Ginger Gold...YUM!

I think I’ve mentioned that I really love ginger – I pretty much use it in everything I cook [or blend] because I really love it’s spicy taste and the zing it gives to simple fruit juices.

So I was sitting at my desk at work…sipping my fresh beet/apple/carrot and ginger juice (while hard at work) then I had an epiphany – what benefits can I derive from all this ginger I take in daily? With that thought I set out to investigate along this line of thought. And you will NOT believe what I found. Ginger is like SOLID GOLD for health.

Reviewing the literature out there on the net, I discovered some ailments that could benefit from a dose of fresh ginger include:

• Common cold
• Dysmenorrhea aka menstrual cramps
• Cough
• Morning Sickness
• Nausea
• Indigestion

They say a picture speaks a thousand words, so see what this says…

 

Some say ginger can actually help boost your metabolism – which is particularly helpful, because the higher your metabolic rev the more fat you burn.

Other literature also indicate that fresh ginger could [have not tried it so I cannot say ‘CAN’ – but the researcher I read seemed really positive LOL] actually help with problems surrounding low libido as ginger contains aphrodisiac properties.

I guess the trick now is how to inculcate ginger comumption into your daily meals. Personally, I have my beet juice combo almost daily and I always add a 1inch stem of fresh ginger when juicing – so that’s one way I do it. Also I always grate or mince fresh ginger and add to my steamed veg and porridge. You could give this a try.

Other options include:

Ginger Tea

• Fresh Ginger stem

• Water

• 1 slice of fresh lemon (optional)

• ½ teaspoon of cinnamon (optional)

• ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper (optional)

• Honey or (to taste)

• I bag of green tea (optional)

Brew as normal with all the optional items added to your taste.

Drink in the morning or as a mid-morning pick me up.

Ginger-Banana Smoothie

• 1 mid-sized banana

• 1 ½ cup fresh chunks of pineapple

• 1 fresh ginger stem (about 1 ½ inch)

• ½ cup of plain yoghurt (although Greek yoghurt is better)

Blend everything together, chill then enjoy

Apple-Almond

• 5 almonds (it’s best to soak them in water overnight, making them easier to blend)

• 1 mid-sized apple

• 1 mid-sized banana

• ½ cup soy milk

• ½ cup plain yoghurt

• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

• 1” fresh ginger stem

Blend in a blender (as opposed to another kitchen tool…LOL), chill then serve.

One caveat though – please do not overdo it!

A little ginger stem goes a long way!

PLUS it is spicy!!!

But feel free to tweak these recipes to your particular taste (for example I always change honey for Splenda –sweetener as I am allergic to honey).

Finally, I am an advocate of the view that ‘every little helps’ – so if ginger could help boost my metabolism and blast my belly fat and eventually DROP IT…I will certainly go for it. Wouldn’t you do the same?

Let me know what you think…of the idea of ginger, and of the recipes.

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