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Healing Foods~Ginger

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Confucius was a great believer in the healing properties of ginger.

He is said to have eaten ginger at every meal. To this day, fresh,

dried, candied or pickled ginger is a staple in the Chinese diet and

many herbal remedies.

 

Ginger was also cultivated in India and sold on to the ancient Greeks

and Romans by Arabian traders. It is an odd-looking, knobby root with

a pale brown skin and a strong, zingy taste, ideal for soups, sauces,

salads, stir-fries and desserts.

 

It is also a great natural preservative. For convenience, cut some

fresh ginger into small pieces and freeze them in a food storage bag.

 

To use, simply take out the required amount and grate from frozen.

 

Traditionally, ginger has been used to treat a variety of conditions

and many clinical studies have validated its curative powers. It is

particularly effective for motion sickness and you may find it

incorporated into dishes and drinks (ginger ale) on cruise ships and

airlines. It helps prevent nausea and vomiting.

 

If you are using beverages containing ginger for this purpose, make

sure it contains actual ginger, not artificial flavourings.

 

During pregnancy, short term use poses no risks but long-term use is

not recommended.

 

Ginger is a powerful antioxidant and wards off nasty bacteria so it

is ideal to keep handy during the flu season.

 

Extracts of the root have even been shown to kill the salmonella bug.

In fact, ginger is considered a useful tonic for the entire digestive

tract as it helps stimulate digestive enzymes and tone the intestinal

muscles.

 

The ancient Greeks used to wrap a piece of ginger in a slice of bread

after large meals. Over time, ginger was incorporated into the bread -

 

 

a forerunner of gingerbread.

 

In the Orient, it is common to drink a tea brewed from fresh ginger

after meals in order to ease digestion. Just pour boiling water into

a cup containing a little grated ginger. Let it steep for a few

minutes then add honey and lemon juice to taste.

 

The mild anti-inflammatory properties of ginger make it a popular

treatment for arthritis in supplement form or as a massage oil,

providing welcome relief from pain and swelling.

 

Ginger also supports a healthy cardiovascular system and has been

shown to reduce susceptibility to blood clots. The Chinese use it to

stimulate the circulation and warm the body. It can induce sweating,

thereby expelling toxins and cleansing the whole system.

 

It is hardly any wonder Confucius lived to a ripe old age.

 

Martina is a qualified nutritionist at the Crescent Clinic of

Complementary Medicine, 37 Vernon Terrace, Brighton. Tel: 01273

202221 or email: martina_watts @compuserve.com

 

For more information please visit

http://www.thisistheblackcountry.co.uk

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