THE BENEFITS OF GINGER

Most people want to start the new year off right. January is the month resolutions are made as people vow to make personal changes for the better. One of the most popular resolutions is always centered around health. Typically in line with this, gym memberships spike, various diets are started, and healthy food options are all the rage. If you are one of the thousands that has made your health a priority for 2019 then this article is for you! I want to introduce you to my friend, ginger. No, not as in Mary Ann and Ginger (I’m dating myself, I know), but the ginger, the plant.

Ginger is the underground rhizome of the ginger plant. The botanical name for ginger is Zingiber officinale, which means ‘horn shaped’. This plant is native to southeastern Asia. Its flesh can be yellow, white, or red and it is covered with a brown/tan skin. It has a firm texture and is pungent, hot and extremely aromatic. Ginger’s story dates back 5,000 years and is mentioned in ancient writings from all over China, India and the Middle East. People have been enjoying the benefits of ginger for a very long time as it has been prized for its medicinal and culinary properties respectively. Even Chinese philosopher Confucius noted ginger for its profound healing abilities. Ginger spread beyond Asia when the Romans began to import it from China over 2,000 years ago. From there it spread throughout Europe during the Middle Ages. Finally, Spanish explorers introduced it to North and South America. Top producers of ginger today include India, Australia, and Jamaica.

As with most herbs, it is always preferred to choose fresh vs dried if you can. It isn’t easy to do this with many herbs that may not grow in your region, but not so with ginger, which is readily available fresh in most grocery stores and markets. Always make sure you select a smooth, firm ginger root. You can also get ginger dried, crystallized, candied and pickled. Although these are all fine options, again, your best bet is the fresh root from the produce department.

To prepare first remove the skin. I’ve found that a paring knife works best but you can also try this with a regular veggie peeler. From there you can slice, chop, mince etc. depending on what you intend on preparing. Ginger used in all sorts of culinary options from adding it to lemonade to spicing up chicken dishes to creating delicious ginger cookies (which are NOT on your menu right now!). The intention of this article isn’t to discuss the culinary options but I want to focus on using ginger as an herbal supplement to support your body and health!

Ginger is widely considered to contain the following therapeutic qualities*:

Anti-inflammatory (reduces inflammation)
Lowers blood sugars
Eases cramps and morning sickness
Carminative (relieves gas)
Eases nausea (great for morning sickness)

There are other things ginger is purported to do, these are my top five health benefits of ginger. As already stated, you can get ginger into your system in many ways but one of the simplest methods is to just create a fresh ginger tea. It tastes amazing and your body will thank you. Ginger has a warming affect on the body and can help support your immune system too!

To make a fresh ginger tea:

You’ll need:

• 2 tablespoons of fresh ginger root (this is about 2 inches of ginger root)
• 8oz. of water
• Honey (to taste)
• 1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice

To Prepare:

• To Prepare:
• Peel and slice the ginger root.
• Slice as thinly as possible with paring knife to maximize surface area.
• Boil the ginger in water for 10-12 minutes.
• For a stronger tea you can boil for up to 20 minutes and use even more slices of ginger.
• Remove from heat and add honey and lime juice
• Sip and enjoy!!

I want to wish you the very best for your health in 2019 and hope that you will incorporate some fresh ginger in your diet in whatever form you choose to help you reach your goals!

At Bucklebury we believe that your best wealth is your health!

Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-benefits-of-ginger#section2
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=72
https://www.grasmeregingerbread.co.uk/ginger/
https://www.thespruceeats.com/homemade-ginger-tea-3377239