ginger greatness
in Blogs

Have you ever thought about the wonders of ginger? Such an ancient root really that has uses in both the culinary and medicinal realms. Believe it or not, ginger is loaded with nutrients and bioactive compounds that have what some people may say supernatural powers for both the body and the brain…

For some people, ginger can be viewed as a superhero due to its anti-inflammatory and digestive powers. Ginger contains the medicinal bioactive compound called gingerol. It also contains other beneficial compounds such as beta carotene, capsaicin, caffeic acid, curcumin and salicyate. These compounds are responsible for ginger acting both as an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant.

Ginger is a must for all kinds of nausea, including motion sickness, chemotherapy related nausea, nausea after surgery, as well as morning sickness. I can personally vouch that ginger helped my nausea during both of my pregnancies. I was gobbling up my homemade raw ginger biscuits daily to keep me feeling well. Because of ginger’s anti-inflammatory properties, studies have indicated that it may even help reduce muscle pain and soreness after exercise. These benefits also extend to osteoarthritis (degeneration of the joints in the body).

Other benefits of consuming ginger include the lowering of blood sugar levels (controlled dosage), plus it appears to speed up the emptying of the stomach and can be beneficial with people suffering with indigestion. It also can be effective in reducing menstrual pain when taken at the start of the menstrual cycle. Additionally, the gingerol in ginger can help lower the risks of infections and studies have shown that ginger can reduce age related damage to the brain.

How to include more ginger to your daily eating routine:

  • - Ginger pairs well with melon, oranges, apples, pumpkin, pork and seafood
    - Add some fresh finely sliced or grated ginger to stir fries
    - Add a knob to your freshly pressed juice each day
    - Try adding it to the second ferment of water kefir or buy ginger water kefir from your health store
    - Include it in a homemade salad dressing or sauce
    - Add it with every dish you use garlic in – mince, curry, casserole, soup, and so forth
    - Steep ginger in hot water with lemon and a drop of raw honey and enjoy it as a tea - this is a great tea if you’ve got a cold
    - Or try out raw ginger biscuits on page 155 of our book Wholesome Nutrition

When you purchase your fresh ginger root, look out for the smooth, taut skin (not wrinkly, that means it’s old). Smell it. It should have a spicy aroma. It is best to store fresh ginger in a tightly wrapped plastic bag in the fridge or freezer. If you don’t have fresh ginger on hand, 1/8 teaspoon of powdered ginger equates to one tablespoon of freshly grated ginger.