As a core ingredient in the original Moscow mule recipe, ginger beer has been contributing to the cocktail's success in the US for decades now. While we all know (and love!) the way that it combines perfectly with the lime to produce a unique sweet and refreshing taste, ginger beer is also known to have an impressive array of health benefits if it is made from either ginger root or ground ginger (unfortunately ginger beer made from ginger oil or ginger extract won't offer the same range of benefits). So the next time your hand is clasped around a Moscow mule copper mug, the suns shining and you've got your shades on, you can feel a bit better about yourself knowing that, in one way or another, the ginger beer that forms part of this amazing cocktail is actually doing your body some good :)

How Ginger Beer Could Benefit Your Health

There's actually two elements of the traditional Moscow mule that have been found to offer health benefits; the ginger beer is one, with the other being the copper cups the drink is served in. Many don't know about the latter (check that linked article out) and the health benefits are not the reason these mugs are being stolen up and down the country from bars. So, what do the medical professionals actually say about ginger beer then?

• Stomach Ache - This is something we've all experienced during our life at one point or another and while it's not typically something that you should be overly worried about, that's not at all comforting when you're suffering. Ginger beer is proven to have a positive impact upon both indigestion and nausea, and several studies have shown that it actually outperforms many over-the-counter remedies.
• Improve Rheumatoid Arthritis - A condition that typically occurs in the 40 and over age group, rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by painful swelling in the hands and feet, which can eventually lead to bone erosion and deformity. "How the hell can ginger beer help such a serious condition" I hear you asking. While we're in no way suggesting that ginger beer will cure rheumatoid arthritis, clinical studies have shown that patients that supplemented their medication with small portions of ginger for a period of roughly 2 months experienced a noticeable improvement in their condition.
• Antioxidant King - The importance of incorporating enough antioxidants into your diet is a topic that has been heavily emphasized over the last few years and if you're struggling to get your "fix" you can't go wrong with ginger. In fact, only pomegranates and berries are considered a richer source of antioxidants. If you're not sure what antioxidants do for your body, they have been linked with everything from reducing the risk of cancer by removing free radicals from the bloodstream, to enabling skin to keep its elasticity (and there allowing you to look younger for longer) to protecting you against a wide range of degenerative diseases.
• Suffering from Morning Sickness? - Nausea and vomiting are a couple of the more unpleasant "side effects" that women regularly experience when they're pregnant, but ginger beer (a non-alcoholic version of course) could help you enjoy a more pleasant pregnancy according to medical studies, including one that was completed in 2005. Many times doctors will prescribe relatively strong medications to help women through this, but the drugs that are recommended do sometimes have some unpleasant and potentially harmful side effects. Ginger is a great all-natural alternative and has no side effects whatsoever.
• Motion Sickness - This is classed as "nausea that is created by any type of motion or transport" and is something that a countless number of Americans battle against each year. Not anymore! Simply by working a single gram of ginger into your diet, the likelihood of you either vomiting, becoming nauseated or getting the sweats when travelling is reduced significantly. Ginger can help you to feel a lot calmer in situations that would usually make you anxious, such as when on a bus or a boat.
• Aching Muscles - There are a million different things that can cause aching muscles and just as many suggestions about the best way to provide relief, but ginger is not well known for being a "solution" to this problem. However, due to its ability to improve circulation and blood flow to your tired muscles, it can help reduce the waste products of cellular reactions as well as provide these muscles with the all the nutrients they need in order to recover.

As we've already said, the Moscow mule simply wouldn't be what it is today without ginger beer (it's just as important as the vodka, lime and the copper mugs -- they all have their own part to play) and if this list is anything to go by your diet simply wouldn't be complete without at least some element of ginger too. If you fancy learning how to make your own ginger beer, click  here.