and organs and tissues of the lymph system, such as the thymus, spleen, tonsils, lymph nodes, lymph vessels, and bone marrow.

1. Avoid stress

Chronic stress depresses the immune system and increases the risk of several types of illnesses. It raises the level of hormones called catecholamines. Being stressed out leads to increased levels of suppressor T cells, which suppress the immune system. When this branch of the immune system is impaired, you are more susceptible to viral illnesses including respiratory conditions like colds, flu, and the novel coronavirus infection. Stress leads to the release of histamine, a molecule involved in allergies. Combat stress with strategies like deep breathing, meditation, exercise, and relaxation.

2.Sex

Regular Sexual Activity Is Helpful

In a study of college students, those who had sex once or twice per week had the highest levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in their saliva. IgA is an immune molecule that helps protect us against illnesses like the common cold. Students who had sex once or twice per week had more salivary IgA than students who were not sexually active, infrequently sexually active (less than once a week), or who were very sexually active (three or more times per week). Enjoying sex up to a couple of times per week seems to be the sweet spot for promoting optimal IgA levels.

3.Attitude 

Be Positive to Boost Immune Response

Expect good things and your immune system will follow. A study of law students found that their immune systems were stronger when they felt optimistic. Make optimism work for you. Try to see the glass as half full, not half empty. Practice gratitude and think of at least three things that you are grateful for every day. Imagine the best outcome for situations, even difficult ones. You may not always be able to control events around you, but you can always decide how to respond to them. Respond with a good attitude to increase the chances of the best outcome and to strengthen your immunity.

Attitude is everything.

4. Exercise

Move Your Body

Exercise has numerous health benefits including protecting you against heart disease, osteoporosis, and even certain types of cancer. Exercise is also an immune booster. To reap maximum benefits, try to be moderately physically active for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. Walking is one of the simplest ways to exercise. If you're not excited about walking, try yoga, swimming, cycling, or golf. Gardening is also a good way to get some outdoor activity.

5. Enough sleep

Make Sleep a Priority

Several studies confirm the link between sleep and a healthy immune system. Most people need between 7 to 9 hours to feel adequately rested. Being well rested improves the function of white blood cells, so you're less likely to get illnesses like respiratory infections, colds, and the flu. Practice good sleep hygiene to optimize sleep. That means waking up and going to bed at the same time every day, even on weekends. Avoid substances that can interfere with sleep, like caffeine and alcohol, for several hours before bedtime. You're more likely to sleep well if your bedroom is cooler. Establish a relaxing evening routine before bedtime. Enjoy a warm bath, relaxing music, or a cup of tea to help you drift off to sleep more easily.

6. Regular hand wash

Suds Up to Protect Your Health

Frequent handwashing is a simple and effective way to prevent the spread of respiratory infections like colds, flu, coronavirus, diarrheal illnesses, and other infectious conditions. Some germs are easily transmissible from person to person when we come into contact with one another. It's easy to transfer germs from your hands to your nose, eyes, and mouth, if you touch them. This can get you sick. Wash your hands with soap under running water. Scrub the fronts and backs of your hands as well as in between fingers. Antibacterial soap and hand sanitizer may confer additional protection against microorganisms. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol for times when you don't have access to soap and water.

7. Herbal plants

Healing Plants

Some research has suggested that compounds in herbs and supplements can enhance immunity. Garlic, astragalus, milk thistle, ginseng, green tea, black cumin, and licorice are just a few herbs that have been reported to have immune boosting benefits. Talk to your doctor of pharmacist before including herbs and supplements into your regimen. They may produce side effects, especially when combined with other herbs, supplements, or medications. Probiotics are beneficial strains of bacteria that have also been described as immune boosters. Look for probiotic supplements with lactobacillus and bifidobacterium. Probiotics can also help improve digestive health.

