Effects of Ginger on the Heart

One of the leading cause of death worldwide is cardiovascular disease. Most risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases can be modified to improve your cardiovascular health. Risk factors such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels can all be modified to prevent them from affecting your cardiovascular health. Many studies have shown that ginger can improve some risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, atherosclerosis. Knowing the effect of ginger on heart will make you begin adding this amazing spice to your diet if you have not been using it.

The heart is one of the major organs in the body. The heart pumps oxygenated blood throughout the body and returns poor- oxygenated blood to the lungs. The heart can be affected by many diseases, such as coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, myocardial infarction and stroke.

All these diseases are called cardiovascular diseases, because they affect the heart and the blood vessels. Any type of disease that affects the heart needs to be taken seriously, since the outcome is not always good.

One of the leading cause of death worldwide is cardiovascular disease. Most risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases can be modified to improve your cardiovascular health. Risk factors such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels can all be modified to prevent them from affecting your cardiovascular health.

The following are effects of Ginger on the heart;

1. Ginger has Anti-inflammatory property. Ginger contains gingerol and shogaol, which have great anti-inflammatory properties. One of the body’s first responses to infection or a bad situation is inflammation. When inflammation delays in the body for sometime, it becomes a threat to the body. Many diseases are as a result of delayed inflammation in the body, including some cardiovascular diseases.

2. Ginger has an antioxidant property which helps to prevent cardiovascular disease. When there is inadequate antioxidant defense, oxidative stress increases. When oxidative stress increases, it affects the production and elimination of an unstable molecule that easily reacts with molecules in cells and causes damage to cells and DNA. Ginger has more antioxidant properties which decreased by oxidative stress and increases antioxidant enzymes.

3. Ginger reduces blood lipid profile. High blood lipid profile, especially when low density lipoprotein levels are high, can lead to the development of atherosclerosis. Ginger has a great effect in reducing these lipid profiles and minimizing your risk of developing atherosclerosis.

4. Ginger has an anti – hypertensive property. Gingerol and shogaol in ginger increase blood vessel elasticity to allow easy flow of blood through them to improve high blood pressure.

5. Ginger has an anti – obesity property which is one of the major cause of heart diseases. Ginger contains gingerenone – A, which inhibits the accumulation of fatty tissues and prevents or minimizes obesity.

6. Ginger also contains anti – diabetic properties which helps to prevent diabetes and heart problems.