After reading the article, you will find out how ginger root can help you. Useful properties and contraindications when listing will make an impressive list. Its value is undeniable. The harm and benefits of its use, however, go hand in hand. How wide is the range of beneficial effects of ginger tubers, so their use can be dangerous if you suffer from certain diseases. The list of useful features does not consist of one dozen items. The range of its application is truly wide: medicinal decoctions, slimming teas, seasonings for meat, fish, marinades, confectionery. The miraculous root ginger is known for its original taste, spicy aroma.
In Europe, this root is popular in the manufacture of alcoholic beverages - ginger beer, all kinds of punches, liqueurs give people a good mood, benefit at the same time. Grated ginger root is used as a compress for rheumatic manifestations, joint pain.
Room conditions or a cottage are quite acceptable for the cultivation of this native of Southeast Asia. The plant itself has reed-shaped stems, can grow up to 1-1.2 meters high. The spike-like type of inflorescences is distinguished by a yellow-brown gamut. Only fleshy roots that are light brown in color, palmate in shape are suitable for use. It is the tubers that contain all the useful, nutrients that ginger is so famous for.
What is useful ginger root, its benefits and harms
It is useful for its rich vitamin composition, amino acids necessary for the body (threonine, leisin, phelanin, tryptophan, methionine), essential oils. Manganese, iron, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, caprylic, linoleic, oleic acid are far from a complete list of useful components of ginger tubers.
It dilutes the blood, helps digestion, removes bile, promotes the formation of gastric juice, facilitates well-being in food poisoning, strengthens the immune system.
Ginger root - useful properties:
- With colds, it has a strong anti-inflammatory, warming, diaphoretic effect.
- Helps with coughing, sore throat (hot broth).
- It is used to increase appetite, normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract.
- It is used for intoxications of various kinds, digestive disorders. With constipation gives a mild laxative effect.
- Helps to stop allergic manifestations (itching, rashes on the skin).
- To improve memory, brain function, atherosclerosis, to strengthen blood vessels.
- For the treatment of hypertension of 1 degree.
- To lower blood cholesterol.
- To reduce weight, speed up metabolism.
- With gynecological diseases, to increase fertility.
- With rheumatism, arthritis, arthrosis, for the treatment of joints, reduce pain after injuries.
- It has a significant anti-cancer effect (prevention).
- With inflammation of the gums, oral cavity.
- In cosmetology (increases skin tone, removes irritation).
- With diseases of the thyroid gland.
- To treat hair loss, prevent dandruff.
A strict contraindication to the use of ginger is:
- Stomach ulcer.
- Ulcerative colitis.
- Duodenal ulcer.
- Diverticulosis of the colon.
- Diverticulitis of the large intestine.
- Cholelithiasis.
- The last trimester of pregnancy.
- Risk of miscarriage.
- Taking antiarrhythmic, antihypertensive (lowering blood pressure) drugs.
You should not take ginger root at a very high temperature, in extreme heat, with various kinds of bleeding (it has a “blood dispersing” effect).
How to eat ginger root?
With the addition of ginger root, any dish will become gourmet. Surprisingly, it is a fact - it fits almost all products! It is used fresh, pickled, dried, added to various preserves, drinks, soups.
Fresh root is peeled, rubbed (or chopped) on a grater, after which teas and decoctions are prepared from it. It is suitable for use simply chopped, supplemented with lemon, salt or sugar. Candied candied fruit from ginger root is also good, as a treat.
The dried, ground to a powder state, root is widely used in the preparation of meat, fish dishes, various sauces, dressings, as well as in baking. Fresh ginger root has a pronounced, unique flavor, and dry - spicy pungency. As mentioned above, it is taken not only inside, but also externally - gruel or powder diluted with water is applied to sore spots on the body.
This spicy root also goes well with other plants, spices, as it increases their beneficial qualities. Cinnamon and honey, garlic and lemon, curry, cardamom, mint, nutmeg - all of them together with ginger - this is a real medicinal drug. Ginger is low-calorie - 80 kcal per 100 g).
Ginger Root - Slimming
Essential oils, which contain ginger root, purposefully “work” on losing weight - burning fat deposits, removing excess fluid from the body, accelerating metabolism. Along with excellent taste characteristics, the process of losing weight with the help of ginger is becoming a pleasant, popular procedure.
Reviews of everyone who felt the effect of “ginger” diets are unanimous: the extra pounds go away gradually, but do not come back. In addition, there is a vigor effect, muscle mass is in good shape, and cellulite deposits slowly but surely go away. It is noteworthy that even adding one intake of ginger tea to the diet shows positive results after 14 days.
