- 9 Lesser Known Ginger Side Effects
- 1. Stomach Problems
- 2. Blood Thinning
- 3. Loss of Appetite
- 4. Allergic Reactions
- 5. Increased Bleeding
- 6. Uterine Contractions
- 7. Gallstones
- 8. Blood Pressure and Diabetes
- 9. Interaction with Medicines
You’d find ginger in most Asian kitchens; it has been used for ages for its strong spicy flavour and medicinal properties. An important herb in Ayurveda, ginger helps with a range of health issues including digestive ailments, cough and cold, inflammation, infections, heart problems, and overload of toxins. But as with several other foods, too much can do more harm than good since there are various ginger side effects.
9 Lesser Known Ginger Side Effects
1. Stomach Problems
Thousands of people benefit from the ginger tea health effects for their digestive system, since ginger is strongly associated with strengthening ‘agni’ which is our digestive fire. But in excess amounts, ginger can also damage your stomach, causing diarrhea, stomach upset and other gastrointestinal problems.
2. Blood Thinning
Did you know that large amounts of ginger can make your blood thinner? This can be quite serious if you’re taking medicines that inhibit blood clotting. Diabetes patients must be careful too!
3. Loss of Appetite
If you’ve been trying to gain weight naturally, you should keep a tab on how much ginger you eat. One of the common ginger side effects are its ability to suppress your appetite and make you feel full easily. That’s why many products for weight loss contain ginger. However, if you’re trying to lose weight, you should still be careful since there are several other ginger root side effects that hamper health.
4. Allergic Reactions
Ginger is a powerful root that can also trigger allergic reactions like swelling, hives and rashes, difficulty breathing and even your throat closing. As soon as you notice any of these reactions arising, stop eating it and rush to a doctor.
5. Increased Bleeding
As we said earlier, ginger prevents blood clotting. And it also stimulates higher circulation of blood in the body. This means that you’re likely to bleed much more than you normally would. So pregnant women, and people who have bleeding disorders or who are soon to go into surgery should best avoid taking ginger.
6. Uterine Contractions
More for pregnant women…ginger is on the list of foods you absolutely must stay away from during pregnancy, because severe uterine contractions are highly common ginger side effects. Moreover, it can prevent the absorption of nutrients – a highly negative impact for pregnant women. Wait until these tender months have passed to sip on ginger tea!
7. Gallstones
If you have gallstones, you should also avoid ginger since it can make things painful. Ginger boosts the release of bile in your body, which can lead to a gallbladder attack.
8. Blood Pressure and Diabetes
If you suffer from diabetes or high blood pressure, you should go easy on the ginger. Research has found adverse ginger side effects for these conditions. It lowers blood pressure and well as the sugar levels in the blood. So if your blood sugar is already low, don’t have ginger until it has reached safe levels again. Plus, if you’re already taking medication to reduce blood pressure, consult your doctor about how much ginger is healthy to use along with the medicines.
9. Interaction with Medicines
Ginger also interacts with other medicines since it’s a powerful herb that contains many potent ingredients. As we mentioned before, it doesn’t work well with blood thinning and blood sugar reducing medicines. It also can be dangerous with anaesthesia. Be careful when mixing ginger with other ingredients that reduce blood clotting and increase blood circulation like garlic, cloves, ginseng, ginkgo and turmeric.
In Conclusion…
There can be more ginger side effects depending on the kind of herbs or medication you use, and you’re existing health condition. In general, 3 cups of ginger tea are considered within normal amounts. But to be safe, consult an Ayurvedic professional about how much is good for your specific constitution.
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