Ginger ale is well known carbonated soft drink which is made by flavoring soft drink with Ginger. Ginger ale uses farm fresh ginger and a mixture called ginger bug as its main ingredients.
These help to create this naturally fermented and fizzy drink. This mixture might contain a very small amount of alcohol if left to ferment at room temperature for a long period of time.
To avoid this, sometimes a shorter brewing period is used to create this fizzy soda.It turns out that soda has not always been a drink with high fructose content, corn syrup and artificial flavoring.
This drink uses fermented ginger to create a soda that is naturally fizzy! Ginger is one such herb used by many cultures for its health-boosting qualities.
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Health Benefits Ginger Ale
Is drinking ginger ale good for you? Find out innumerable health benefits of drinking Is drinking ginger ale below
1. Cardiovascular Benefits
According to researchers, ginger produces a calm and warming effect inside your body. This happens solely because ginger causes your blood vessels to dilate, thus increasing the blood flow.
Ginger’s anticoagulation quality also helps you reduce the chances of blood clots shaping in your system. This also holds the potential for lowering cholesterol levels.
This indirectly means that ginger helps you reduce the chances of heart diseases and arteriosclerosis. However, ginger’s efficacy in this regard still requires a further in-depth study.
2. Reducing Inflammation
The active compound present in ginger that helps to reduce inflammation is called Gingerols. Gingerol. This restricts the production of prostaglandin, which causes inflammation.
As a result, it helps in reducing the stiffness and swelling throughout your body. As ginger acts as a natural cure for inflammation, it also leads to a reduction of non-steroid-based anti-inflammatories.
Anti-inflammatory drugs can put you at a risk of getting ulcers. Therefore, using ginger in its place reduces your chances of developing an ulcer.
3. Digestive Aid And Nausea
Ginger is well known for its use to treat nausea and motion sickness. It also provides relief from morning sickness during pregnancy and nausea caused due to chemotherapy. Ginger can be used to help you with mild stomach upset as well.
If you feel dizzy and nauseous due to motion sickness, ginger ale can give you complete relief! Millions suffering from heartburn and indigestion might save a lot of money if they give the ginger ale a try.
4. Relief During Pregnancy
Your doctor would most probably ask you to limit your intake of ginger ale during your pregnancy because of the high sugar content. But it a proven fact that ginger ale helps you to ease off the morning sickness and help you feel relaxed.
Many brands selling ginger ale adds caffeine. You must avoid those because the natural ginger ale is the best for you and your baby.
An occasional ginger ale can help relieve your morning sickness symptoms and satisfy a craving for something sweet.
5. Prevents And Treats Ovarian Cancer
Gingerols present in Ginger Ale can help destroy ovarian cancer cells. According to researchers, these cancer cells are eliminated through the process of apoptosis. Apoptosis is essentially a process by which a cell dies as per programme. This mainly occurs in multicellular organisms.
Gingerols make the DNA of the cancer cells disintegrate and eventually lead them to self-destruction. Ginger Ale also works the same for preventing colon cancer. For that reason, you can prevent and treat ovarian cancer with regular intake of ginger ale.
6. Eliminates Free Radicals
Ginger ale has added antioxidant that helps in the elimination of the free radicals. The free radicals might be a by-product of the various metabolic reactions in your body. This sequentially leads to the protection of your body tissues from any sort of damage.
Your body’s cells might also be damaged by the free radicals because the cell walls are very fragile. When such a damage occurs, the end result is cell mutation.
These mutated cells are the cause of the development of medical problems such as rheumatism, cataracts, and arthritis.
7. Warms The Body
The thermal effect of ginger ale on your body is a known fact. It serves the basic function of protecting your body from the cold.
Researchers have found that ginger ales capability to generate heat is because of its ability to dilate blood vessels. Better biological functioning is also supported as the blood flow is stimulated.
This also helps in keeping your body shielded against hypothermia and other medical conditions caused due to the cold weather like pneumonia, frostbite etc..
