Ginseng, an American and Asian specialty, is a fleshy root herb known for its multiple health benefits and unique taste to enhance flavor in foods and beverages. Want to know what benefits you can get from having Ginseng? If yes, then check out the following post.
Ginseng belongs to the Panax genus, which has been used for its medicinal properties for thousands of years. Although, there are no concrete researches that prove that Ginseng can treat any particular medical condition.
However, the compounds present in it, i.e., ginsenosides and gintonin, have some properties that can help prevent or cure some clinical conditions.
Some of the health benefits of Ginseng are:
- Cognitive function
Cognitive function includes concentrative & focus activity, and it improves when we keep working on it. There are various traditional remedies to enhance learning power, and Ginseng is one of them. Multiple human and animal tests have shown that ginsenosides can prevent brain damage from free radicals and improve mental health.
- Erectile dysfunction
The compounds present in Ginseng reduce oxidative stress in blood vessels and tissues in the penis. The reduced stress helps to treat erectile dysfunction and restore normal functioning. Research has shown Ginseng to be more effective for erectile dysfunction than medicinal treatment.
- Keep blood sugar levels low
Ginseng helps to balance the sugar level in both diabetic and non-diabetic people. It boosts insulin resistance and also helps to improve the functioning of pancreatic cells. Although, various tests have shown that Ginseng is beneficial to lower blood sugar levels. But more research is required to prove that it is a standardized therapy for diabetes.
- Immunity boost
It has been found that Ginseng might boost immunity levels. Although, the effects of Ginseng being fruitful for the immune system is more focused on cancer patients. However, American Ginseng might be helpful to decrease the chances of cold or influenza in adults.
Also, a study has shown that Ginseng extract may boost the effectiveness of vaccination against various diseases.
- Anti-inflammatory function
Doctors have said that inflammation might result in chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, etc., if not looked upon in time. Ginseng can help to reduce inflammation by increasing antioxidants in the cells. A test-tube study has shown that Korean red Ginseng has improved antioxidant capacity in a skin cell and is effective on humans.
- Energy boost
Ginseng might help to fight fatigue or tiredness and increase productivity both physically and mentally. A study has shown that compounds like polysaccharides & oligopeptides present in Ginseng lower oxidative stress and promote energy, which is effective to fight cancer-related fatigue.
Side Effects
As per studies and tests, Ginseng does not have any chronic side effects, but there are a few side effects that have been reported by people. It includes:
- Headaches
- Reduce the effectiveness of anticoagulant drugs
- Diarrhea
- Digestive & sleep problem
- Swollen breast
- Vaginal bleeding
- Skin reactions, etc.
Also, Ginseng is not recommended to children and women, who are breastfeeding, and eating it in excessive quantity can reduce the effectiveness of the body.
Ginseng is easy to incorporate into the diet. You can add it raw to your tea, water, or add it in dishes like stir fry, soups, etc.
Along with it, different supplements like powder, tablets, capsules, etc., of Ginseng are available in the market, which you can have before having food to get its benefits.
The Takeaway
Ginseng is a safe supplement, and you can easily add it to your diet. However, it is recommended to consult with a physician before trying something new.
