'Powerful' 26p spice found to lower blood sugar levels by 40% and 'significantly' reduce cholesterol

Ginger is the thick-knotted underground stem (rhizome) of the plant Zingiber officinale that has been used for centuries in Asian cuisine and medicine.

Native to Africa, India, China, Australia and Jamaica, ginger is commonly used as a spice or flavouring agent in cooking, as an alternative ‘herbal’ treatment for various ailments such as nausea and indigestion, and for fragrance in soaps and cosmetics.

It can be used fresh, dried and powdered, or as a juice or oil. It has a pungent and sharp aroma and adds a strong spicy flavour to food and drink.

The super spice has also shown promise in treating diabetes and high cholesterol.

Take diabetes first. In a study published in the European Journal of Pharmacology, researchers reported that two different ginger extracts - spissum and an oily extract - interact with serotonin receptors to reverse their effect on insulin secretion.

This is significant because insulin helps control your blood sugar levels and metabolism.

Treatment with the extracts led to a 35 percent drop in blood glucose (sugar) levels and a 10 percent increase in plasma insulin levels.

In a separate study, 70 type 2 diabetic patients were allocated randomly into a ginger group and a control group.

They consumed 1600 mg ginger versus 1600 mg wheat flour placebo daily for 12 weeks. Blood sugar and cholesterol levels were monitored throughout.

At the end of the study, the researchers found ginger "significantly" reduced blood sugar levels, insulin resistance and total cholesterol compared with the placebo group.

Furthermore, research published in the journal Planta Medica suggested that ginger may improve long-term blood sugar control for people with type 2 diabetes.

Researchers from the University of Sydney, Australia, found that extracts from Buderim Ginger (Australian-grown ginger) rich in gingerols – the major active component of ginger rhizome – can increase the uptake of glucose into muscle cells without using insulin, and may therefore assist in the management of high blood sugar levels.

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Meanwhile a study from 2008 showed that ginger can reduce LDL cholesterol levels (the bad type) and boost HDL cholesterol (the good type).

The gift that keeps on giving

As Diabetes.co.uk explains, Ginger contains "powerful anti-inflammatory substances" such as gingerols, which make it an effective pain reliever and it is commonly used to reduce pain and swelling in patients with arthritis and those suffering from other inflammation and muscle complaints.

In fact, ginger is said to be just as effective as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but without the gastrointestinal side effects.

Other medical uses of ginger include treatment of:

• Bronchitis
• Heartburn
• Menstrual pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Upset stomach
• Diarrhoea
• Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI)

Type 2 diabetes symptoms

Don't forget to watch out for the warning signs of type 2 diabetes. They can be stealthily subtle.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes can include:

• Peeing more than usual
• Feeling thirsty all the time
• Feeling very tired
• Losing weight without trying to
• Itching around your penis or vagina, or repeatedly getting thrush
• Cuts or wounds taking longer to heal
• Blurred vision