8. Treats Menstrual Problems
Drinking ginger ale on a daily basis can help women going through menstrual problems. It is known to be very effective in the treatment of period cramps. It also helps women deal with the problem of irregular menstrual discharges. If you happen to have a lot of blood clots when you are bleeding, you can also avoid that by drinking ginger ale.
9. Helps In Dissolving Kidney Stones
If you have any kidney problems, you can benefit from the regular consumption of ginger ale. It is a well-known natural remedy helping you in dissolving kidney stones. If you want to avoid surgery by removing kidney stones, you can drink ginger ale regularly.
Side Effects Of Ginger Ale
Listed below are the possible side effects of ginger ale:
1. Gastrointestinal Problems
Ginger Ale is known to soothe various minor gastrointestinal problems, but if it is taken in a large quantity it can work against your body. It might cause severe heartburn, stomach problems, diarrhea, irritation in the mouth and severe belching.
2. Thinning Of Blood
The effects of ginger ale are similar to that of aspirin. It is possible of slowing down of blood clotting and it might cause thinning of the blood.
This side effect of ginger ale can be dangerous to the ones who are already on medication that helps prevent clotting of blood.
3. Allergic Reactions
It has been observed that ginger ale can cause severe allergic reactions, like, difficulty in breathing, swelling of the lips and tongue, the closing of the throat, itchy rashes or hives in your body. In such cases, you should immediately stop the consumption of ginger ale and consult a doctor.
4. Uterine Contractions
Herbs are gifts of nature, but not all herbal products are safe for women. Ginger, a herb, is the main ingredient of ginger ale.
Ginger is one of the few herbs, which is seen to have a contraindication in pregnancy.
Pregnant women are generally asked to avoid ginger because it is known to cause severe uterine contractions.
5. Gallstones
Ginger Ale is known to increase bile secretion in your body. If you are suffering from gallbladder diseases, too much of consumption of ginger ale can lead to a gallbladder attack. It is going to have an adverse effect on you and can cause severe pain.
6. Interaction With Anaesthesia
Ginger Ale is known to react with certain anesthetic agents used for surgery. This can cause internal reactions in your body which ultimately results in bleeding and slowed healing.
You must not drink ginger ale if you have any surgery scheduled. You must stop the consumption of ginger ale two or three weeks prior to the surgery date.
7. Heart Conditions
High doses of ginger in ginger ale cause heart palpitation. This happens to be one fo the most dreaded side effects of ginger ale. Consumption of ginger in any form can trigger an arrhythmia if consumed in very high quantities.
How To Make Ginger Ale At Home?
A lot of people today, prefer making their own ginger ale at home. You will be surprised to see that it is very easy and not time-consuming at all. You will not need a lot of ingredients, and you do not have to spend tonnes of money.
If you want ginger ale that is perfectly natural, you can make one in your very own kitchen without any fuss. Here is how you make it.
To make ginger ale at home, these are the ingredients that you need:
- Fresh and organic ginger ( thinly sliced) – 1 ½ cup
- Fresh lime/lemon juice – ½ cup
- Brown Sugar –½ cup
- White sugar- 1 cup
- Club soda – 1 liter
Directions
i) Mix the thinly sliced ginger, brown sugar, white sugar and one cup water in a saucepan. Bring this mixture to a boil. Stir frequently to make sure that the brown and white sugar completely dissolves.
ii) Lower the heat and cook at low heat for about 15 minutes. Make sure the mixture turns into syrup.
iii) Strain this mixture and let it cool down slowly at room temperature.
iv) Add lemon juice and stir well.
v) Then add the club soda and mix.
If you follow this recipe, you can make up to 8 glasses of the delicious ginger ale. You can mix and match this drink with champagne or other alcoholic beverages if you want. Or less, you can drink this up right after making it!
The Difference Between Ginger Ale And Ginger Beer
Ginger ale and ginger beer are both very refreshing beverages on their own. Both can be with other drinks to make mocktails or cocktails. They may share a common flavor, but they aren’t quite exactly the same.
