Ginger – The Incredible Spice

Ginger is a popular spice in Indian and Asian Cuisine, originating from China. Ginger spice actually comes from the root of the plant. Ginger can be used fresh, dried, in powder form, or as an oil. The flavor of ginger comes from the naturally occurring oils in the plant. It is also extremely good for you! Ginger contains many compounds that can be beneficial for your body and your brain. It has also been used for hundreds of years as a remedy for many digestive problems.

Stomach Problems

Ginger is an extremely helpful remedy for indigestion and nausea, whether they are slight or severe. Throughout history, ginger has been used to help sea sickness. The compounds in ginger are known to relieve irritation within your gastrointestinal tract and ease any associated discomfort. It also relaxes the stomach muscles and helps food move throughout your digestive system easily. Eating fresh ginger or drinking ginger tea can help soothe your stomach and alleviate any pain, as well as improve your body’s general digestion. Here is how you make ginger tea from scratch!

Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Ginger can also help prevent heart disease and stroke. Combining the benefits of consuming ginger with other superfoods can help lower the risk of one of the most detrimental diseases in the world. This is because ginger has an important anti-blood-clotting ability and also aids in lowering cholesterol. The anti-inflammatory properties that come from the oil in ginger can aid in blood clot prevention by thinning the blood and destroying free radicals with antioxidants. Ginger also can prevent cholesterol from oxidizing, which is a major precursor for heart disease. A complementary flavor to ginger is lemon, which works with ginger to contribute to the anti-inflammatory properties.

Other benefits of ginger include the ability to fight infections, prevent chronic diseases, reduce muscle pain and soreness and ease general body pain. Adding fresh ginger to juices or smoothies, making ginger tea, or adding sliced ginger to spice up a seafood dish are all ways to incorporate more ginger into your diet. Essential oil – the most potent form of ginger – can be ingested on its own for an extremely therapeutic dose. Check out these great recipes that all incorporate ginger. A small amount of ginger goes a long way, along with a healthy lifestyle!