"Super Foods": Ginger

Yes, that's right, ginger does fall into the Super Foods category.

Everyday we hear about "new" research studies proving the "miraculous" healing powers of many different foods.  Most of these foods are really just normal everyday foods that everybody used to eat as part of a normal diet.  Of course, in the last 50 to 80 years highly processed convenience foods have taken the place of these healthy whole foods to the detriment of our health.

More and more people are replacing healthy, nutritious whole foods with nutritionally empty processed foods full of chemicals, preservatives and additives.  Food forms the building blocks of every cell and tissue in our body.  If the food we eat is nutritionally deficient, it obviously is not going to do a very good job of rejuvenating our health and preventing the development of disease.

If, on the other hand, we go back to basics and eat healthy, nutritious food, our bodies have the chance to use the vitamins and minerals in these foods to improve all areas of our health. 

Now here is a food that the Asian people have considered a "superfood" for centuries, but that we westerners have overlooked.  And what food is that?  Ginger, of course! ...

For thousands of years, Chinese Medicine has used Super Foods like ginger to treat many ailments.  Some of the health benefits of ginger have been proven in medical studies, other benefits have a more anecdotal history, but are just as viable.  So what health benefits can you expect to get from ginger?  This is just a short list...

• The most common use for ginger is digestive.  It has been known to help with nausea and motion sickness, vomiting, appetite loss, indigestion, heartburn, gas, bloating and diarrhea.  (One theory is that it can help with heartburn because it can help to improve the muscle tone in the digestive tract, including the esophageal sphincter.  Reflux occurs when this sphincter becomes loose and allows digestive juices to back into the esophagus.)

• Ayurvedic medicine also uses ginger to help with arthritis and rheumatism and joint problems.

• Ginger is known to have anti-viral and anti-biotic properties that is thought to help with symptoms of colds and flus, like aches and pains (including headaches) caused by fever.  It is best if you start taking ginger in the early stages of the cold or flu.  It can also help to loosen phlegm and to ease sore throats.

• It supports the immune system and improves immune system function

• It improves circulation and has been known to help to alleviate muscle cramps (including menstrual cramps). 

• It is an anti-inflammatory so it can be very helpful with muscle pain, especially conditions like plantar fasciitis (heel pain) and knee pain.  It is important to take it regularly, not just once in a while.

• Ginger is also known to have a positive effect on Candida Albicans and is commonly used for its anti-fungal properties.

• Ginger promotes circulation and decreases sticky platelets, improving cardiovascular health.

• A recent study shows that ginger extracts helps to prevent gastric ulcers.

• Ginger is known to increase digestive fluids, as well as neutralize stomach acids.  It has also been used to treat peptic ulcers and can help to reduce swelling and bleeding of gastric ulcers.

• There have been preliminary studies done to research the possibility that ginger can aid in losing weight by increasing the body's capacity to burn calories.

• Studies have shown that using Super Foods like ginger has strong possibility that they may help to reduce the risk of certain cancers.

• Ginger also improves good cholesterol and reduces bad cholesterol

Now, the best thing about using Super Foods to improve your health is that you can eat these foods in delicious dishes instead of having to pop a pill!  And there are many, many delicious dishes that use ginger.  Asian dishes in particular use lots of ginger in stirfries and other dishes (see below for one of my favourite stirfry recipes).  But if you want to have a good amount of fresh ginger each day, you can also consider adding ginger to smoothies or fresh juice or just making a ginger tea by grating ginger in boiling water. 

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