Spice Up Your Day -- and Your Health

Posted Mon, Sep 17, 2007, 8:41 pm PDT

The irresistible aroma and pungent flavor of ginger perks up everything from carrot soup to stir-fries. But with fresh ginger, spicy-great taste is only the beginning. While it's best known for quelling queasy motion sickness, fresh ginger has also been shown to soothe a sour stomach, calm achy joints, lower cholesterol (one of the great ways to reduce your RealAge), thwart artery-clogging clots, kill ovarian cancer cells, quash inflammation, and -- maybe most impressive of all -- fend off the lethal common cold! Ample reason to try these quick and tasty recipes.

FIZZY REFRESHER
Try your hand at some homemade ginger ale -- you'll never buy the canned stuff again. This recipe from Ellen Michaud's The Healing Kitchen makes it so easy.

Homemade Ginger Ale
4 servings
4 tsp. fresh grated ginger
4 tsp. honey, or more to taste
2 cups seltzer water
Lemon slices
Ice

1. Finely chop or shred ginger in a food processor or with a hand grater. Boil 2 cups water and add the ginger. Cover and steep for 10 minutes. Strain.
2. Add honey.
3. Let cool to room temperature. Pour 1/2 cup in a glass. Add seltzer, a lemon slice, and ice. Stir and serve. Refrigerate any leftovers.
Per serving: 23 calories; 6g carbohydrate; 0g fat; 0g saturated fat; 0g fiber; 0mg cholesterol; 25mg sodium

THE BEST DIGESTIF
Sipping fresh ginger tea after a hearty meal helps food go down easier. And it tastes great! "The most effective -- and least expensive -- way to brew a cup of ginger tea is to grate two teaspoons of fresh ginger into a cup of just-boiled water," writes Michaud. Steep for 10 minutes, strain, and serve.

NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS
Don't wait for the holidays to bake this sweet favorite. This low-fat treat from EatingWell makes a healthy desert or snack any time of the year.

Old-Fashioned Ginger Bread
12 servings
1½ cups whole-wheat pastry flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. ground ginger or 4 tsp. finely chopped fresh ginger
1½ tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. salt
1 large egg
½ cup packed dark brown sugar
¼ cup canola oil
1 cup applesauce
½ cup buttermilk

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an 8-by-11 ½-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
2. Whisk both flours, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
3. Place egg, sugar, and oil in a large bowel. Beat with an electric mixer on high speed until thick and creamy. Reduce speed to low and beat in molasses and applesauce.
4. With a rubber spatula, gently mix reserved dry ingredients and buttermilk into egg mixture, making 3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 additions of buttermilk. (Do not overmix.)
5. Scrape batter into prepared pan. Bake until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Let cool slightly in the pan on a wire rack. Serve warm.
Per serving: 243 calories; 5g fat (1g sat); 18mg cholesterol; 47g carbohydrates, 3g protein, 2g fiber, 128mg sodium

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190 Comments

1. Posted by Pam on Thu, Sep 20, 2007, 10:59 am PDT

Instruction #3 mentions adding molasses yet it's not listed in the ingredents. How much molasses is needed?
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2. Posted by True Her on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:18 pm PDT

We've been using ginger in our culture for medical purposes for years. I was always hesitate, but I'm glad this article sorta makes my hesitation disappear.
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3. Posted by L on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:19 pm PDT

Maybe 1/2 c. molasses or less. Use cup you measure oil in for easier release.
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4. Posted by E1 on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:20 pm PDT

They also say that ginger helps with calming morning sickness
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5. Posted by Chauni on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:20 pm PDT

Sounds great!!!!! Will try soon as I can find Ginger in MD.
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6. Posted by Charles J on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:21 pm PDT

YOu should NEVER heat honey nor add it to hot beverages. According to Ayurvedic medicine, it is one of the worst things you can ingest and stays in the system for years.
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7. Posted by Richie Rich on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:21 pm PDT

I would guess 1 tablespoon. See what it tastes like. If its to strong then reduce.
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8. Posted by addy_2002 on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:22 pm PDT

I love ginger!!!!!! I used it to fight off a cold and cough recently. Its great to have this food is your diet. Do not sleep on it!!!! I might try the homemade ginger ale.
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9. Posted by Richie Rich on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:24 pm PDT