8. Social ties

Your Social Network Can Make You Stronger

Mounting evidence from many studies suggests loneliness and social isolation are very detrimental to health. In one study, those with the strongest social relationships were most likely to live longer than those with poor social connections. There are lots of ways to develop and strengthen social ties. Pick up the phone and call friends regularly. Make plans to get together in person. Volunteer for a cause you believe in. Join a class or join a group related to an interest or hobby you have. Keep up with old friends and make new ones to strengthen and expand your social circle.

9.Multivitamin

A Multivitamin May Help

Some experts believe that taking a daily multivitamin can help ensure you're meeting at least your daily minimum requirement for certain nutrients. Vitamins that are critical for immune function include vitamins A, C, D, and E. Zinc, selenium, and magnesium are minerals that your immune system needs to function at its best. These minerals are also critical for the function of many enzyme reactions in the body. Your immune system and body can't function at their best without the basic building blocks they need to work properly.

10. Antioxidants

They Protect Your Cells

Antioxidants are compounds in colorful fruits and vegetables that protect against free radicals. Free radicals can damage DNA and other cell components. Fruits and vegetables in a wide array of colors provide the best mix of protective antioxidants to boost overall health and immunity. Eat leafy greens, watermelon, carrots, berries, broccoli, oranges, kiwi, cantaloupe, and other brightly colored produce to give your cells and immune system all the natural protection they need to function at their best. Homemade chicken soup with carrots, celery, and other veggies can also be a boon to your immune system.

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Health Benefits of Ginger and Garlic to the body.

 

Health Benefits of Ginger and Garlic

Garlic

Ginger

Garlic health benefits: 

• High in antioxidants — Garlic is full of healthy antioxidants! Antioxidants may help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are molecules produced when your body breaks down food or when you’re exposed to harmful environmental factors, so ingesting foods high in antioxidants may help combat those negative effects on the body.
• Packs a low-calorie health punch — Garlic is a tasty way to add nutritional benefits without sacrificing many of your daily calories. One clove of garlic is a great source of B6, fiber, and selenium which may have positive effects on blood pressure, cholesterol, and bone health. 
• Rich history — History tells us that in ancient times, garlic was used in a wide variety to treatment many ailments, including colds, respiratory issue, parasites, poor digestion, TB, diabetes, fevers, and even dysentery. Today, modern medicine has given us very effective treatments for many of these issues, but garlic remains in the diet of many health-conscious individuals.

The Top 8 Health Benefits of Garlic

Did you know that the average person consumes 2 pounds of garlic each year?

For thousands of years, before this spice was used to flavor your favorite dishes, it was employed as a medical treatment in ancient cultures. The health benefits of garlic were used by Chinese, Egyptian, and Roman civilizations. There is substantial documentation of their usage of garlic for its medicinal properties.

Garlic consumption has been shown to have numerous fantastic health benefits for the body. Let’s look at the most crucial health advantages of garlic.

Why Is Garlic Healthy For You?

Though it was not widely known, experts now understand that sulfur compounds in garlic are the primary cause of its beneficial effects on health.

By slicing, chopping, or crushing garlic bulbs, the thio-Sulfinite chemicals in them are converted into allicin. Allicin is a fantastic substance. However, while this appears to be true in theory, what are the actual health benefits of using garlic?

1. Garlic Helps Boost Your Body’s Immune System

Your body’s immunity is what keeps it from getting sick in the first place, and it also aids in the fight against illness when the situation calls for it. Garlic offers an immune system boost to help prevent colds and the flu virus.

Children get six to eight colds each year, while adults get two to four. Eating raw garlic can protect against cough, fever, and cold illnesses.

Eating two chopped garlic cloves every day is the best way to benefit. In some households around the world, families hang garlic cloves on a string around their childrens’ necks to help them with congestion.

2. Garlic Helps Reduce High Blood Pressure

Strokes and heart attacks are two of the most significant health concerns worldwide. High blood pressure is a considerable risk factor for heart disease. It’s thought to cause about 70% of strokes, heart attacks, and chronic heart failure. High blood pressure is the cause of 13.5 percent of deaths worldwide.

