People consume ginger in its raw state, as a spice, or taken in a tincture or capsules for health purposes. Natural health enthusiasts recommend the use of ginger root to treat illness ranging from the common cold to arthritis. It improves circulation and soothes indigestion. You can use ginger in different forms for different purposes, each producing beneficial results. Before taking ginger to treat a health condition, consult with a health care provider.
Raw Ginger Root
Ginger is a root with a thick outer skin and a pungent, fibrous meat. It its raw form, you can grate ginger into salads or juice it. Its smell and taste is most potent uncooked, giving a recipe zest, as it has a strong, spicy flavor on its own. Chop ginger root and steep it in hot water to make a warming tea. Ayurvedic healers press and gather the natural juices from ginger to make essential oils to use in tinctures and medicines.
Cooked Ginger Root
To make a spicy broth from ginger root, add it to boiling water, which will cause it to release juices into the water. Soup recipes call for grated or blended ginger to boost the temperature of the flavor. Candied ginger is a sweet way to for you consume ginger root if the spice is too much for your palate, and it has been hailed by mothers-to-be as a way to keep nausea away.
Dried Ginger
You can purchase ginger in its dehydrated and powdered form and store it for future use. Use dried ginger for cooking, to add spice to a dish and to tenderize meats. If you want to take ginger for medicinal reasons, you can purchase powdered ginger in capsules. Dried ginger is a more concentrated form of this root, so those who have a reaction to the warming properties of ginger should exercise caution when using it. People taking blood-thinning medicines should take ginger capsules only under the supervision of a physician.
Ginger Benefits
Ginger has proleolytic enzymes capable of breaking down protein and reducing inflammation. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that ginger can help improve the nausea associated with motion sickness, morning sickness and chemotherapy. It's also an aid for mild stomach maladies and can decrease the inflammation associated with arthritis. Always check with your health care provider before self-treating with ginger.
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