Ginger is a flowering plant native to Southeast Asia, probably first introduced by the Austronesian peoples. It is a herbaceous perennial, producing annual pseudostems (false stems formed from the bases of rolled leaves) about a metre tall with narrow leaf blades. The inflorescence bears pale yellow flowers with purple-edged petals, which arise directly from the rhizome (rootstock, the underground part of the stem) on separate shoots. It is one of the healthiest (and most delicious) herbs on the planet. It belongs to the Zingiberaceae family and is closely related to turmeric, cardamom and galangal. The rhizome is the part that is commonly used as a spice. Ginger can be used fresh, dried, powdered, as an oil or as a fruit juice. It is a very common ingredient in recipes and is sometimes added to processed foods and cosmetics.
Low in calories, 10 grams of fresh ginger contains:
– 4 calories
– 0.2 g protein
– 0.1 g fat
– 0.8 g carbohydrate
– 0.2 g fibre
Since ancient times, people have used ginger for cooking and in medicine. It is a popular home remedy for various health problems.
Here are 11 health benefits of ginger, backed by scientific research.
1. It contains gingerol, which has powerful medicinal properties
Ginger is high in gingerol, which has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties
2. It can treat many forms of nausea, especially morning sickness
Just 1-1.5 grams of ginger can help prevent a variety of nausea, including chemotherapy-related nausea, post-operative nausea and morning sickness.
3. May help you lose weight
Studies in animals and humans have shown that ginger may help improve weight-related measurements. This includes body weight and waist-to-hip ratio.
4. May help with osteoarthritis (arthritis)
There are studies that show that ginger is effective in reducing the symptoms of osteoarthritis, particularly joint wear in the knee.
5. Can drastically lower blood sugar levels and improve risk factors for heart disease
Ginger has been shown to lower blood sugar levels and improve risk factors for various heart diseases in type 2 diabetes.
6. May help treat chronic indigestion
Ginger appears to speed up gastric emptying, which may be beneficial for people with indigestion and stomach-related discomfort.
7. It can significantly reduce menstrual pain
Ginger appears to be very effective against menstrual pain when taken at the onset of menstruation.
8. May help lower cholesterol levels
There is some evidence from both human and animal studies that ginger consumption can lead to significant reductions in LDL (bad) cholesterol, total cholesterol and blood triglyceride levels.
9. It contains a substance that may help prevent cancer
Ginger contains gingerol, which has a protective effect against cancer. However, more research is needed.
10. May improve brain function and protect against Alzheimer’s disease
Animal studies suggest that ginger may protect against age-related brain damage. It may also help improve brain function in middle-aged women.
11. May help fight infections
Ginger can fight harmful bacteria and viruses, which can reduce the risk of infections.
To sum up, ginger is packed with nutrients and bioactive compounds that have huge benefits for the body and brain. It’s one of the few superfoods that truly deserves the term.
This is the easiest way to remove the peel
Peeling ginger is necessary if it is slightly older or not from an organic farm. We’ll show you why this is the case and the easiest way to remove the peel.
So when is ginger peeling necessary and when is it not?
Ginger is also considered to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. But most of the active ingredients are found just under the skin. For this reason, it is better to process ginger directly rather than peeling it. Simply wash it well, cut it up and make your own ginger tea.
– Organic, organically grown ginger does not need to be peeled as it is guaranteed not to have been treated with synthetic chemical pesticides. However, they must be thoroughly washed and cleaned with a vegetable brush.
– If the ginger is slightly older, remove the skin. Older pieces often have a woody taste and this taste can easily transfer to food, tea, lemonade, etc.
– If it comes from traditional agriculture, the ginger should be peeled. It has probably been treated with chemicals.
– You can plant the ginger yourself. It is worthwhile, for example, if the ginger is sprouting or if you cannot use all of it.
Removing the skin from the ginger is often not so easy, as the shape of the ginger and the many sprouts make peeling difficult. How is the easiest:
– The easiest way is to use a vegetable peeler.
– If you prefer to use a kitchen knife, you can just use it to scrape off the peel. The skin of a fresh ginger is very thin and the flesh of the ginger is tough, so scraping will go without a problem and will not remove the valuable substances just under the skin.
