Ginger is one of the most widely used dietary condiments around the globe. It can be used in many recipes, but here we’re going to talk about ginger tea or ginger water.
Ginger tea or water is one of the easiest to prepare teas. It’s loved around the world for its unique taste and several health benefits.
Here’s what we’ll cover in this article.
Enjoy these easy homemade ginger tea recipes.
Preparation time: 10 -15 minutes
Ingredients
*According to Ayurveda, cow’s milk acts as a fat and water-soluble media for the active ingredients in herbs. That means, it helps you better absorb the beneficial nutrients.
6 Steps For Making Ginger Tea (Ginger Water)
Although milk or black tea are not necessary ingredients when making a healthy cup of ginger water, they do have some benefits.
If you don’t consume dairy products or wish to avoid milk, you may choose a non-dairy alternative.
According to Ayurveda, cow’s milk helps in the absorption of the active ingredients of ginger. It acts as a fat and water-soluble medium for the active ingredients in the herbs. Ayurveda considers milk one of the best vehicles for ingesting herbs.1
Black tea (camellia sinensis) is a popular beverage all over the world. Black tea contains polyphenols, caffeine, L-theanine and other nutrients.2 Clinical studies reveal that consumption of black tea reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, arthritis, diabetes, and some types of cancer.3
But these studies are done on a limited number of people and require more research to establish their role in various health conditions. According to these studies, a moderate amount of black tea is acceptable. It does contain caffeine which is a central nervous system stimulant. Excessive intake can create a problem.
So you can also use ginger as an ingredient in your black tea or black tea with milk.
Ginger contains many active ingredients including gingerol, zingerone, paradol, shogoal, zerumbone, and more. It has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-tumor, hepato-protective, and analgesic properties.4
These benefits are elaborated in scientific research, however, ginger has been used for disease management and to maintain health since ancient times.
It’s an important spice in kitchens in various parts of the world including the Indian subcontinent, the origin of Ayurveda. Ayurveda is the oldest system of medicine. Over the past 25 years, it’s been gaining popularity worldwide as an effective alternative medicine.
Read more: Home remedies using Ginger
In Ayurveda ginger is referred to as Maha aushadham. This means ‘great medicine’. Ginger can be used in a number of ailments related to the digestive system, respiratory system and more. According to the eminent ancient Ayurvedic texts, ginger has the following amazing health benefits.
Ginger is helpful in relieving anorexia. It improves taste, balances Vata and Kapha dosha, promotes digestion, and relieves constipation. It improves libido, enhances the voice, helps cough and cold, and relieves abdominal colic pain. It is useful in asthma and chronic respiratory problems too.
It is also good for the heart and is useful in elephantiasis. Ginger is anti-inflammatory (relieves swelling and edema) and relieves hemorrhoids, gas and bloating. It further relieves fullness of the abdomen, cleanses the tongue, and is helpful in throat disorders.5
Are these enough reasons to admire your cup of ginger tea or ginger water?
Ginger water is perfect to counter a Kapha imbalance in spring!
If spring comes and you feel lethargic, have slow digestion, an overabundance of mucus, runny nose, watery eyes, or excess salivation, try a cup of ginger tea.
Ginger water can be taken anytime. To make the best use of ginger tea, however, read the following suggestions.
If you are taking it for detoxification or to lose weight, then it is better to drink it in the morning on an empty stomach. An empty stomach means that there is no food in the stomach that needs to be digested. Four hours after a large meal, or two hours after a snack.
When you drink ginger water on an empty stomach, all the nutrients in the ginger can be absorbed easily. Impurities can be removed easily.
If you are short on time in the morning and unable to take it or if you feel uncomfortable after taking it on an empty stomach, at that point you can take it at another time in the day. But be sure to keep some time gap between your food and the ginger water.
Ginger water is helpful in weight loss.
As stated in the ancient Ayurvedic texts, ginger is helpful in pacifying Kapha dosha. It also pacifies conditions related to Kapha dosha like disturbed metabolism. Metabolic problems may further lead to weight gain.
According to Ayurveda, excessive weight gain is related to an imbalanced state of Kapha dosha. So ginger is useful in weight loss when combined with a proper diet and exercise. It also promotes digestion and relieves gas, bloating, and fullness of the abdomen, all of which are associated with maintaining a healthy weight.
If you’d like to learn more about how Ayurveda can help boost your weight loss efforts, check out the course below.
