What Exactly Is Ginger... And What Are Its Benefits?

　　姜到底是什么……它有什么益处?

　　Ginger is a rhizome in the Zingiberaceae family, and it's related to turmeric, cardamom, and galangal.

　　姜是姜科中的一种根茎，它与姜黄、小豆蔻、高良姜有亲缘关系。

　　A rhizome is found underground — but it's actually a stem, not a root!

　　这种根茎长于地下——但它实际上是一种茎，不是根!

　　Ginger has been used for centuries to relieve aches, pains, and ailments of all kinds. It can be used as a spice in all kinds of cooking, as well as brewed to make tea.

　　几个世纪以来，姜就被用于缓解疼痛以及各种疾病。也可将其添加在各种饭菜中作为香料，而且姜还可以用于泡茶。

　　Benefit #1: Eases Nausea

　　功效一：缓解恶心

　　Ginger has long been used as a treatment for nausea of all kinds, including sea sickness and the nausea that comes after surgeries and other medical treatments.

　　长期以来，姜一直被用于缓解各种恶心，包括晕船以及外科手术和其他医学治疗后随之而来的恶心。

　　Benefit #2: Aids Digestion

　　功效二：助消化

　　Ginger has been shown to speed the stomach's emptying process and make digestion go more smoothly.

　　研究表明，姜可以加速胃部排空，并使消化更顺畅。

　　Benefit #3: Soothes Achy Muscle

　　功效三：舒缓肌肉酸痛

　　Ginger has been shown to be effective in soothing sore muscles, especially from exercise-induced pain.

　　研究表明，姜可以有效地舒缓肌肉酸痛，尤其是运动引起的酸痛。

　　Benefit #4: Soothes Osteoarthritis

　　功效四：缓解骨关节炎

　　Ginger can also reduce inflammation in joints, such as the inflammation that occurs with osteoarthritis.

　　姜也可以减轻关节炎，如伴随骨关节炎出现的炎症。

　　Benefit #5: Lowers Blood Sugar + Boosts Heart Health

　　功效五：降血糖+有益于心脏健康

　　A study showed that powdered ginger, taken daily, reduced the blood sugar levels in people with Type II diabetes by 10 percent.

　　一项研究表明患有II型糖尿病的患者每天服用姜粉，其血糖浓度降低了10%。

　　It also showed a 23 percent decrease in oxidized lipoproteins, a major factor in heart disease.

　　研究也表明每天服用姜粉，氧化脂蛋白降低了23%，而氧化脂蛋白是引发心脏病的主要因素。

　　However, this is a relatively new discovery, and more studies must be performed before we really know.

　　然而，这是一个相对较新的发现，在我们真正了解之前必须进行更多研究。

　　Benefit #6: Lowers Cholesterol Levels

　　功效六：降低胆固醇水平

　　LDL lipoproteins, the "bad" cholesterol, are a risk factor for heart disease, and greatly influenced by what you eat.

　　低密度脂蛋白，一种“有害的”胆固醇，是引发心脏病的危险因子，并且受饮食的影响巨大。

　　But taking 3 grams of ginger powder daily can greatly reduce LDL lipoproteins, says one study.

　　但是一项研究表明，每天服用3克姜粉可以极大地减少低密度脂蛋白。

　　Benefit #7: Eases Menstrual Pain

　　功效七：缓解痛经

　　When taken at the beginning of the cycle, ginger was shown to reduce the cramping pain many women experience while menstruating.

　　研究表明，在月经周期之初服用姜可以缓解许多妇女经期时的绞痛。

　　Benefit #8: Aids Brain Function

　　功效八：有助于增强脑功能

　　A study involving middle-aged women showed that taking ginger had a direct effect on the brain and improved their reaction time and memory.

　　一项针对中年妇女的研究表明服用姜可以直接影响大脑并提高了她们的反应能力和记忆力。

　　Benefit #9: Could Help Fight Cancer

　　功效九：可以帮助与癌症抗争

　　Some studies suggest that a compound found in raw ginger, 6-gingerol, can greatly reduce the potentially cancer-causing activity in cells.

　　研究表明，在生姜中发现的一种化合物，6-姜辣素，可以极大地减少潜在致癌活性细胞。

　　However, other studies have shown that it has no substantive effect at all.

　　然而，其他的研究表明姜完全没有实质性效果。

　　Though the information we have on the relationship between ginger and cancer is limited, it's definitely something worth looking into!

　　尽管有关姜和癌症之间的关联性，我们拥有的信息有限，但这一定是值得研究的课题。

（编辑：何莹莹）