How can Ginger be beneficial for elderly care?

Ginger has been considered as an essential ingredient in Ayurvedic medicine. Widely used in Asia and other parts of the world, ginger has many health benefits. Its immunity-boosting property is one of the reasons it is popular in elderly care. It can prevent heart disease and stomach ulcers. It can also improve bone health and reduce the anti-ageing factors. Let's dig in further for more information and benefits of ginger in elderly care.

Importance of Ginger in elderly-care

1. The benefits of ginger-tea

●       It stimulates the gastric juices in the body that can prevent constipation problems in elderly persons.

●       Ginger tea is helpful to reduce the symptoms of stomach cramps, heartburn or nausea.

●       Studies prove that the daily intake of ginger tea in the morning can reduce the symptoms of bowel syndrome in elderly persons.

2. The medicinal properties of ginger

●       Studies suggest that if an elderly patient daily takes the ginger extract of 50 mg dosage for six weeks, it can be beneficial to reduce diabetes. The antioxidant properties of ginger are helpful to improve the serum apo, level of Hcy, leptin and cathepsin G.

●       Ginger has some anti-ageing property as well. There are more than 40 antioxidants that can protect the skin of elderly persons. It also reduces free radical damage. The older adult can use the mixture of lemon, honey, and ginger once or twice a day for 1 or 2 weeks. It will reduce the hypopigmented scars and improves the elasticity of the skin.

●       Ginger has 1.5% volatile oil, free fatty acids (oleic acid, linoleic acid, capric, lauric acids). The mixture of jojoba oil with grated ginger can reduce the hair-fall in elderly persons.

●       Doctors of herbal medicine suggest ginger for heart disease and stomach ulcers. Clinical data of the University of Maryland Medical centre shows that ginger has anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory properties. It can reduce blood clotting and prevents heart stroke and stomach ulcers. Gingerols are the main ingredient present in ginger which lowers blood pressure. It also increases good cholesterol in the older person's body. You can use grated pieces of ginger into drinks, stir fry or soup along with the regular recommended diet for the elderly.

●       There are proven studies that ginger can increase bone health by reducing chronic inflammation and toxification. This helps inboosting immunity in the elderly’s body. Ginger helps to produce the glutathione that reduces the causes of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis in elderly persons.

●       Ginger has compounds like 6-shogaol and 6-gingerol that is used in the prevention of cancer of the gastrointestinal tract.

●       Many health experts suggest consumption of dry ginger, preferably in powdered form. Inclusion of try ginger in your meals and drinks and in checking excess fats in the elderly. The presence of thermogenic agents helps in burning fat. Dry ginger is thus a healthy and chemical-free medicinal substitute for weight loss.

In a nutshell, there is lots of expert evidence about the medicinal properties of ginger. But you must be careful with the dosage and existing health conditions before including in the elderly care diet.