Research studies demonstrate that ginger is effective in weight loss.
Ginger supplementation suppresses obesity induced by a high-fat diet. It might also be a promising adjuvant therapy for the treatment of obesity and its complications.6
Another study showed that men who drank hot ginger after food felt full for a longer duration. This helps in preventing excessive cravings and avoiding unwanted snacking.7
Now let’s take a look at boiled ginger water and why this way of preparation works so well.
In an herbal infusion, the herb is soaked in boiling water for a period of time until the water attains the medicinal properties of the herb. Boiled ginger water has the same numerous health benefits of ginger. It is easier to take boiled ginger water daily rather than taking ginger directly.
Direct ginger intake may cause mild to moderate burning sensation in the mouth of some individuals.
It also hydrates the body.
Ayurveda says: Boiled water is warm and light. Ginger water is easy to digest. It’s helpful for people with Vata and Kapha constitutions and disorders.
Detoxification refers to the removal of undigested food from the body.
According to the Ayurvedic texts, ginger is used to remove undigested food that accumulates and forms impurities in the body. It helps dissolve these impurities and aids in assimilating the undigested food particles.8
A ginger water detox is in line with Ayurvedic principles. It’s a great way to rid of your body of impurities. Without affecting normal health, ginger helps in removing toxins from the body. A clinical study in healthy volunteers showed that ginger promotes gastric emptying and stimulates antral contractions.9
It protects the body from brain toxicity. A study done on rats shows that ginger extract has a neuroprotective role against the effects of monosodium glutamate toxicity.10 It is beneficial in protecting against radiation-induced toxicity.11
Usually, ginger does not have any side effects if taken properly and in the appropriate amounts.
However, people with a Pitta constitution, bleeding disorder, heart problem, pregnant women, and children should take it only after discussing with their health care provider.
If there is an allergy to any form of ginger then avoid ginger tea or ginger water. If you are taking any supplements which contain ginger then take ginger tea under the guidance of a physician only.
Inform your doctor about any other drugs you are taking to avoid any kind of drug interactions.
Please consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner before incorporating ginger water or ginger tea into your diet.
References
1. Bhaishjya Kalpana Vigyan with Hindi commentary by Aacharya Sidhinandan Mishra, page no. 365, Chaukhamba Surbharti Prakashan, Varanasi,1988.
2. Noguchi-Shinohara, Moeko, et al. PLoS ONE, Public Library of Science, 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4020750/.
3. Khan, Naghma, and Hasan Mukhtar. Current Pharmaceutical Design, U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4055352/.
4. Rahmani, Arshad H, et al. “Active Ingredients of Ginger as Potential Candidates in the Prevention and Treatment of Diseases via Modulation of Biological Activities.”International Journal of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology, e-Century Publishing Corporation, 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4106649/.
5. Dravyaguna Vijnana by Aacharya Priyavrat Sharma, Volume 2, page no.335, Chaukhamba Bharati Academy, 2017
6. Saravanan, G, et al. “Anti-Obesity Action of Gingerol: Effect on Lipid Profile, Insulin, Leptin, Amylase and Lipase in Male Obese Rats Induced by a High-Fat Diet.” Advances in Pediatrics., U.S. NLM, Nov. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24615565.
7. Mansour, Muhammad S., et al. “Ginger Consumption Enhances the Thermic Effect of Food and Promotes Feelings of Satiety without Affecting Metabolic and Hormonal Parameters in Overweight Men: A Pilot Study.” Advances in Pediatrics., U.S. NLM, Oct. 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3408800/.
8. Adarsh Nighantu, volume 2, page no. 568 by Shri Bapalal Vaidya, Chaukhamba Bharati Academy, 2013
9. Wu, K L, et al. “Effects of Ginger on Gastric Emptying and Motility in Healthy Humans.”Advances in Pediatrics., U.S. National Library of Medicine, May 2008, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18403946.
10. Waggas, A M. “Neuroprotective Evaluation of Extract of Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) Root in Monosodium Glutamate-Induced Toxicity in Different Brain Areas Male Albino Rats.”Advances in Pediatrics., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Feb. 2009, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19579948.
11. Jagetia, G, et al. “Ginger (Zingiber Officinale Rosc.), a Dietary Supplement, Protects Mice against Radiation-Induced Lethality: Mechanism of Action.” Advances in Pediatrics., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Aug. 2004, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15453957.
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