Ginger Loving Goodness

Ginger has become a family friend in my household. I love its unique spicy – zingy taste. I brew it in an infusion on most winter mornings, or make ginger ice tea in summer, juice it with my veggies (ginger, apple and carrots – hello!) and like cooking with it in my stir fries. 


Ginger becomes my best friend when I’m battling a cold or overdone it in Bikram and feel nauseous, thanks to its unique healing properties.

The healing property of ginger comes from the volatile oils, such as gingerols, that are responsible for its strong taste. The rhizomes from younger ginger plants are generally used for cooking because the older the plant is, the more essential oils are present and the stronger the flavor. Rhizomes from older plants are harvested for medicinal uses.

It has been used in Ayurveda for thousands of years thanks to its incredible health benefits. Fresh ginger is used for asthma, coughs, colic, heart palpitations, swellings, dyspepsia, loss of appetite and rheumatism, while the dried root is used to “strengthen” the stomach.
Benefits of Ginger

• Anti-inflammatory
  Ginger is believed to have anti-inflammatory qualities that may relieve swelling and pain.
• Aid Digestion
  Most frequently used to aid digestion; ginger is believed to increase saliva and other digestive fluids, alleviating indigestion.
• Aliviate Nausea
  It is known to relieve nausea – from chemotherapy to motion sickness and even morning sickness. If you feel nauseous after a Bikram class, or even after a night out try brewing a tea pot of ginger (If you take ginger for morning sickness, use it for no longer than four days).
• Common Colds and Flu’s
  As a tea it is said to ease headaches and sore throats or assist if you have a cold or flu.
• Immune boosting
  Ginger can not only be warming on a cold day, but can help promote healthy sweating, which is often helpful during colds and flu’s. A good sweat may do a lot more than simply assist detoxification. German researchers have recently found that sweat contains a potent germ-fighting agent that may help fight off infections.
• Period Pains
  Ginger can help reduce the symptoms of painful menstruations. A warm cup of infused ginger tea not only will warm you up, it will reduce your pain.

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Ginger is available all year around. If peeled it can stay unrefrigerated for 3 weeks, or you can freeze it and go using it as you please for up to 6 months i.e. grate it, cut parts off etc.
Why not try a cool summer drink, by cooling your brewed ginger tea, with some squeezed lime and a few drops of stevia to sweeten.

How do you use ginger? 

Love,
Lizette xx

IMPORTANT: If you are taking medications, consult a health practitioner, as all herbs can interact with other medications.

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