Because they are among the significant causes of death, addressing one of their primary causes, high blood pressure, is extremely important.

Garlic is a fantastic spice to include in your diet for those suffering from high blood pressure or hypertension. However, even if you are not a lover of garlic, taking garlic supplements will still give you the health benefits such as lowering high blood pressure, treating fever, and many more.

Keep in mind that you must make sure that the amount of these supplements you take is the same as four cloves of garlic each day.  Be sure to talk to your doctor before you start taking any supplements.

3. Garlic Helps Reduce Cholesterol Levels

Cholesterol is a fatty component in the blood. There are two kinds of cholesterol: “bad” LDL cholesterol and “good” HDL cholesterol. Far too much LDL cholesterol and not enough HDL cholesterol can cause serious health issues.

Garlic has been shown to lower total cholesterol and LDL levels by 10 to 15 percent.

Furthermore, eating garlic does not influence your HDL or good cholesterol levels. If you have a family history of heart disease or suffer from heart disease, you should consider adding garlic to your diet.

4. Garlic Can Help With Prevention of Cancer

Garlic’s health benefits do not end with the heart. So here is another reason why your body can benefit from an extra dose of this onion family member.

According to research, consuming fresh garlic can help lessen the risk of colon cancer. According to the Iowa Women’s Health Study, women who ate garlic regularly with other vegetables and fruits had a 35% lower chance of getting colon cancer. However, researchers agree that more studies are still needed in this area.

5. Garlic Has Antibiotic Properties

Garlic contains allicin. Allicin is a bioactive antibiotic that can help fight infections and bacteria in sliced, squashed, or diced cloves. Garlic extracts have been shown to suppress the growth of:

• fungi elements
• Protozoa elements
• viral infections
• numerous bacteria, for example, Salmonella

Allicin is believed to be a viable antibiotic replacement. It also assists when used in conjunction with conventional prescribed antibiotics.

6. Garlic May Prevent Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Garlic has high antioxidants, which help prevent any oxidative damage from occurring in your body. These antioxidant properties can help prevent certain cognitive diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s. However, take this one with a pinch of garlic. Taking high doses of garlic supplements, however, does not mean that you will be immune to the disease. The medicinal properties of garlic can only improve health to a certain point.

7. Garlic Can Improve Athletic Performance

This ingredient is one of the earliest performance enhancers available. Garlic was used in the olden days to alleviate weariness and boost laborers’ working hours and endurance. It was also fed to Greek Olympic athletes to boost their athletic performance.

As discussed above, garlic can help:

• Cholesterol levels
• Lower blood pressure
• Boosts immunity
• Reduces the length of illness

A healthy heart and body are key to keeping you fit. Ultimately, eating garlic plays an excellent role in minimizing, even if subtly, how soon you get weary when physically exerting yourself. 

8. Garlic Helps Detox Your Body

Detoxification is the process of getting rid of things that don’t belong in the body. It is an important part of good health and long life.

We are exposed to a wide range of chemicals and compounds daily while living in the world today. Many of these compounds are not healthy and may even be detrimental to the body. The environment, water, and food include:

• Pesticides and chemicals used in agriculture
• Radiation etc from nuclear plants
• Personal care products containing chemicals
• Household cleaners
• Other household products

Garlic is a powerful detox food that promotes glutathione production by various liver enzymes. It also provides other important detoxifying components, including multiple bioactive selenium and sulfur compounds.

10 Health Benefits of Ginger

The first record of ginger being used dates back to 500 BC. Ginger is a plant that originated in Southeast Asia, but the spices that are common in foods come from the root. While ginger adds a lot of flavor to food, it’s also been used as an alternative form of medicine throughout history.

