Hooray for Ginger!

A few weeks ago, my dad sent me a power point presentation on ginger and it’s properties. When I was younger he’d often push for me to drink ginger tea when I wasn’t feeling well but it was always so strong that I didn’t want to go near it. But after reading this presentation and being “older and wiser” I decided to give ginger a shot in the best way I knew I could take it – my food. On a trip to Whole Foods market for some other stuff (*see side note) I bought some ginger and it sat in the fridge a few days before I actually used it. I decided to try it with some chicken first. I cut a small piece, probably, 1 inch in diameter and a half inch in thickness. I grated this, added soy sauce, garlic and black pepper to the chicken and let it marinate for an hour. When I was ready to cook it, I heated 1 tbsp of butter and 1 tbsp of sugar, put in the chicken and browned it. Added a few seasonings, a little more sugar and let it get sticky. BEST CHICKEN EVARRRR!! I was quite surprised that the ginger wasn’t overwhelming but there was just a hint of it there; not overpowering. This has encouraged me to try it in other meals but also to know to start with a little, and as I become more comfortable with it, to know if to add more or less to a meal to get a desired taste. When trying something new, start with a small portion and familiarize yourself with the product.

*As my personal training sessions were all about weight training, I tried to focus more on meat for my breakfast as I didn’t want to get full on bread, and egg and I aren’t friends more than 2 days a week. So on the advice of my trainer, I went to Whole Foods to purchase some fresh sausage (less sodium and preservatives) from the deli there to spice up my breakfast, and while I was there I remembered GINGER!!

Here are a few pointers from the presentation. I hope you start using ginger as well and appreciate it’s properties.

• Ginger contains anti-viral, anti-toxic, and anti-fungal properties, and is used for the prevention of and treatment against the common cold. The warming effects make it a natural decongestant as well as an antihistamine, making it the perfect remedy for colds.

• Ginger acts as an antihistamine and aids in the treatment of allergies.

• Ginger contains special enzymes responsible for catalyzing the proteins in your food, thus aiding in digestion and the prevention of cramps.

• Good for those with constipation!

• The ancient Greeks used to eat ginger after a large meal, in order to ease the digestion process.

• Chewing on fresh ginger, can help freshen the breath.

• Being a warming herb, ginger can help knock out a fever. This property also makes it effective in stimulating circulation of the blood.

• It can also help relax muscles around the blood vessels and is said to help prevent blood clots from forming.

• Some studies show that it can even help inhibit the replication of the herpes simplex virus.

• To discover the health benefits of ginger for yourself, simply make a tea by steeping about 5 slices of ginger in hot water.

• Ginger doesn’t only spice up your food it can also help to put some extra spice in your intimate life too. It improves blood flow to your sexual organs, and contains Vitamin C, zinc and magnesium.

There are plenty of other great qualities in ginger, and it’s not limited to being used as tea or in food. So go out and educate yourself more on this wonderful root/herb and find the best way you’d like to incorporate it into your daily diet.