Uses of Ginger
- Fresh raw ginger root is a staple ingredient in Asian cuisines. It is used in curries, soups, rice, noodle, and stews.
- Pickled ginger is offered with sushi as a palate cleanser. Ginger-garlic paste is used across cuisines.
- World over, it is also used to flavor beverages such as tea, specialty coffees, lemonades, cocktails, and even smoothies.
- Ginger cookies, candied ginger, and the gingerbread man are popular holiday favorites.
- Ginger Tea – You can make tea by steeping grated ginger in boiled water. It is a natural cure for a sore throat, coughs, and colds.
- Ginger juice and chews are other home remedies, often given to alleviate nausea and digestive problems.
- It is often used in herbal products such as soaps, shampoos, massage oils, and perfumes.
Ginger supplements are available in most pharmacies in the form of:
- Dried ginger root
- Capsules
- Extracts
- Syrups
- Powder form
- Essential oils
How to Buy & Store Ginger?
Select a root that is wrinkle-free or has minimal wrinkles and taut skin. Make sure the skin is not thick and bruised. The best way to check is by scraping it with your nail. The aroma of the fresh root is peppery, sharp, and strong, so inhale the fragrance and enjoy shopping!
It can be stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. However, you should peel, cut, or grate it only before using it. If you want to store a cut piece of the root, dry it first so that it doesn’t rot away.
Side Effects
The commonly observed side effects are as follows:
- Diarrhea
- Heartburn
- Stomach upset
- Hives
- Swelling
- Breathing issues
Risks
- Acid-reflux: It may worsen acid reflux in some people.
- Gallstones: It can increase bile production, which may cause the stone to create a block in bile flow. The National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health recommends that people with gallstone disease exercise caution when using ginger as it can increase the flow of bile. [39]
- Blood-thinning: It should not be eaten with blood-thinning medicines or aspirin as it may affect blood clots.
- Pregnant women: Though it is generally considered safe, women with a history of miscarriage should consult a doctor before making any dietary change.
Most of the benefits derived from ginger are because of the presence of an active constituent called gingerol. According to the USDA FoodData Central, it is also rich in carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and protein. In terms of minerals, it has sodium, iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. its vitamins include vitamin C, folate, vitamin B6, riboflavin, and niacin. [3] [4]
There are many anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds like pantothenic acid, beta-carotene, capsaicin, curcumin, caffeic acid, and salicylate in it. Also, the presence of active compounds like shogaol, zerumbone, terpenoids, flavonoids, paradol, and zingerone in ginger provides many health benefits.
While the traditional uses of ginger for better health are numerous, today we can easily add to it the multiple beneficial properties discovered and confirmed by research. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular health benefits of ginger.
Ginger, also known as Zingiber officinale, is a flowering plant, whose root or rhizome is used as a spice. It can be consumed in many forms, fresh, dried, powdered, and in the form of oil and juice. Ginger is a common ingredient in Asian cuisines where it is used to build flavors in curries, dressings, and soups. It is also used in sweets and alcoholic beverages such as ginger cookies, ginger beer, and wine.
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