Sometimes, the healthiest foods are the most flavorful and unique ones, which is great news if you’re trying to add more variety into your diet. For example, ginger is packed with both flavor and health benefits and is a great way to spice up your meals without adding unnecessary sodium, calories, or fat.
Read on to learn more about the natural health benefits of ginger and how you can get more of it in your daily meals.
What Is Ginger?
Ginger is a flowering plant with a root that is commonly used for culinary purposes for spicing and flavoring. For thousands of years, it has also been an important natural medicine in many cultures. You’ll commonly find ginger used in home remedies for specific ailments, as well as in Asian cooking with fish and vegetable dishes. Even in Western cuisine, ginger is often used in tea, cookies, bread, and ginger ale beverages.
Ginger and Natural Health
Ginger has been studied by physicians and researchers for its vast natural health potential because of it positive effects on insulin and metabolism. It is a common anti-nausea treatment when your stomach is feeling upset and beneficial to bring along on road trips, airplane travel, and amusement park roller coasters.
Many pregnant women swear by ginger to reduce their morning sickness symptoms, while ginger also has anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants. Consider adding more ginger to your daily meals if you experience frequent indigestion, have upper respiratory cold symptoms, or simply to boost your cardiovascular health.
How to Eat More Ginger
Very few people eat ginger regularly by chomping right off the root, which is why it’s a good idea to know a few recipes with ginger and ways to easily add it into your favorite foods. You can purchase teas that already have ginger in them or cut off a chunk of fresh ginger and add it to your boiling water while making any kind of tea. Ginger works well in soups, especially soups that have Indian spices, contain potatoes, and Japanese-style miso soups.
An easy way to eat more ginger is to peel it, slice it, and add it into stir-fry dishes along with other vegetables and a source of protein. Ginger complements fish very well, especially salmon and tilapia, to give it flavor without adding fatty or calorie-rich sauces. Other delicious foods that are made even better with ginger include jam, ginger juice in smoothies, and blended ginger in salad dressings.
What’s your favorite way to eat ginger? Please share your recipe ideas with us in the comment section below!