– You can easily remove the soft, thin skin with just a teaspoon. Hold the spoon firmly and simply scrape away the skin with the edge. You can get into all the hard-to-reach places and there’s no risk of damage.
A few tips for storing ginger to keep it fresh for longer
Most dishes only need a small piece of fresh ginger, so you usually can’t use some of the ginger you buy. Here are some tips for storing ginger to keep it fresh for a long time.
1.tip: Do not buy too much ginger
It sounds simple, but it’s true. It’s easy, but simple. Don’t buy too much ginger at once. Most recipes only need a few slices, the rest are often forgotten and end up in the bin. So before buying, think about how much ginger you need and how you want to use it.
If you want to enjoy fresh ginger as long as possible, don’t buy old tubers. Old ginger is very difficult to store. Fresh goods can be identified by the fact that the tuber feels firm and heavy. Ginger that is no longer as dewy has a softer, wrinkled skin.
2.tip: Store outside the refrigerator
If fresh ginger tubers are still unpeeled and uncut, they can be stored outside the fridge in a dark, cool place. The best place for this is a cool pantry. Fresh ginger can be stored there for several weeks. Before placing them here, wrap them completely in a paper towel and place them in a tightly sealable box or paper bag.
3.tip: Store sliced in the refrigerator
If you want to store the sliced ginger in the fridge, make sure it is as compact as possible. There is high humidity in the fridge, which encourages food to mould.
1.option 3: To prevent the surface of the ginger from drying out too much, cover it with reusable beeswax cloths instead of plastic or aluminium foil. Place the fully wrapped ginger in a sealable box or paper bag and then in the refrigerator.
2.option 3: Alternatively, you can lightly dampen a tea towel and wrap the ginger in it and place it in the fridge with the other vegetables.
Using these methods, you can keep sliced ginger fresh in the fridge for up to three weeks.
4.tip: Freeze fresh ginger
If you always want to have a portion of fresh ginger on hand, you can freeze it. Here are two ways to do it. Ginger processed in this way will keep for around 3-6 months in the freezer.
1. ginger stacks
o Peel the ginger and grate it finely.
o Shape into small mounds with a spoon.
o Place these mounds on a plate and place the plate in the freezer.
o Once the mounds have set, remove them from the plate and wrap them up one by one and return them to the freezer.
2. ginger slices
o Peel the ginger.
o Cut them into strips or slices to your liking.
o Place in a freezer container and freeze.
5.tip: Plant in a pot
Ginger is one of those plants that can grow back on its own. Ginger is one of the few plants that can be planted in pots. Ginger pieces that have been planted will sprout and form reed-like plants. After a while you can harvest fresh ginger tubers for kitchen use.
6.tip: Preserve by pickling
In order to prevent ginger from spoiling quickly, becoming overripe and drying out, you can also pickle the ginger. Peeled and sliced or grated ginger pickled in a vinegar solution will keep for up to six months. Pickled ginger is particularly popular in sushi dishes.
Planting ginger: what to consider when growing
Even though ginger is not native to our country, it is not difficult to plant, there are just a few things to consider when growing it.
Why plant ginger yourself?
Ginger not only has a unique flavour, but it also has many health benefits. You can get them in almost any supermarket, but the ones you buy there have come a long way. You’re unlikely to find much fresher ginger than the ginger you grow yourself. Moreover, it grows back again and again.
To plant ginger, we’ll need:
– a piece of ginger with a vegetable knot
– a pot or pot/pot
– organic potting soil
– fresh-keeping foil or alternatively a glass
– a piece of rubber or string
– a sharp knife
How to plant ginger?
It’s important to use ginger that is as fresh and firm as possible so that it will still be able to sprout.
1. Cut the ginger root into pieces about 5 cm wide. Make sure that each piece has what is known as a ‘plant knot’, otherwise the roots will not sprout without it. The cells will later disperse in these plant nodes and the plant will be able to grow further in these places.
