What is Ginseng and Should You Add it to Your Diet?

Ginseng has a Wide Array of Health Benefits and Has Been Used in Chinese Medicine for at Least 2000 Years!

Ginseng is a slow growing plant with fleshy roots and is harvested at different time frames to produce varying types of ginseng. If it is harvested before four years of growth it is known as fresh ginseng, when it is harvested between 4-6 years, it is white ginseng and after six years it becomes red ginseng. Different types are grown in different countries and American ginseng and Asian ginseng are a few popular ones.

Depending on where the ginseng is grown and harvested, it is said to have varying effects on the body with Asian ginseng invigorating the body and American ginseng having a more relaxing effect. Both types of ginseng mentioned, contain compounds called ginsenosides and gintonin which work together to provide health benefits for our bodies.

The Health Benefits of Ginseng

• Beneficial antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. Multiple tests have been undertaken on the benefits of ginseng and one particular study found that Korean red ginseng extract aided in reducing inflammation in the skin cells of people with eczema.
• Siberian ginseng is a natural health supplement native to Siberia and China. It’s known for its benefits for male infertility and may help to increase alertness, happiness, attention span, short term memory and assist in normalising sleep patterns.
• Could aid in improving physical performance. Known to improve the neurotransmitter activity in the brain and blood circulation, experts suggest it could support the body and mind during bouts of exertion.
• May assist in increasing brain function, memory and mood. A study took 30 healthy people and gave them a supplement of Panax ginseng daily over four weeks. They all showed significant improvements in mood, social functioning and mental health.
• May support and improve the immune system. A study followed 39 patients who had surgery for stomach cancer and were in recovery. They were given a ginseng supplement for two years daily and they all showed massive improvements in immune function and a minimal reoccurrence of symptoms.

How to Add Ginseng to Your Diet

Always check with your doctor before starting to take a ginseng health supplement. If you get the go ahead from your doctor, you can try making meals like a chicken ginseng soup. You could also try it out in the form of a ginseng tea, which you can find ready-made in health food stores and supermarkets or you could try making your own.

Another way to consume ginseng is in the health supplement form

Just be aware that Asian ginseng is one of the most potent and if you are sensitive to stimulants, this could make you a bit jittery. If this is the case, try out the American variety or search out a ginseng supplement that is known to have a gentler effect.