Tea based on ginger can be taken at any frequency, not exceeding the established daily norm of liquid - 1.5-2 liters. It is good to add grated or chopped root to vegetable salads.
The recipe for one of the most popular "slimming" salads is as follows:
- small fresh cucumber;
- small carrots;
- medium-sized baked beets;
- grated pulp of one orange;
- fresh (or dried) celery;
- lemon juice for dressing (1 dessert spoon);
- olive oil (1 teaspoon);
- ginger root grated (1 teaspoon).
Cut cucumber, carrots, beets into small cubes, mix with the rest of the ingredients.
If you are more acceptable unhurried weight loss, then adding dried root when eating first courses, drinks or tea will be enough for you. If you aim to lose weight quickly, then it is better to opt for fresh ginger, which will need to be added to dishes or drunk as decoctions.
Ginger root for weight loss - several options for use:
- The most uncomplicated is ginger tea, it is drunk at least 3 times a day. A teaspoon of chopped fresh root or a third of the same spoon but a dry powder is added to the teapot. Tea itself can be absolutely anything.
- Ginger water - infused with water, peeled, finely chopped root (about 50 g) is poured with 1 liter of boiling water, infused for 2-3 hours. The entire volume must be drunk per day.
- Ginger tea with orange, mint - 3 tablespoons of grated ginger, two tablespoons of finely chopped mint are added to one and a half liters of boiling water. When the water boils again, boil the root for another 10 minutes, then cool, add honey (2 tablespoons), squeezed juice from one orange, a pinch of pepper. Use moderately hot.
- Ginger with lemon - add the juice of half a lemon to a glass of ginger water. Despite the simplest recipe, such a drink is a powerful, effective tool for losing weight.
- Ginger-garlic infusion is one of the most effective means to fight extra pounds. Ginger finely chopped (2 tablespoons), add 2 cloves of garlic (also chopped), pour one liter of boiling water, leave for 2-3 hours. Take half a cup before meals. Use the entire volume of fluid should be in a day. You should not worry about the garlic smell, since ginger reliably “blocks” it.
- Ginger coffee - here the recipe is similar to brewing tea. Either grated or dry ginger is added to the cezve with natural coffee - the taste will pleasantly surprise you. You can experiment with this recipe: add milk, cinnamon, or cloves.
- Ginger kefir is a delicious, ideal drink for hot days. To half a teaspoon of grated ginger root, add one tablespoon of honey, 0.5 teaspoon of cinnamon powder, 2 tablespoons of water, a slice of lemon. All ingredients are mixed (honey is dissolved in water), poured into a glass of kefir.
The saturation of tea depends on how the ginger root is brewed. If the root will be in the water for a long time, the drink will become more burning, bitter. If the prescription does not indicate a long infusion time, then after 15-20 minutes the drink can be consumed, during which time the beneficial properties of the root will already be given to water.
A decoction of the root is equally useful cold or hot. It is good to store decoctions in a thermos - this helps to preserve the useful components of the drink. If you use dry ginger powder instead of fresh slurry, then take it half as much (according to the recipe), keep on a slow fire a little longer (20-25 minutes).
How to keep ginger root at home?
There are a few tricks to keep ginger root as long as possible:
- Refrigerated storage of ginger is relevant for the first 5-6 days, after which its medicinal qualities are lost.
- If you carefully pack the unpeeled tuber using a plastic bag and place it in the freezer, it will remain for a long time and will not lose its beneficial qualities. For convenience, you can pre-divide the root into small fragments. You can also grate the root on a grater or grind it with a blender, and place the resulting slurry in a plastic bag, give it the shape of a “pancake”. Such ginger is frozen, and if necessary, they simply break off a piece of “pancake” - a very convenient, practical way of storage.
- Chopped root into thin slices, pour white wine. This way it will stay in the refrigerator for many weeks - this method is suitable for future marinades, sauces, side dishes for meat or fish.
- The root cut into small cubes is poured with vodka - this tincture will be stored for a very long time, it is good to add it to teas, decoctions, and ginger itself is used as usual, as you like.
- Thinly sliced tuber is boiled in a thick solution of sugar with water, about 10-15 minutes, and then cooled. It is stored in the cold.
- Dried root powder is suitable for storage for several months.
A truly universal product is ginger root, the beneficial properties and contraindications of which must be carefully studied before use. He is spice, medicine, immunomodulator. Its competent use will strengthen your health, extend the years of life. Well-being will become a constant companion.