Charles...Where did you hear that from? Where can I find out about that? I think your wrong!
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10. Posted by TheScienceIsRight.com on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:24 pm PDT

This is good information. If you are interested in natural health remedies go to cliniquescience.com. It is awesome!!!!
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11. Posted by lightyoung24 on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:25 pm PDT

hi
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12. Posted by waterfall11224455 on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:26 pm PDT

Koul
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13. Posted by nicki l on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:26 pm PDT

hmm idk if thats true about heating honey charles. My parents have honey bees and we have to heat it to make it the liquid form or else it would be hard as a rock. Also dont doctors tell you to use honey in your tea when your sick with a cold??
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14. Posted by Steve and Angela on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:26 pm PDT

There is a Jamaican drink called ginger beer. You mix ginger, sigar, cinnamon, and maybe a little lemon joice. You have to use enough ginger and steep it long enough (I usually boil and steep it for a couple of days). If you do it right, it'll burn your throat like hot pepper, but after a week you'll feel better in every way. Ginger also has an effect of improving circulation, thus acting as a natural Viagra.
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15. Posted by yzakaria24 on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:26 pm PDT

cool sounds delicous
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16. Posted by cenmaxxfinancial on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:27 pm PDT

Add a few sliced fresh ginger with your stir fried dishes.
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17. Posted by typhoontwink on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:28 pm PDT

I have used ginger for all sorts of things for years. Reason being that when I was married to my 2nd husband I read up on ginger and was amazed to see how many ailments it could ease. I cook with ginger these days and never pass up a chance to eat the pickled ginger that comes with sushi.
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18. Posted by BeTheBuddha on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:28 pm PDT

Ginger is great for motion sickness - always have candied ginger on hand for that - easily portable. I've heard you shouldn't eat ginger when you're pregnant or at least not too eat too much ginger.
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19. Posted by romans1620 on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:28 pm PDT

edit #3 under the Ginger Bread recipe: Place egg, sugar, and oil in a large bowel.
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20. Posted by just_testing_this_thingout on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:28 pm PDT

My mother had diarrhea for several weeks. Lab tests were done, her doctors couldn't help. We started her on ginger tea, ever since the first cup she was regular. We simply boiled thin slices of ginger root, adjusted for flavor, for about 20 minutes, strained into a cup and added 1 splenda or sugar and enjoyed hot. We give her a cup a day. Plus the aroma of the tea is wonderful. I am a big believer in the power of ginger.
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21. Posted by trstnnikol on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:29 pm PDT

THAT LOOKS LIKE THE REMEDY FOR HER MOTHER'S COMPLICATED PREGNANCY IN "PAN'S LABYRINTH" (GREAT MOVIE BY GUILLERMO DEL TORO, FORMALLY KNOWN AS EL LABERINTO DEL FAUNO)
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22. Posted by chienpingwang on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:29 pm PDT

Please show us the scientific proof. What in the ginger contributes to the listed magical effects? Sincerely,
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23. Posted by Hot Redhead on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:29 pm PDT

More Ginger? Does this include the one on Gilligan's Island?
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24. Posted by arvind k on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:30 pm PDT

Try eating ginger paste with some sugar and lime.....its good for health..............
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25. Posted by MugBug on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:30 pm PDT

This is good to know. I personally use ginger for an upset stomach and it helped a lot. More articles and recipes about ginger should be shared!
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26. Posted by Marian G on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:31 pm PDT

I'm going to make the homemade ginger ale. I've been sick for over a week now, i hope it works for me. Thank You for the info!!
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27. Posted by ni k on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:31 pm PDT

i dont like the taste because it taste like soap but i'll give it a go.
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28. Posted by tabkat_9 on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:31 pm PDT

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29. Posted by typhoontwink on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:31 pm PDT

I am puzzled by Charles statement in regards to honey. My late step father used it in hot tea whenever he got a cold which fortunately was not very often. I would like to know the basis for what Charles said. Also, Chauni, you can find ginger in your local supermarket or you could go to any of the asian food markets. Hope that helps.
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30. Posted by FireFox on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, 2:32 pm PDT

remember with anything... use in moderation! too much of good thing, well, isn't so good.
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