The plant is native to Asia and has been used for medicinal purposes in Chinese, Japanese, and Indian medicine for thousands of years. It is crazy-versatile—you can add to your smoothie, grate some on stir fry, add it to soup, or sip ginger tea. Not to mention, ginger is one of the top spices people turned to as a kitchen cure. Here's a closer look at the science behind ginger's health benefits.

Reduce Nausea

Eating ginger can help with various forms of nausea, including morning sickness, motion sickness, and the side effects of some chemotherapy regimens. If you've ever drunk ginger tea to soothe an upset stomach, you probably know that it helps to tame your tummy troubles. In fact, this is the one that is most backed up by science—especially when it comes to pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting.

Ginger Has Anti-inflammatory Properties

Fresh ginger boasts a potent compound called gingerol, which includes antioxidant properties and reduces inflammatory enzymes. It is known for its potent anti-inflammatory properties, which help combat swelling, joint and muscle pain, and even knee pain associated with osteoarthritis. Essentially, ginger can help keep things moving smoothly.

Improve Blood Sugar

Ginger also helps manage blood sugar levels. That's because ginger reduces enzymes that break down carbohydrates and so it helps with glucose (sugar) metabolism, especially for type 2 diabetes. People with Type 2 diabetes often don’t produce enough insulin, which is key to ensuring glucose circulates throughout the body and doesn’t accumulate in the bloodstream. Ginger encourages your muscles to absorb glucose, without requiring you to take extra insulin.

It is a good start of incorporating ginger into your diet on an ongoing basis, so you experience the most health benefits.