Ginger therapeutic and culinary properties

We would have to go back 3000 years back to find the first occurrence of the ginger in history. Seems to be their first crops appeared in South East Asia and was taken for its marketing to Central Asia by the Persian King Darius in the fifth century before Christ.
Confucio recounts in his writings as the Phoenicians brought ginger to the Mediterranean. It was later extended along the coast until you reach the Red Sea and beyond. In the course of the years will be Marco Polo who exported it in one of their long journeys to the Americas.
Still today are grateful the Caribbean the merchant adventurer Marco Polo, as although the largest producers of ginger are in Asia, (India and China mainly), the best crops of the plant are found in the Caribbean, specifically Jamaica.

The ginger plant

The ginger that we consume is the underground plant tallo-raiz perennial of the family of the cingiberaceas, with long narrow leaves and small purple or yellow flowers. You can reach about a meter of height or something more when it is cultivated on the slopes of the mountains.
The knobby stem which are sprouting roots is what we use as condiment, food or remedy medicinal. To use it should wait at least six months from sowing. Once extracted from the Earth, wash plant and let it dry for several days, this way will resist kept at room temperature for several months.

As regards its nutritional composition has a variety of acids, such as linoleic, ascorbic, or the glutamine. Also has fibres, amino acids, essential oils and various minerals as aluminum, phosphorus, cobalt, zinc and manganese.

Culinary use of ginger

There are many ways to consume ginger; You can use as an ingredient for making candy, condiments in meals or infusion from its Rhizome (tallo-raiz). Also include small bits in juices or smoothies from fruits and vegetables is a good option to take advantage of all its properties.
The different presentations are Rhizome (tallo-raiz) fresh plant or dry powder, can also be found in infusion, tincture, capsules and essential oil. It combines very well with flaxseed, cedar, rose, rosewood, arnica, Meadowsweet, Cayenne, aloe, passion flower, Rosemary, oats, neroli, garlic and lemon for infusions as a condiment.
Seasoning is also used in the culinary arts by ownership of enhance flavors. Although sometimes the Asian cuisine uses it to the contrary, dress loud some seafood or meat flavors for example. In any case, are varied culinary properties, which owns.
There are many sauces flavoring that in oriental cuisine are prepared with this aromatic fresh plant, both for meats, fish, rice and other dishes. On the other hand Western cuisine is based its use mainly in the dry tallo-raiz powdered, giving dishes new aroma and a spicy point.

Ginger cookies

We easily found as a baking ingredient in cakes, cookies and desserts of fruits, sorbets, ice creams, etc. By its characteristic of generating heat is very common to see the typical cookies of ginger in winter in many parts of the globe. There are many recipes on the web to enjoy these delicious cookies. For this reason we have selected the following for its simplicity:

Ingredients:

• 300 grams butter melted
• Brown sugar 150 grams
• 150 grams honey
• Two eggs
• Ginger 1/2 tablespoon
• Cardamom 1/2 tablespoon
• Cinnamon powder 1/2 tablespoon
• 600 grams flour

We process with the Blender, butter, sugar, honey, eggs, ginger, cinnamon and cardamom until a semi-liquid paste. Then add flour to form the mass and after mixing it well, stretch it leaving half-centimeter.
We cut with a pan of cookies and bake at 180 degrees for ten minutes. You can then decorate with sugar icing, lacasitos, shredded coconut, or any initiative.

Medicinal uses of ginger

Galeno, one of the fathers of medicine, already employed it in its natural remedies.
Ginger has been valued for centuries in the East for its therapeutic qualities. Is used by traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda and Tibetan since antiquity for conditions such as bloating, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, rheumatism, inflammation on the joints, arthritis and similar. In Europe it is marketed as aromatic, protective liver and digestive tonic.
Ginger has in its composition at least 12 antiviral elements. Now scientists have isolated some of these components to fight the rhinorvirus (common coldviruses). General ginger consumption fighting the symptoms of the cold reducing fever, pain, cough, and inducing relaxation.
There are many utilities that can give this natural antibiotic. It must be borne in mind that antibiotics were the great discovery of modern medicine (1942). Thousands of incurable diseases became treatable thanks to them, but still today are discovering new contraindications, allergies, intolerances and the decrease of the defenses because of frequent use.

Incredible natural antibiotic

An antibiotic is a chemical compound that removes or restrains the growth of microorganisms or bacteria that sicken the body. In addition to its benefits, must be taken into account that their frequent use leads to an adaptation that implies having to use increasingly higher doses the risk for our health.

Ginger health benefits are very varied and efficient.

It is for all this better to use natural antibiotics that its incidence in the body does not produce any allergy or contraindication, nor any feeling of discomfort. There are many foods that its internal composition and their properties raised us defenses and even end up with certain diseases.
Some natural antibiotics are in our daily diet as the lemon, garlic, onion, honey, turmeric, ginger, etc. Except that in case of illness we should increase their intake of adequate to counter aggression. We then show them two simple recipes of how use ginger tea or blending, to improve our health.

