It seems like everyone is getting one viral infection after another these days. To ease the pain, we often use home garden and kitchen remedies on top of the necessary dose of paracetamol. Ginger is said to have a positive effect on your cold, chills and sore throat, but has this been scientifically proven?
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Door Metronieuws.nl
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Metro spoke with Iris Groenenberg, expert in the field of nutrition and health at the Nutrition Center. “A lot of claims are made about ginger’s health benefits, such as that it may help with sore throats,” says Groenenberg. «That would be due to substances in ginger with an anti-oxidative or anti-inflammatory effect. But if you look at the scientific research that has been done, then there is no good scientific substantiation.”
It can be concluded from this that a cup of ginger tea unfortunately does not help with a sore throat. According to Groenenberg, the best thing you can do is sit out the cold. “Coughs and sore throats usually go away on their own. Drinking regularly can provide relief from coughing and sore throat. If you have a sore throat, you can drink cold water. When you cough, you can drink something warm, such as tea. You can opt for ginger tea, but you can also choose another tea.” If you have serious complaints or if it does not go away, it is wise to contact your doctor.
What can you do for a sore throat?
If you want to avoid getting sick, you can try to boost your resistance. Groenenberg shares the following tip about this: «Try to eat as healthy as possible, get enough sleep and exercise regularly. This is how you support your resistance. And with a good resistance, your body is better able to fight pathogenic bacteria and viruses.”
To support your resistance as best as possible, and thus minimize the chance of getting a sore throat and a cold, Groenenberg shares the following advice:
– Eat a lot of vegetables and fruit; daily at least 250 grams of vegetables and 2 portions of fruit;
– Choose especially whole wheat, such as whole wheat bread, pasta and couscous and brown rice;
– Eat less meat and more vegetable. Vary with meat, fish, legumes, nuts, eggs and vegetarian products;
– Eat enough low-fat and semi-skimmed dairy, such as milk, yogurt and cheese;
– Eat a handful of unsalted nuts daily;
– Use soft or liquid spreading and cooking fats, such as oil, low-fat margarine and liquid shortening and frying fat;
– Drink plenty of fluids, such as tap water, tea and coffee.