If you’re rooting for a healthier you, consider adding ginger to your diet. Continue reading as we go through the top ten health benefits of ginger.

Let’s begin!

1. Better Digestion

Ginger helps speed up the digestion process and empty your stomach more quickly. Someone with digestive issues, such as indigestion, ulcers, constipation, and IBS, might find relief by adding it into their regular diet.

Studies have shown that those who consume ginger digest twice as fast as those who don’t. It increases movement in the digestive tract and promotes healthy enzymes that help break down the foods we eat.

2. Improves Immunity

Gingerol, the bioactive compound found in raw ginger, boosts immunity with its antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Ginger also contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.

The combination of these properties has many benefits. These ginger health benefits and side effects improve coughs, lower fevers, fight off infections, relieve headaches, and ease other symptoms associated with common colds and the flu.

3. Alleviates PMS Symptoms

Menstrual pain is a common symptom during a woman’s cycle, but incorporating ginger might make it more manageable. Using ginger during the first three days of your menstrual cycle helps with pain relief, and the anti-inflammatory properties relieve the bloat that is common with PMS.

4. Relieves Nausea and Upset Stomach

One of the most well-known health side effects of ginger is its ability to relieve nausea. Whether it’s from motion sickness, migraines, morning sickness, or general stomach problems, ginger helps calm an upset stomach.

It does so with its anti-inflammatory properties, better digestive responsiveness, and hormones that regulate blood pressure to calm the body.

5. May Help With Cancer

Studies on ginger have shown that some of the benefits of gingerol may prevent some cancers. While it is not a cure-all, its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties help protect your body.

Ginger is also a safe option to reduce the symptoms of nausea and pain often associated with cancer treatment. When you’re undergoing chemotherapy, adding ginger into your diet helps combat the treatment’s side effects of nausea or dizziness.

6. Reduces Pain

Ginger is a natural pain reliever. This makes it an excellent substitute for over-the-counter pain medications. Gingerols act as an anti-inflammatory and work to eliminate compounds in the body that result in pain.

Anti-inflammatory properties in ginger reduce the pain associated with arthritis and increase joint mobility. Arthritis sufferers are often prescribed anti-inflammation medication to lessen their symptoms, but ginger works as a natural alternative.

7. Healthier Skin

Ginger improves the health of your skin with antioxidants, increased blood circulation, and antiseptic properties. The antioxidants protect the skin from UV rays and slow the breakdown of collagen, making the skin look younger and tauter.

Antiseptic properties improve acne symptoms, and with raw ginger, you can help with scarring caused by acne. Ginger’s anti-inflammatory properties also aid in healing irritated skin.

Check out some of ginger’s other amazing beauty benefits.

8. Weight Loss Aid

Some studies have shown that consuming ginger helps aid in weight loss. Ginger controls insulin levels, boosts metabolism, and aids in workout recovery. Ginger helps with weight loss by giving your metabolism a boost and creating a feeling of fullness to prevent overeating.

It isn’t a fix-all, but when incorporated with other weight loss efforts, it can supplement your results.

9. Prevents Cardiovascular Disease

In addition to its other properties, ginger also works as a blood thinner, which is beneficial in preventing cardiovascular issues. Blood thinners reduce the risk of blood clots, which lowers your risk of heart attacks or strokes.

Another way ginger prevents heart disease is by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. The build-up of cholesterol can clog arteries and increase the risk of heart problems.

Ginger also improves circulation and lowers blood sugar, which helps the heart stay at peak performance.

10. Improves Brain Function

Chronic inflammation affects your brain over time and may cause it to decline. This may result in cognitive conditions, mental health struggles, or Alzheimer’s disease.

Ginger reduces inflammation and protects the brain from free radicals due to powerful antioxidants. It also improves memory function by increasing the neurotransmitters in our brain responsible for memory, focus, and reaction time.

Ginger even releases dopamine and serotonin to help fight mental illnesses like depression and anxiety.

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