Ginger ale has a lighter and a sweeter bounce to it while the ginger beer is more robust. Now, the question is, if they are both use ginger, fizzy water, and sugar, then what sets them apart?
Here Is Your Answer
Ginger beer was initially an alcoholic brew made using fermented ginger, water, and sugar. But most of the commercial ginger beers available nowadays are non-alcoholic. Ginger ale, on the other hand, is a non-alcoholic drink.
It is more of a sweetened and ginger-flavored soft drink. Ginger beer usually has a stronger taste and is spicier than ginger ale. It’s just that it is less carbonated.
To understand the difference better, we must look into the history behind each of the drink. The earliest mention recorded of ginger beer is around 1809 in England.
The drink was a sort of a farmhouse staple during that time. The ingredients used were fermented ginger, honey, lemon juice. This drink back then was typically alcoholic.
Later the non-alcoholic versions gained popularity. Most of the available ginger beers now are non-alcoholic and they get their bubbles by combining carbonated water and spices mimicking the zingy punch of the original drink.
Ginger ale first emerged around the mid 19th century in present-day Northern Ireland. It is first known as the golden ginger ale. It was a reddish brew made by mixing a ginger syrup, brown sugar and a mixture of spices with soda water.
Later on, a Canadian introduced the dry version we know today. Dry ginger ale is made using white sugar that looks the light effervescence of a champagne
FAQs Related To Ginger Ale
1. Does Ginger Ale Contain Caffeine?
Unlike most of the carbonated soda drinks, ginger ale does not have caffeine. Most of them contain carbonated water, lemon or lime, and sugar.
According to the USDA that is the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ginger ales generally contain 29 grams of sugar and 133 calories per serving.
2. Which One Should We Drink, Ginger Beer Or Ginger Ale?
This largely depends on the method used for the production of ginger beer or ale. Modern-day ginger beers usually do not contain the required amount of ginger necessary to provide health benefits.
In fact, most of the store-bought ginger beers contain no actual ginger at all! They are made using ginger flavoring. For this reason, ginger ale is preferred.
Moreover, ginger ale requires the use of natural ginger in order to preserve the original taste. So, you should probably choose ginger ale over the ginger beer on any given day!
3. Does Ginger Ale Make You High?
The answer is a big no. If you consume large amounts of it, you might have slightly altered visuals and feel bloated. Excess quantities of it may also cause acidity and make you vomit. We recommend you not to use Ginger Ale to Get High.
4. Does Ginger Ale Help In Weight Loss?
Ginger tea and not ginger ale is used for weight loss, as it increases your metabolism, stimulates circulation and eliminates toxins from your body.
Ginger Ale, on the other hand, contains added sugar and preservatives, which might lead to weight gain. It is recommended that you do not consume large amounts of this drink on the pretext of weight loss.
5. Why Do People Drink Ginger Ale When They Are Sick?
People drink ginger ale when they are sick because ginger contains a number of active ingredients that help you to alleviate nausea and vomiting. Similar uses of ginger have been documented from as early as first century A.D.
But, nowadays commercially-produced ginger ale is not an effective treatment for nausea and vomiting. It is because the drink contains artificial flavoring, not any natural ginger extract.
Bottom Line
Nowadays, ginger ale is seen as a medium for making cocktails and mocktails. People rarely do realize the healthy benefits of this drink. Naturally made ginger ale is the best when you want to gain all its health benefits.
Many of the commercial brands that you will find in the stores contain an extremely low amount of ginger. As a result, you do not get the same goodness that the natural drink provides.
There are also many brands that use artificial flavorings instead of natural ginger. It is very important to make sure that you purchase the right one.
If you cannot find an appropriate one for yourself, you can simply make it for yourself at home! The recipe for making ginger ale is discussed above.
But remember, too much of ginger ale is not good for your health! It might work against your body insured of benefitting you.
Do not choose the flavored ginger ale if you are drinking it solely for its health benefits. Flavors like cranberry and ice cream, simply contain heap loads of sugar and added preservatives. Be careful of what you buy!
