Ginger R US

Fresh Ginger – Ancient “Natural Medicine”

If there were ever an ancient “miracle drug,” fresh ginger would no doubt be in the running for that title. Ginger’s widespread use in ancient Chinese, Indian and Arabic cultures is testament to the versatility and potency of this natural medicine. Ginger rhizomes, or roots, have been used to help digestion, clear the arteries, treat arthritis, relieve nausea, reduce tumor growth and migraines, eliminate fever and infection and lower cholesterol levels. Ginger’s curative properties make it an essential and beneficial food.

Ginger and Digestion

One of the most exciting properties of fresh ginger is its ability to help digestion, reduce food cravings and assist with weight loss. In Ayurvedic medicine as practiced in India, ginger is identified as being one of the most important foods to “ignite the digestive fire.” The Western diet leaves people overweight, tired and undernourished.

Your body simply can’t process all of the salt, sugar and fat that you put into it when you eat the standard Western diet. When digestion slows down, you’ll experience increased digestive problems like constipation, heartburn and indigestion. You’ll also start gaining weight because you are eating more than your body can handle.

Ginger helps your digestive system in a few different ways. First, it can help to speed up your metabolism by increasing the circulation through the tissues in your body, including those in your digestive system. A faster metabolism will help you digest the food that you eat more efficiently.

The enzymes in ginger also help your body break down protein efficiently and rapidly. It increases saliva and digestive juices as well. This can help you deal with heavy, rich foods like those most common in the Western diet.

Fresh Ginger and Weight Control

What does this mean for cravings and weight control? Most cravings result from a drop in blood sugar and a panicky “I need to eat something now!” feeling. Ginger can help stave off that feeling and keep your blood sugar stable. As a result, you’ll be less prone to weak moments and less likely to succumb to cravings for sugar and other quick pick me ups like caffeine.

Recent studies on ginger and type 2 diabetes have showed the important link between blood sugar levels and ginger. Ginger root supplements reduced the effects of elevated blood sugar or stomach rhythm. Fresh ginger helped maintain a normal rate of stomach emptying, when compared to the placebo group.

Eat Fresh Ginger in its natural form

If ginger isn’t part of your daily foods, it should be! Eating ginger in its natural form is most beneficial. You can steep shredded ginger root in water for a pleasant tasting tea or add shreds to salads or soups. It can also be added as a spice to many different foods. It works particularly well with Asian cuisine, and you’ll find a lot of Asian recipes include ginger in the ingredients list.

When you are looking for ginger in the store, choose the freshest looking tubers possible. Fresh ginger will keep up to three weeks in the refrigerator. Ground ginger is processed, and it loses its flavor very quickly. Save yourself time and money by purchasing and shredding your own. It also goes without saying that ginger’s benefits are lost when you’re eating candied ginger. Stick to the fresh ginger version for the greatest impact.

By: Diana Walker

About the Author:

DENIS

The vitamin ginger root offers you a lot of benefits, including the ability to treat headaches and common colds. One of the most common uses of ginger root is the treat an upset stomach, something we all know and hate. Normally in the form of flat ginger ale and crackers, this vitamin could fix even the most upset of stomachs – and fast to boot.

For the last few decades, ancient civilizations have used the vitamin in both cooking form and medicine form. Although the technology back then wasn’t close to what it is today, the ancient civilizations knew that ginger root would help prevent ailments ranging from motion sickness to athlete’s foot. With ginger root having anti-inflammatory properties, it can also make the pain of rheumatoid arthritis less intense. Women that drink ginger tea have said that it helps them eliminate menstrual cramps completely.

What many people don’t know, is the fact that ginger root isn’t really classified as a root, but instead an underground stem. Even though it is a very useful vitamin and supplement, it is harvested year round just like the hawthorne berry. The harvests, which are obtained roughly five months or so after being planted, are used in the creation of products such as candied ginger and ginger syrup. Harvests that are obtained later can be sold as fresh ginger. The longer the ginger remains in the ground before being harvested, the spicier and hotter it gets.

Keep in mind that not anyone can grow ginger. It takes a special type of soil, which means that it won’t grow anywhere. It is normally grown commercially, in large harvests. Ginger is always in high demand, as it serves a lot of useful purposes. From adding spice to food to healing certain ailments, ginger root is easily one of the best vitamins around.

These days, you can buy ginger in the produce department of many grocery stores. Ginger serves many useful purposes, including baking. It can be used with cookies and breads, or used to spice up your jellies and jams. When you shop for ginger root, you should ensure that the gnarly fist like bulb is smooth, the surface hard to the touch, and the weight being somewhat heavy. If the bulb is hard and light in weight, it won’t be as good.

When it comes to common ailments, ginger root can be great to have around. It can be used with hundreds of cooking recipes, you can use your creative imagination to make even more uses with it as well. Ginger is used in many fine dining restaurants as well, as it tastes great as a dressing on salads. Serving a lot of healthy purposes, ginger root is one of the best selling items on the market – and easily one of the best tasting supplements out there.

By: Jake Saab

About the Author:

FUCHSIA