Skip to content

Travel Blogger, Copywriter, Entrepreneur

menu
Svet's Travel Guides
Svet's Travel Guides
  • Lifestyle
    • Bulgarian Delicacies
    • Superfoods
  • Travel
    • Asia
      • China
      • Turkey
      • U.A.E.
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Bulgaria
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Serbia
      • Spain
    • U.S.A.
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Travel Projects
  • Motivation
    • Interviews
  • Quizzes
    • General
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Europe
  • About
  • Lifestyle chevron_right
    • Bulgarian Delicacies
    • Superfoods
  • Travel chevron_right
    • Asia chevron_right
      • China
      • Turkey
      • U.A.E.
    • Europe chevron_right
      • Austria
      • Bulgaria
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Serbia
      • Spain
    • U.S.A.
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Travel Projects
  • Motivation chevron_right
    • Interviews
  • Quizzes chevron_right
    • General
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Europe
  • About
search
Home » Blog » Ginger – the Spicy Panacea
Ginger

Ginger – the Spicy Panacea

Home » Blog » Ginger – the Spicy Panacea

access_time September 22, 2015January 27, 2019 account_box Svet folder_open Superfoodslabel Condiment, Ginger, Healthy Living, Panacea, Spice remove_red_eye 7840 Views

“Everything good is found in ginger.” Indian proverb

 

There are several foods I regard as panaceas – Aloe Vera, garlic, turmeric, and ginger. Today I am going to dwell on the last one. But before I start, I would briefly explain what panacea means. In Greek mythology,
Panacea (or Panakeia) was the Goddess of Universal Remedy. According to Dictionary.com, a panacea is regarded as the answer or the remedy to all difficulties or diseases, or in a nutshell – a cure-all (what it literally means in Latin).

A Spice, a Condiment or a Food in Itself

The fragrant, pungent and piquant ginger is one of the world’s healthiest foods. The tender rhizomes are juicy and fleshy, while the mature roots are fibrous and dry. Its flesh ranges from yellow through red to yellow, depending on its variety. Ginger (or Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is widely used across Asian cuisine – Indian and Chinese, in particular. Having myself been to China a couple of times, I have seen them using it in meals ranging from salads through main courses to various desserts. Chinese people usually refer to it as “a Chinese medicine”, but do not get offended too quickly as they say that for many things, which are extensively used in the Middle Kingdom but originate somewhere else.

In Ayurveda and Hinduism, it is a fire plant, considered a food of the fire god Agni who lives in the belly of people (Manipura chakra) and helps not only the digestion but also positively influences the emotions, eroticism and sexuality. It is believed that those who feed their fire god with ginger, will have a very active sexual energy.

Health Benefits of Ginger

In addition to the excellent taste that it adds to a meal, it has a long history for the use of its medicinal properties:

  • Thanks to its functional ingredients – gingerols, shogaol, and paradols – it could be consumed to prevent various types of cancers.
  • Ginger is also known to be beneficial for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, although studies are hesitating in their support. It is also a widespread cure for nausea taking place during pregnancy.
  • If ginger is consumed right before exercise, it could relieve occurring quadriceps muscle pain due to its anti-inflammatory effects which are further to be researched for humans.
  • Along with its anti-inflammatory properties, another study suggests ginger has antioxidant, anti-platelet, and other effects in treating cardiovascular diseases.
  • Other diseases that this panacea could successfully treat include bronchitis, cough, diarrhoea, dysentery, flatulence, heartburn, infections, and loss of appetite.
  • Ayurvedic and Chinese herbal medicines also commend ginger for its ability to improve food digestion.
  • Zingiber officinale helps against depression and high cholesterol too.

Of course, as any other thing in this world – if it is excessively consumed, side effects might occur. Different people’s bodies react in their own way to certain spices, so if you have never eaten ginger, try a little and see how your body responds. I also suggest consulting a doctor if you have some specific conditions.

Selection and Storing of Ginger

It goes without saying that fresh ginger is preferred to its dried form because it is not only stronger in flavour, but also has a high content of gingerol and active protease (the compound that helps with anti-inflammation). When buying the root, ensure that it is firm and not moulded.

Although most supermarkets offer ginger powder, a great idea is to visit the local spice stores around you. Usually, their freshness and quality outstrip those in supermarkets. Personally, I like regular powder, but organic is also an option. There are other forms in which the spicy panacea is sold – pickled, crystallised or candied. I have tried the candied version and the sugar, which the small chunks of ginger are coated into, takes away a bit of the strong, pungent taste. A tastier, and healthier, option would be to combine the ginger with honey instead of sugar.


How about a chocolate with this spicy panacea?

More from this category

Ginger
Ginger – the Spicy Panacea
Turmeric
Turmeric – a Wondrous Condiment with a Host of Health Benefits
Garlic - the Stinking Rose
Garlic – the Stinking Rose
The Wondrous Guava Superfruit
Guava – the Tropical Superfruit
Hemp Seeds – the Best Source of Protein

Be the Most Travel-Savvy Person Among Your Friends

Let’s mingle

facebook facebook facebookfacebook

My Topics

  • Asia (2)
  • Austria (1)
  • Bulgaria (12)
  • Bulgarian Delicacies (5)
  • China (7)
  • Europe (3)
  • Germany (1)
  • Health and Living (5)
  • Hotel Reviews (2)
  • Interviews (17)
  • Italy (1)
  • Motivation (19)
  • Serbia (1)
  • Spain (7)
  • Superfoods (9)
  • Travel (3)
  • Travel Projects (7)
  • Turkey (1)
  • U.A.E. (5)
  • U.S.A. (5)

Post Navigation

Tarahumara – the Superhumans
Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Featured Image, Credit Flickr, At night
Emirates Palace – Jumping beyond Luxury

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published.

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

mode_comment No Comments on Ginger – the Spicy Panacea
Like

Recent Posts

  • Young Entrepreneurs Talk – Nomadic Matt
  • 188 Spain Travel Tips – the Ultimate Guide
  • 166 Bulgaria Travel Tips: The Ultimate Guide
  • 151 China Travel Tips – the Ultimate Guide
  • 3 Days in Barcelona – the Heaven of Architecture

Recent Comments

  • Svet on 166 Bulgaria Travel Tips: The Ultimate Guide
  • Rosana Calgary on 166 Bulgaria Travel Tips: The Ultimate Guide
  • Svet on 188 Spain Travel Tips – the Ultimate Guide
  • Пано Кондоянис on 188 Spain Travel Tips – the Ultimate Guide
  • Svet on Bulgaria – the Sacred Land of Yoghurt
[instagram-feed id=3014151890]
Svetoslav Dimitrov Copyright® 2015-2021 Terms of Services | Privacy Policy
keyboard_arrow_up

Pin It on Pinterest

Shares
Share This
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Find more information in Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.I agreeNo