Healthy ginger tea

It is as simple as a small piece of ginger slice and submerge a minute in hot water. Take sips of this drink every 30 seconds as it is quite bitter. If they don't bother you bitter food slices the proportion of a teaspoon of tea can be eaten directly without the infusion. Its beneficial effects will be very fast.
A recipe would be prepared with fresh ginger, boiling water, lemon juice and a bit of honey a healthy infusion:

1. Boil a saucepan or casserole with three cups of water
2. Washing a piece of root that weighs approximately 90 grams
3. Remove the skin and cut into small pieces
4. Place it ginger in a teapot with lid
5. Add the hot water and let stand for 10 minutes
6. Strain the tea and serve with honey, stevia or other natural sweetener
7. Finally, add a bit of lemon juice

Digestive ginger Smoothie

In addition to a delicious taste, it has great benefits for our health.

Another way to consume healthy and also very stimulating for all ailments that improves the ginger would be a Smoothie with mint and Apple. The ingredients would be:

• Four Green apples peeled and seeded
• A bare branch of celery
• 8 fresh mint leaves
• About 90 grams of fresh ginger
• Stevia, natural honey, or sugar cane integral organic taste.

Preparation
Cut the celery, apples and placed along with the leaves of mint in a blender. Add a glass of water which has been dissolved sugar or honey and a few ice cubes. Once liquefied all serve and store in the refrigerator or refrigerator.

Therapeutic properties

Ginger has a long history as a therapeutic remedy, among other evils relieves nausea, bad stomach, dizziness, stimulate the immune system against viruses and bacteria, in addition to acting as anti-inflammatory, analgesic and other functions that follows.
Therapeutic ginger, both traditional and novel properties that tend to benefit from They are:

• Analgesic and anti-inflammatory for external use: apply as a compress to relieve pain articular as lumbago, sciatica, rheumatism, especially when you need to heat, i.e. the area is cooled. If the region of the lesion is hot better consume domestically.
• Analgesic and anti-inflammatory for internal use: is taken with capsules, tablets or tea to relieve pain for arthritis, rheumatism and inflammations. Also relieves menstrual discomfort, difficulty in mobility and pain. Half teaspoon of powder in foods may be sufficient.
• Lipid lowering: lowers blood fats, this is very beneficial for those who have cholesterol or high triglycerides. It effectively combats arteriosclerosis, it also has a small anticoagulant effect. Consume in food in any of its forms.
• Activates the circulation: Ginger enhances circulation by dilating the blood vessels. This is immediately noticeable as you heat up feet, hands and face in cold weather. This coupled with that its anti-cholesterol effect, and which prevents the adhesion of platelets such as garlic, make it advisable for anyone prone to have problems in the circulatory system.

• Headaches, migraines and Migraines: is a very effective remedy for these ailments. Perhaps by its vasodilator effect, its tone of the movement, or by being a powerful antiviral, the case is that it helps to avoid these symptoms.
• Nausea and vomiting: traditionally ginger was used for nausea of pregnant women but today is also used for nausea and vomiting of aggressive cancer treatments. Quite an infusion of ginger with honey relieves these symptoms.
• Digestive problems: for the digestive difficulties such as gas, bloating, heaviness, dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, etc. Both back into our dishes such as infusion after eating will help improve these symptoms.
• Processed food: ginger stimulates the pancreas, helps in the production of enzymes promoting digestion. Ulcers and diarrhea as well as dizziness and vomiting of indigestion can be alleviated with the.
• Colds and infections otorrinolaringologas: acts directly against viruses and bacteria that produce symptoms or infection. It also improves the cough, it helps decrease mucus and cough up. Take it in tea with honey and lemon juice several times a day.
• Other uses that are awarded to you is for dizziness in travel, nausea and vomiting after surgery, sickness, rheumatoid arthritis, muscle aches and joint in athletes, effective against the prostate cancer and also to lose weight.

Daily dose and its contraindications

A dosage of natural treatment would be 2 to 4 grams of dry powder of a Rhizome three times a day or if it is in Beck mother, 40 to 60 drops three times a day; but the usual easy-to find it cool and dry powder is consumed with meals or as explained above in smoothies and teas.
Although it is always recommended before taking any remedy in a systematic manner call our allopathic physician or naturopath, if we indicate that is not recommended to consume ginger in case of peptic ulcer in active period, gallstones or if anticoagulants are consuming.
A continuous treatment during pregnancy or breastfeeding, children under 6 years without recommendation and medical follow-up is not recommended. Moreover few contradictions are known to not be something acidic or be very sensitive to its strong flavor.

Ginger and science

Ginger is a great ally when it comes to weight loss.

Innovative research ensures that ginger can help lose weight to reduce inflammation and sensitivity to glucose, influence factors that influence weight loss. In addition, its influence on levels of serotonin that influence appetite, makes that to consume ginger feel satiated much earlier with the consequent effect of eating less.
We also know that Ginger has digestive properties, by stimulating gastric juices, strengthen the intestinal muscle activity and stomach contractions, facilitating the mobility of food, giving rise to better absorption of nutrients, better evacuation of waste and therefore avoiding weight gain.
Finally its components gigerol and shogaol, stimulate metabolism by increasing energy expenditure and fat oxidation, raising body temperature and burning more calories which collaborates also with weight loss.
New Research ensures that ginger extract combat prostate cancer. This study shows how ginger inhibits the growth and even induces the death of human cells of prostate cancer at the end of his degenerative cycle, reduce their reproductive capacity and eliminated the altered mitochondrial cell.
Also new studies have demonstrated the valuable effects of ginger to prevent and combat diabetes. Both the in vitro tests, in vivo and clinical trials confirm the anti-diabetic effect of ginger.

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