Vernon Kay tells listener 'get this in' to combat winter bugs sweeping country

BBC Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay shared his personal tip for fighting off winter illnesses live on-air. During a call with South Normanton resident Samantha Stephens, who was nursing a "chesty cough and sore throat" before an upcoming concert, Vernon empathised, having experienced similar ailments himself.

He suggested a mix of "honey, lemon and lots of steam," while stressing the inclusion of one potent ingredient. "Get your ginger in, drink a lot of ginger," he advised.

Ginger, with its roots in South-East Asia and a long history of being prized for its healing properties, is lauded for numerous health benefits. It's commonly recommended to those expecting to combat morning sickness, believed to alleviate bloating and gas, and valued as a natural analgesic by others.

The list of purported advantages extends far and wide – from aiding digestion and bolstering cardiovascular function to helping regulate blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels.

However, despite the enthusiasm surrounding ginger in traditional Chinese medicine and folk remedies, scientists remain sceptical. Experts say that robust evidence backing the claims of ginger’s effectiveness in counteracting pregnancy-related nausea or nausea due to chemotherapy is still lacking, reports Surrey Live.

Apparently, ginger isn't the cure-all for everything; it seems to fall short when it comes to back pain. The 50-year-old presenter shared his experience with his listeners last month, recounting a painful episode: "I did some electrical adjustments to some outdoor lights yesterday afternoon,... [I was] on my knees, on a piece of cardboard, on the damp soil, I lasted about 10-15 minutes and then my back was like 'Oh you've got to stop this'."

He found a