2. Take the pieces and place them cut side down in a pot filled with potting soil.
3. Cover them thinly with potting soil.
4. If you want to speed up the germination process, you can build a mini greenhouse by covering the pot with foil and securing it to the pot with a rubber band. However, to be environmentally friendly, we recommend that you place a glass of the right size upside down in the potting soil where you planted the tuber. All that matters is that there is sufficient moisture, so once the first shoots have appeared, remove the glass or the foil.
5. Make sure the plant is in a warm and bright place, but out of direct sunlight.
6. If watered regularly with water poor in lime, your plant will flower quickly and can grow to 60-120 cm.
Harvesting: when the leaves turn yellow, our tubers have reached their typical intense flavour and can be dug up.
Making ginger tea
Ginger tea is easy to make. It has a positive effect on colds, travel sickness, migraines and digestive problems.
– Wash the ginger root well.
– Do not peel the ginger. The peel contains many important ingredients that make ginger so healthy.
– Cut off a piece about 3-5 cm long. Cut the piece into thin slices or grate it finely with a grater.
– Put it in a large cup and pour boiling water over it.
– Leave to stand for about 10 minutes and it is ready. Once grated, you can strain it if you like.
You can flavour it with honey or freshly squeezed lemon juice, which will give you even more vitamin C and boost your immune system even more.
But various herbs can also add a special flavour to homemade ginger tea:
– peppermint
– thyme
– lemongrass
– curry
– rosemary
Common mistakes in preparation:
Even if it’s not a great art to make your own ginger tea, avoid these mistakes:
– Chopping the ginger too early: to avoid losing the valuable ingredients, cut the tuber just before use.
– Incorrect water temperature: ginger tea should be made with boiling water – unlike green tea, for example, which only needs a temperature of 60-90 degrees Celsius.
– Peeling the ginger: as mentioned above, there are valuable components in the skin that are lost during the peeling process.
– Bad ginger: It would be important to use organic ginger, especially since we should use the peel. Otherwise, pesticides can get into our tea.
How to make homemade ginger ale?
Ginger oil, used externally, not only awakens the spirit, but also promotes blood circulation and helps relax the muscles thanks to the ginger it contains. Best of all, you can easily make it yourself.
Ginger oil ingredients and recipe:
You need the following ingredients to make it:
– 250 ml organic olive oil
– 100 g of fresh ginger
– olive oil 250 g olive oil 100 g olive oil 100 g of olive oil 100 g of olive oil 100 g of olive oil
– 100 g olive oil 100 g olive oil fresh olive oil
– glass
– dense filter
1. Peel the ginger thoroughly
2. Grate into an ovenproof dish
3. Add the olive oil and mix well
4. Place the pan in the oven and bake at a low temperature (approx. 60 degrees) for 2 hours
5. Strain the finished oil into a clean jar
6. Leave to stand in the jar for two weeks before using
Ginger oil will keep for up to six months.
Ginger oil can be used externally in various ways:
– poultice
– aromatic bath
– massage oil diluted with other oils
It should be noted here that home remedies are not necessarily suitable for everyone. For example, ginger oil used as a massage oil can cause skin irritation if not properly diluted. If in doubt, consult your doctor.
The correct proportions for a massage oil diluted with essential oil are: for every 100 ml of base oil (a good quality, preferably natural oil such as coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil or almond oil), add 10-20 drops of essential oil.
Ginger pickling, delicious sushi ginger recipe
Along with soy sauce and wasabi, pickled ginger (called gari) is an absolutely essential ingredient for sushi. The good news for sushi lovers is that you can easily make this ingredient yourself at home.
– 400 gr fresh ginger
– 200 ml rice vinegar (available in larger supermarkets or Asian shops)
– 4 tablespoons of sugar
– 8 tablespoons of water
– 2 teaspoons salt
1. Peel the ginger and cut into thin slices. It is easier to use a vegetable slicer.
2. Roll out the slices and sprinkle with salt. Leave them like this for about an hour.
3. Bring the rice vinegar to the boil with the sugar and a little water in a saucepan.
4. In another pan, bring a little water to the boil and briefly blanch (cook for a few minutes) the ginger slices.
5. Add the blanched and well drained slices to the vinegar.
6. Place the slices in a clean, screw-top jar with the vinegar.
7. Let stand for at least a week before using.
It will keep in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.