1. A Great Natural Energy Booster
The ginger root (Zingiber Officinale), a staple of Chinese medicine for centuries, has gained popularity in alternative circles for its many healing properties. This spicy, invigorating plant root can be sprinkled on food, used as a condiment with sushi and brewed as a tea to counteract many health conditions, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and to strengthen the immune system. Ginger contains potassium, copper, magnesium and Vitamin B6, and there are only 19 calories in a typical ginger root.
2. Look in the Produce Section
Buy fresh ginger root at your local health food store. Some of the bigger supermarket chains may also stock it in their produce sections. It's a knotty white root, but look for smooth ones to brew the best tea. Keep the root in a dark, dry part of your kitchen cabinet or in your fridge to preserve it until use. Store it in the freezer if you won't use it for a few months.
3. Easy to Prepare
Take 2 inches of ginger root and wait until it reaches room temperature if you've stored it in the refrigerator. Peel the brownish skin, and then slice the ginger into thin pieces. Boil 4 cups of water in a small pot or teakettle. Add the ginger, and let the tea simmer for 20 minutes. Let it steep for 5 minutes or a bit longer if you like strong tea. Then strain it and serve, adding lemon or honey to taste. You can drink the tea hot or cold. The ginger retains its medicinal properties either way, and it tastes the same.
4. Some Brewing Variations
You can prepare ginger tea and store the hot brewed tea in a glass jug in your fridge. However, if you prefer to make a cup at a time, use 2 teaspoons of grated ginger for each cup of boiled water, or 3 teaspoons for a stronger flavor. Stir in a few pinches of brown sugar after brewing for a slightly different taste.
5. Soothe Ailments With Ginger Tea
To calm a nervous stomach, add milk to the ginger tea. A pregnant woman can drink a half-cup of ginger tea to stave off morning sickness, but talk to your doctor first, since consuming too much ginger during pregnancy may cause more problems than it solves. Drink hot ginger tea with lemon to dissolve phlegm in your throat when you have a bad head cold or sinusitis.
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