4 types of people who should never use ginger – it can cause serious health problems!

Why do people use Ginger?

Ginger is a flowering plant loaded with nutrients and bioactive compounds that hold incredible benefits for your physical and mental health. Its medicinal use dates back thousands of years to ancient China. The rhizome of the plant is the root that is typically used in cooking and medicine. (1)

Using natural remedies for common ailments can be an effective alternative to prescription medication. Ginger is an incredibly useful form of medicine, treating conditions ranging from poor digestion to inflammation, and heart disease. But it can be dangerous to some people. If you have any of these conditions, you need to stop using ginger immediately.

1. Underweight people

Ginger is known to aid weight loss for patients with diabetes, obesity, and hypoglycemia. A study found that treatment with ginger extract produced significant reductions in body weight and lipid levels. (2)

Ginger increases the pH of the stomach and stimulates digestive enzymes for its high fibercontent. (3) When the body efficiently processes bulky elements of ingested foods, weight loss can result.

However, for people with a low body mass index (BMI) who could be undernourished or underweight, suppressing appetite and fat removal can lead to dangerous health conditions such poor muscle mass, hair loss, menstrual irregularities and vitamin deficiency. If your doctor has told you that you need to gain weight, then reduce or eliminate ginger from your diet.

2. Pregnant women

Ginger is packed with powerful stimulants, which is ideal for our muscle health and digestion, but for pregnant women, it can lead to premature contractions, which can also lead to preterm labors (4).

Avoiding ginger, particularly in your last months of pregnancy, is imperative. Ginger root is known to prevent morning sickness (5), which is a common symptom of an early term pregnancy, so it is safer to use when you have recently become pregnant.

Ginger also interferes with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and dietary iron, so you should consult a healthcare professional before taking ginger as a dietary supplement if you are expecting.

3. People with a blood disorder

Hemophilia is a rare genetic disorder in which the ability of blood to clot is severely reduced, meaning the sufferer could bleed severely from a minuscule injury.

Ginger stimulates blood circulation, which is important for most people, particularly those who suffer from peripheral artery disease, diabetes, obesity or Raynaud’s disease.

Not only can the plant nullify the effects of life-saving medication, but also the overstimulation of blood circulation in hemophiliacs can lead to severe and sometimes deadly hemorrhaging. (6)

4. People who take certain medications

If you suffer from high blood pressure or diabetes and take medications for your condition, ginger is known to change the way the drugs you need react with your body. Specifically, beta-blockers, anticoagulants, and insulin drugs can be very dangerous to mix with ginger. (7)

The reason for these dangers is that ginger can lower blood pressure and stimulate blood thinning, which can interact with prescription medications with unfavorable results.

An Alternative for Ginger Lovers

If you love your ginger fix, don’t worry! There are many alternatives that nutritionists recommend (8) such as cayenne pepper, red paprika, and sweet peppers. They can be added to dishes and beverages to add that kick of spice to your taste buds.

Conclusion

Ginger is a very healthy form of medicine for the majority of people when consumed in moderate amounts. It’s great to throw into our cup of tea when we’re feeling under the weather, it gives a delicious tang to our stir-frys and soups, and it can really boost our immune systems, fight infection and relieve pain. But people in specific medical situations should always consult a doctor and do their research before using alternative forms of medicine and herbal or dietary supplements.