Are you a regular consumer of ginger? Although ginger is a plant widely used to treat different symptoms and ailments, it is also true that it has a number of contraindications that we should know.
In this article we bring you the 8 contraindications of ginger, and we explain in detail why in these cases is contraindicated its consumption. Before, but, we tell you more details about this plant (characteristics, benefits, uses and adverse effects).
Ginger: characteristics and uses
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a plant that belongs to the zingiberaceae family, and can reach up to 90 cm in height.and can reach up to 90 cm in height. Its subway stem is a horizontal rhizome, which is highly valued for its aromatic properties and spicy flavor. Thus, what is typically used of ginger for cooking or other purposes is its stem or roots.
In traditional Chinese medicine, for example, ginger has been used – and has been used extensively – for more than 2,000 years, in fact. It is used to treat different symptoms or pathologies, such as: migraine, arthritis, diarrhea, colic, nausea, etc….
As for its format of use or consumption, ginger can be taken dried, fresh or in tea. You can also simply take advantage of its extract. Orally, ginger is well tolerated if we take doses of less than 5g/day. If we take higher doses, there is a risk of occurrence of certain adverse effects (in addition, its tolerability decreases).
Adverse effects
Thus, orally, if we “exceed” the recommended dose, some adverse effects that ginger can cause are: diarrhea, itching of the mouth and throat, vomiting and abdominal pain.
If the route of administration has been topical, ginger can cause dermatitis. In addition to the adverse effects, there are certain contraindications of ginger, even more important, that we should be aware of.
Benefits and properties of ginger
Before explaining the contraindications of ginger, we tell you some of the most important benefits of the root of this plant. Thus, ginger has anti-inflammatory effects, facilitates digestion, prevents colds, strengthens our immune system, helps to lose weight, reduces muscle pain, fights nausea ….
And these are just some of its benefits (there are more!) that explain why it is a plant so consumed and valued.
- We recommend: “Ginger tea: properties and health benefits”.
The 8 contraindications of ginger
Under normal conditions (in healthy people, without relevant health problems), ginger has no contraindications (in adequate amounts, which are not excessive).
However, when there is any underlying pathology or any particular condition in the person who takes it, its use is contraindicated, as it could harm their health or cause any medical complication.
Thus, although ginger is used to treat different types of symptoms, it is also true that it presents a series of contraindications that we must take into account.. The main contraindications of ginger are:
1. Pregnancy
While it is true that some believe that ginger can also be consumed while pregnant (there is talk that prevents morning sickness of pregnancy), there is another line of opinion that goes in exactly the opposite direction.. In this second line, there is talk of possible hormonal alterations caused by ginger, as well as the possibility of causing premature contractions.
On the other hand, in these cases ginger can also cause anticoagulant effects, thus increasing the possibility of bleeding. It is for these reasons that ginger is usually contraindicated in cases of pregnancy.
2. Diabetes
Another contraindication of ginger is diabetes.. Although it is true that ginger does not alter blood sugar levels, due to its low glycemic index, in cases of patients who are under insulin treatment, it should be avoided. The ideal will always be to go to the family doctor, or medical specialist, to inform us about it.
3. Hemophilia
The next of the contraindications of ginger is suffering from hemophilia. Recall that this disease prevents our blood from clotting properly. These people bleed for long periods of time. If ginger is taken in these cases, it could happen that by stimulating the blood circulation, a “shock” occurs in our organism.
That is, ginger has anticoagulant effects, so if ingested, it has the same effect as the disease, which could cause bleeding, bruising and other complications. That is why you should not take ginger if you suffer from hemophilia.
4. Hypertension
Hypertension is also a contraindication for ginger, since consuming it could damage our blood pressure by blocking the channels of the arteries.What exactly happens?
When we consume calcium, it enters the blood vessels and accelerates the speed of blood, raising our blood pressure. So if we have hypertension and we are treated for it (with drugs that reduce blood pressure), consuming ginger we would be causing just the same effect, which is totally unrecommendable.
5. Taking anticoagulants
Taking anticoagulants is another contraindication of ginger. Thus, ginger is not recommended in these cases, since it has the same effect as anticoagulant drugs (it delays blood clotting).
Some drugs with anticoagulant effects are aspirin and ibuprofen.. Beyond these, anticoagulant drugs are prescribed to prevent the formation of thrombi in blood, in people who are prone to suffer from them.
6. If you are underweight
The next of the contraindications of ginger is to be underweight. This is because one of the effects of ginger is its slimming effect.Ginger has a beneficial effect on the body, by suppressing appetite, accelerating our digestive system and eliminating excess fat. That is why, if we already have a low weight, it is not advisable to consume ginger, as it could harm our health.
7. If you want to increase muscle mass
Related to the previous contraindication, the consumption of ginger is also not recommended in cases of people who want to increase their muscle mass, since, as we have seen, ginger is not recommended in cases of people who want to increase their muscle mass.Since, as we have seen, this plant has a slimming effect, which would hinder such a purpose. So, in this case, rather than a contraindication, it is a non-recommendation.
8. Heart problems
The next of the contraindications of ginger is to suffer from cardiac (heart) problems. Although ginger is beneficial for unblocking the blood vessels, it is also true that too high a dose could cause the opposite effects.
In case of having a heart problem and wanting to consume ginger, an adequate dose/guideline would be to take it for a maximum of 4 days, resting for a week. However, you should always consult a medical specialist to dispel these doubts.