Eat Ginger To Restore + Renew
Dial up the benefits of your holiday cleanse
Posted December 6th, 2011 by noelle | View Comments
Cleansing divas adore fresh ginger for its ability to dial up your body’s everyday cleansing and rejuvenation work. You often see the benefits of this work in glowing skin, greater energy and a sleek physique.
All about ginger
Fresh ginger root is widely available in most grocery stores. The most popular form of fresh ginger root is a little more mature and has a tough, light tan skin that you peel prior to eating or sautéing it. Ginger is also available in a powdered form, though health beauties believe its healing properties are lost in this dried version. It can also be used as an oil in a massage or a hot bath.
Health benefits of ginger
Ginger is believed to fire up your body’s natural digestion and crud removing work (essential to a good cleanse). It also helps your body better absorb nutrients and eliminate waste (cleansing divas believe waste=weight). Ginger also helps boost your bod’s circulation (which helps support a youthful glow) and helps expel gas (which health beauties believe is a leading contributor to cellulite). Ginger is also believed
- to hold antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
- to fight and kill cancer cells
- to help fight colds
- to assist with nausea during pregnancy
- to help ease motion sickness
- to uplift and soothe your body (when added to a bath)
- to help with painful joints (when ginger oil is added to a compress).
Ginger recipes
Fresh ginger is delicious. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy it.
- Ginger tea – Bring 1 inch of unpeeled ginger and 1 cup of water to a boil. Let it steep for 5-10 minutes.
- Slaw – Give it a try in this Sweet Red Pepper Slaw and this Asian Inspired Slaw.
- Smoothies – Toss peeled ginger into a banana smoothie like this one.
- Salad dressings – This Thai Peanut Dressing is a current favorite of mine.
- Freshly pressed vegetable juice – Toss it into a freshly pressed mug of Green Lemonade.
- Stir fries – Peel and slice 1/4 inch of ginger and add it to a veggie stir fry like this one.
How to buy and store ginger
You want to buy a piece of ginger that is firm and has a nice, bruise-free, tan skin. Fresh ginger stores well in your refrigerator for just over two weeks if it is left unpeeled. I also like to freeze extra ginger, where peeled, it will store nicely for up to three months.
To remove the skin from a piece of ginger, I like to use a small paring knife. In my opinion, ginger is always best when minced, rather than sliced or julienned. I find this method helps to eliminate any stringiness in the ginger.
Ginger risks
Health beauties regularly enjoy an inch or two (and often more) of fresh ginger each week. And while largely safe, an excessive amount of ginger can cause allergic rashes, heartburn and some abdominal discomfort in some beauties.
Learn more
These are a few articles on ginger that I enjoyed, you might too.
Image source: SiRiChandra via flickr.
