The Many Health Benefits Provided by Ginger Root
Ginger ale does more than relieve stomach aches, colds and flu. Here are more than 30 reasons to include ginger in your daily diet.
The World’s Healthiest Food Organization provides us with this chart:
Please bear in mind this food rating is of 1 oz. of ginger root, which could easily be consumed in one cup of hot tea. Cathy Wong, ND, CNS, a licensed naturopathic doctor, and certified nutrition specialist with the American College of Nutrition and contributing writer at Alternative Medicine:About.com offers her recipe for ginger root tea as follows:
Peel the ginger root and cut into thin slices. Boil 4 cups of water in a small pan on the stove and add the sliced ginger. Cover the pan allowing it to simmer for about 20 minutes. Strain the tea and add lemon, honey, or brown sugar to taste. However, if the tea is being prepared to help in the relief of a cold, sweeteners are not recommended.
Ginger tea has a spicy invigorating flavor and is used as a home remedy for indigestion nausea, arthritis, and joint relief and to ward off colds, flu, and sore throats.
For those who love ginger ale here is a recipe to try at home:
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups ( about 10 ozs.) coarsely chopped, peeled fresh ginger
- 3 strips lemon peel ( about 4 inches each), yellow part only
- 1 ½ cups sugar (approximately)
- 3 quarts chilled club soda
- Ice cubes
PREPARATION
Place ginger, lemon peel, and 4 cups of water in a 4-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Simmer at a low boil, uncovered for about 10 minutes. Adding sugar stir constantly, and continue to boil until liquid is reduced to about 3 cups (about 15 minutes).
Place a fine wire strainer over a large bowl. Pour ginger mixture through strainer. Discard lemon peel, saving ginger pieces to use with vanilla ice cream or yogurt.
After the liquid cools, pour it into a glass container with a seal. Seal tightly and chill for at least 1 hour. Refrigerated, your ginger ale syrup will last at least one week.
For each 16-ounce serving, mix ¼ cup ginger syrup with 1 cup cold club soda and pour over ice.
Enjoy!
James A. Duke, PhD had worked for 30 years at the time of the publication of his book, The Green Pharmacy (1997) as a botanist specializing in medicinal plants for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to Dr. Duke ginger has been proven to perform better as a preventative therapy for motion sickness than many over the counter or prescribed medications.
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valli | Nov 1, 2007 | Reply
Excellent article Judy. Thank you very much for the great information.
simple life | Nov 1, 2007 | Reply
1 “i like” it to your post……
Great and good info i also making site about health like yoga, aerobics, stomach exercise…Find more here
http://simple-life.nazrikin.com/
IcyCucky | Nov 1, 2007 | Reply
What an excellent collection of benefits, Judy!
And the article is very attractive.
Great great job!
Judy Sheldon | Nov 1, 2007 | Reply
Valli and Icy thank you so much for your encouragement. It is always appreciated.
Simple Life, I like your tag. Thank you for your comment, and for the site. I am always on the look out for healthy tips.
whiliacs | Jan 22, 2008 | Reply
reading your article about ginger has helped me immensly’
My asthma and chest congestion is much better , thank you
Judy Sheldon-Walker | Jan 22, 2008 | Reply
Whiliacs, I can not think of any comment I like to hear better, than yours. You are so welcome.
Betty Gila | Mar 22, 2009 | Reply
Judy, Ginger tea has helped me in so many positive ways, the greatest is no more bloated tummy & no more swelling in my feet & legs (due to a 12 foot fall, landing on my feet). I am trying to convince my sister who is almost crippled with Arthritis to drink Ginger tea. She is in constant pain and has to use a walker for fear of falling. Unfortunately she read in an old medical book that ginger causes hallucinations. I have not found any reference to this online and am wondering if you can explain it.
Thanks, Betty
Judy Sheldon | Mar 23, 2009 | Reply
Betty, thanks so much for reading and commenting. I have compounded information from several sources and did not come across even one re hallucinations. Ginger was even recommended during pregnancy, which I doubt would be the case should it cause hallucinations.
I’m sorry you had such a fall but am glad you are still with us. I also highly recommend turmeric for arthritis pain. See: http://www.healthmad.com/Alternative/Turmeric-TKOs-Motrin.129692
Take care & G♥d bless!
Betty Gila | Apr 25, 2009 | Reply
Hello again Judy, I would appreciate your opinion(s) on the below questions when you have time.
1. At home I use the fresh ginger root for my daily ginger tea. I am planning an extended trip & know that the ground ginger will be easier to travel with then the root. I’m trying to determine through research if the ground ginger is as beneficial as a remedy as the fresh root and would like your thoughts on it. I am a firm believer that fresh is always best but my dried herbs & spices are always very fresh & potent as I purchase them directly from a quality wholesale herb house for resale in my Reiki Therapy Center.
2. I am also “playing” with a recipe for a good very low sugar ginger bread as an occasional (especially when traveling) alternative to the tea and would like your thoughts on whether or not the baking process(heat) will destroy the healing capabilities of the ginger.
As I stated in my previous posting, I am having so much success with ginger until I want to continue it’s daily use even while traveling.
Thanks Judy, Betty
Judy Sheldon | Apr 25, 2009 | Reply
Betty, you are so right in that fresh roots are better, but then there are so many variables right down to the soil it is grown in. When storing your ginger it is best to keep it in a cool and dark place. Dr. Duke recommends drying herbs in a paper bag away from heat and with as little oxygen in the bag as possible. He lists heat, light and oxygen as the enemies of your fresh herbs. Of course heat is used in bringing out the natural properties, so the concoction should be consumed within a reasonable time.
I am now researching sugar, as I have found so much data regarding the havoc it reeks upon our health. For more information about a safer sugar substitute read http://seeds4thought.blogspot.com/
I hope you have a terrific and safe trip. God bless.
meghan | Oct 3, 2009 | Reply
i have ginger root capsule as i take them on daily basis. i have found that are very good for acid reflux diease.
Judy Sheldon | Oct 3, 2009 | Reply
Meghan, thanks so much for your input. I love receiving feedback. There is so much to learn about herbals, and I am learning daily.
Take care & G♥d bless!
ilene | Nov 9, 2009 | Reply
How much of these benefits if any are in the ginger ale soft drink? I am pregnant and have been drinking a lot of diet ginger ale pop to help with heartburn. Are the cons of soda much more than the benefit of the ginger?
Judy Sheldon | Nov 11, 2009 | Reply
Ilene, you can receive more benefit from the ginger if you drink it as a tea. Thanks so much for your visit and God bless you and your baby.