As I have blogged about before, I am a huge fan of ginger and have found it so helpful for managing pain during menstruation. I try to include ginger into my daily routine, as I notice it’s benefits for helping manage other pain I have. I covered some of the nutritional benefits of ginger and turmeric in my other ginger-turmeric latte recipe blog. But for the sake of time, I will just add them here for you! 

Both turmeric and ginger are anti-inflammatory powerhouses that help protect against DNA damage.

Turmeric: is widely used in Indian cuisine and has been researched for its vast health properties. The active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, may be beneficial for people with the Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, ulcerative colitis, knee osteoarthritis, and prediabetes. Turmeric may also play a role in cancer prevention by blocking carcinogens and also reprogramming cell death of cancer cells. Adding a pinch of black pepper to dishes or drinks using turmeric helps boost the bioavaibility of curcumin in turmeric, making it easier for your body to get the most benefit from this wonderful spice. For more on the benefits of turmeric, check out the videos on NutritionFacts.org. While turmeric has many health benefits, people who are pregnant or  have gallstones or kidney stones may want to moderate their use of turmeric. 

Ginger: appears to be beneficially for a number of conditions, especially in regards to pain. Just an 1/8 teaspoon of powdered ginger may work as well as leading drugs used for migraine headaches. Ginger may also help alleviate painful periods for females and may even help reduce the amount of blood lost during menstruation. 

For many women, menstruation can be a very painful and dreaded time of the month that can impact overall quality of life. For women that really struggle with painful periods, it may be helpful to try incorporating ginger into your regular routine and then when that time hits, hopefully the pain will subside. Eating a more plant-based diet in general may also help to alleviate pain due to menstruation. I know for myself, this drink (the spices in particular) has done wonders for me– especially when menstruation strikes. I notice less cramping and lighter flows that make the “time of the month” less disabling for me. I try to include ginger as a part of my regular daily routine, even when I don’t have my period. When menstruation strikes, I increase my ginger intake slightly by adding powdered ginger to my smoothies or soups, and sip on ginger tea (either this one here or sometimes a cold brew ginger tea- will have to write up that recipe soon). I know I feel the benefits and I hope they help for you too!