The Dietitian Magician: Ginger: A cure for what ails you
Source: The Ames Tribune
December 18, 2007 Author: Lynda Murray
When you think of ginger, what comes to mind? If the only image conquered up is of a busty redhead on Gilligan's Island, then you'd better wake up and get off your deserted island. Ginger has been shown to help stave off a variety of maladies including food poisoning, hangovers, indigestion, stress, sore muscles and motion sickness. Instead of turning to the medicine cabinet, turn to your spice rack. Your kitchen may well become another pharmacy.
Take a backseat, Tums.
Your host or hostess graciously offers you another spicy meatball at one of the holiday mixers you are attending, "Just one more of my stuffed mushrooms," they croon. Next comes the delicious caramelized onion appetizer, and you top it all off with the death-by-chocolate dessert. The heartburn is building, and death sounds like a retreat from the pain. Instead of popping Tums, try ginger. Ginger has been known to provide relief from numerous stress-related ailments including sour stomach. A couple of ginger chews should do the trick.
Headache relief
"I want a Spiderman web blaster for Christmas," your four-year-old booms loud enough for the walls to hear. Your in-laws changed their travel plans to spend extra time with you over the holidays, and you weakly answered, "yes," to a call requesting six dozen cookies for tomorrow's school play. That stress headache is just starting, and it's only the first week of December. Instead of shaking the aspirin bottle, seek out ginger. It can decrease the severity and frequency of headaches and inhibit inflammation in blood vessels - ailments that often result from stress. Ginger, headache relief for harried Santa's.
Overexertion solution
Has the holiday hassle got you run down? If you are engaged in the marathon madness of holiday preparation, here's a proposal for you. Try some ginger. Ginger has been touted as the "hurts all over" cure. Research shows the anti-inflammatory benefits of ginger can improve blood flow and provide relief to sore achy muscles. Use ginger as a natural alternative to ibuprofen and other pain medications. Surprisingly, it doesn't take much. Simply slice a teaspoon of fresh ginger and add to your stir-fry vegetables.
Holiday hangover helper
Throwing back a couple of spiked eggnogs, and toasting your comrades at cocktail parties and holiday parties can often lead to a hangover. Beating the symptoms of over-intoxication can be as easy as adding some ginger. Ginger has been reported to provide relief to hangover sufferers. Ginger has been shown to be an effective treatment for nausea and vomiting, which are often associated with a hangover.
Battling food poisoning
Holiday parties often mean countless buffets, cookie exchanges and left-overs lying in wait to spread food borne illness. Unfortunately, all that socializing may find you racing to the toilet or your doctor with food poisoning. Often passed off as illness, food poisoning affects over 76 million Americans each year. Instead of reaching for the Pepto Bismol, try ginger. Ginger has long been trusted to ease symptoms of food poisoning like nausea, vomiting, cramping and diarrhea.
Don't let motion sickness interrupt holiday travel
Unprecedented numbers of Americans will be driving, or flying during the holiday season. To avoid falling victim to motion sickness symptoms (nausea and headaches) it is recommended that travelers pack ginger candies in their carry-ons before boarding planes, or automobiles. These candies, made from 100% baby ginger, been shown to ward off queasiness and allow holiday travelers to focus on their trip rather than their wooziness. Instead of taking Dramamine, a popular motion sickness medicine, The Lancet, reported ginger to be twice as effective as ingredients in the popular OTC medicine.
Beat the holiday blues
The Christmas tree is down, the ornaments back in the attic and the holiday nibbling shows an extra five pounds on the scale. The weather forecast calls for more overcast cold, dreary days. You just want to lie in bed with the covers pulled over your head. Think ginger. It is reported to be a "psychoactive" product, meaning that if you use enough of it, it's a mild mood-elevating substance. Take a break with a bottle of ginger brew. There is a plethora of flavors to choose from such as cherry, raspberry or my favorite, Jamaican-style. Curl up with a bottle and you are immediately transported to the island filled with coconut trees and banana blossoms.
Spice up your holidays with ginger
There are an emerging number of ginger products on the market including: ginger beverages, candy chews, cookies, biscotti, ginger chips, candied ginger root and ginger mints. Or for the ambitious type, a strong spicy drink may be made by boiling grated ginger root in a cup or two of water. Add sweetener if desired. You can use dried ginger or fresh "baby" ginger, or one drop of ginger essential oil in a glass of hot water.
Ginger Gypsies
Just in time for the holidays.
The kiddies will have a ball decorating these ginger gems.
Makes 18 (1 cookie each)
All you need:
1/2 c. margarine, softened
1/2 c. packed dark brown sugar
1/4 c. dark molasses
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
All you do:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat margarine and sugar in a large bowl until light and creamy. Beat in molasses. Combine flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and salt in separate bowl. Beat into creamed mixture until just combined.
Form dough into ball. Roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out shapes.
Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 10 to 13 minutes or until lightly browned on bottom. Cool 1 minute on sheet; remove cookies to wire rack to cool completely. Decorate as desired with prepared icings and colored sprinkles.
Nutrition information per serving:
Calories: 120
Carbohydrate: 19 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Dietary Fiber: 0 g
Fat: 5 g
Protein: 1 g
Saturated Fat: 1 g
Sodium: 160 mg
Sugar: 9 g
Trans fats: 0 g
Recipe from http://WWW.spiceadvice.com
Ginger Tea
All you need:
Water
Fresh ginger
Honey or Lemon to taste
All you do:
Boil water.
Add slices of fresh ginger and steep approximately 6-8 minutes. For stronger flavor, steep longer.
Remove ginger before serving. Add fresh lemon or honey if desired.
Recipe used with permission from The Ginger People For more recipes and ideas, see their website at http://www.gingerpeople.com
Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a faithful spice. Ginger is definitely a one-stop - shop spice. It does so much more than just make a tasty stir-fry or a gingerbread boy. Spice up your holiday with ginger.
