Get Your Zing On With Ginger!

 

Unlike the person who wrote this post for Swanson, I happen to love the taste of ginger. That it has so many beneficial properties and uses is just icing on the cake….or should I say gingerbread. 🙂

Ginger: Unique Uses, Health Benefits and Fresh Ginger Recipes What comes to mind when you think of ginger? Childhood memories of an upset tummy and drinking ginger ale to soothe it? Christmas traditions like the friendly ginger bread men or ginger bread cookies? Or, perhaps like many people around the world, you enjoy the spice for its distinct taste and numerous health benefits. Embarrassingly enough, I had never actually worked with fresh ginger, and it was quite the adventure! I read all about how to pick it out in the produce section, and the right way to work with it. This blog even had helpful tips on how to peel it with a spoon! I did my research, made a few recipes and hope you can take away something useful from this post. I’d love to hear from you about other ways you use it! About Ginger (This Funny-Looking Food) Ginger—or ginger root—is a rhizome (collection of roots) found around the world. It’s used traditionally in different countries—like ginger wine that’s produced in the United Kingdom, China’s common use of pairing sliced or whole ginger root with savory dishes like fish, and Jamaica’s regional specialty called Jamaican ginger cake. There are so many delicious recipes and unique uses for ginger, and it comes in a few recognizable forms. Ground ginger is more commonly used in recipes like ginger cookies and cakes. Fresh ginger, which comes in surprisingly fun-shaped pieces, is used for things like candied ginger, ginger syrup and tea. Fresh ginger can be substituted for ground ginger at a ratio of 6 to 1. A few of the most prominent nutrients in ginger include amino acids, calcium, essential fatty acids, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and C. Ground ginger also contains Vitamin A. There are so many ways to take advantage of this spice, especially if you’re a fan of the flavor. But, if you’re like me, and the taste of fresh ginger isn’t really your favorite, ginger supplements are available so you don’t miss out on all of the advantages. How Can I Use Ginger?! We know that ginger is beneficial in many ways, but what about its popular and distinct taste? There are so many options for getting it into your body—many of which include sprinkling it on dishes or mixing it into recipes. With a little help from the Internet, below are a few of the neatest ways I found to use and/or eat ginger. Ginger Uses: -Grate ginger root and combine it with carrots, apples and lemon juice in your juicer -Sprinkle grated ginger on desserts -Follow this simple recipe for candied ginger—a sweet treat! (Check out the photos below!) -In baked goods—try these yummy pumpkin ginger cupcakes -Follow this recipe for homemade ginger syrup for ginger ale (I also made this—check out photos below!) -Pickled—serve it with or add it to sushi -Make it into ginger tea -Add a teaspoon of ground ginger to pancake batter -Sprinkle ground ginger over vegetables before roasting -Use in a more complex dish like this Warm Ginger Mahi Mahi Salad with Ginger Ponzu or thisSpicy Chinese Vegetable Stir Fry with Chicken My Turn—Ginger Recipes and Results When I set out to find something to make with ginger, I decided to work with the fresh kind, and wanted to make something fun! The first recipe I tackled was ginger syrup. I found this awesome recipe which can be used for so many things. I decided to use it to make homemade ginger ale! Ginger Syrup 2 cups unpeeled, washed, fresh ginger, roughly chopped 2 cups sugar 6 cups water Directions: Process ginger chunks in a food processor or blender until finely chopped; add to stock pot. Add sugar and water to the pot and stir. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook for one hour until a rich syrup is created. Strain the syrup twice through cheese cloth or a fine sieve into a large jar or bottle. Refrigerate. Homemade Ginger Ale Fill a drinking glass with ice Fill about 1/3 of the glass with your ginger syrup Pour in club soda Top with a slice of lime Or try this slightly more exotic recipe for old-fashioned ginger ale: http://thenourishingcook.com/ginger-ale/ For more on the benefits of ginger, including a possible way to help prevent or off-set cognitve decline and Alzheimer’s, check out this article at Natural News: http://www.naturalnews.com/042091_ginger_mental_health_brain_food.html And did you know you can use ginger to treat dandruff and hair loss? http://www.naturalnews.com/042164_ginger_hair_problems_natural_treatments.html And be sure to read my post on Ginger As A Powerful Anti-Cancer Treatment. And if you suffer from migraines, check out this article from The Food Revolution about using ginger to get relief.   Salud! p.s. Be sure to subscribe to Self-help Health so you don’t miss any future posts, and tell your friends to do the same. Also check out my website’s To Your Health page and Evolution Made Easier blog for more helpful health tips, tools and information.