Amazing Health Benefits of Ginger

The SUPER food! I am loving fresh ginger at the moment. Although I have always loved it in my stir fries and Asian dishes I have never really had it another way .... Until my brothers' girlfriend made me a cup of tea with sliced fresh ginger root in it. After that I was hooked! I now have a cup everyday and some days when I feel like it I add a slice of lemon. Some people also put honey in it but unfortunately for all of us on the low FODMAP diet we can not have honey as it is very high in fructose.

I had a cup everyday while I was sick with a cold recently and a bad cough. I read that ginger helps with mucus breakdown and I have to say I think it helped :) Although it didn't cure my cough and cold it did help me feel better. Ginger seems to have a warming effect when you drink it .... I like to say it warms the cockles of your heart :) Because it has a bit of a kick to it, it really gets the system going (the intake of ginger juice will warm the body, promoting healthy sweating, which not only assists detoxification but also boosts the immune system).

I have also read that ginger is good for people with Irritabel Bowel Syndrome as it can help settle the stomach if you are feeling ill ... some people just take a raw slice and chew on it! (not sure if my I could do that) Also, if you drink it with hot water it helps with the digestion of your food ...

A little bit about Ginger ....

Ginger is the underground rhizome of the ginger plant with a firm, striated texture. The flesh of the ginger rhizome can be yellow, white or red in color, depending upon the variety. It is covered with a brownish skin that may either be thick or thin, depending upon whether the plant was harvested when it was mature or young.
Ginger is aromatic, pungent and spicy, ginger adds a special flavor and zest to Asian stir fries and many fruit and vegetable dishes. Fresh ginger root is available year round in the produce section of your local market which is a bonus! I have looked into growing my own ginger but need to wait until Spring as it only has a certain window in which it will grow.

Digestion
As a digestive aid, ginger can reduce appetite through its regulatory effects on blood sugar and serum cholesterol. A few slices of fresh ginger simmered in a cup of water and consumed before a meal stimulates digestion.

Cortisol Reduction
Ginger is among the group of herbs and spices that are regarded as stimulants, having an effect similar to caffeine. Consume up to 4 grams, or 2 teaspoons, of ginger per day to increase metabolism and light the digestive fires. Increased energy makes it easier to exercise and put more pep in your step, burning calories and flattening your tummy.

So go on ... have a cup and you might be pleasantly surprised :) After all this talk about ginger tea, I am off to make myself a cup to get those digestive juices flowing!