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Ginger: The Benefits of & How to Use

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By Stacie Naczelnik


Ginger can be used in tons of ways.

Ginger is one of the foods that can give you a health punch because it is so full of healthy benefits for your body (and mind).

Fresh ginger is best, so it is a good idea to keep some around (see below for storage tips).


The Health Benefits of Ginger

  • Stimulates Digestion
  • Naturally Freshens Breath
  • Relieves Nausea, Including Dizzyness from Motion Sickness
  • Helps Lower Cholesterol
  • Relieves Gas and Bloating
  • Soothes Common Cold Symptoms, Including Respiratory Infections
  • Eases Menstrual Cramps
  • Relieves Headaces
  • Helps Stop Diarrhea
  • Believed to Have Anti-Cancer Properties


& Storing Ginger

When Storing Ginger:

Peel it & freeze it. I used to have to throw my fresh ginger out because it never stayed good long enough. Then, I stumbled upon this tip: Peel all of the ginger right when you get home. Wrap it in plastic and freeze until you are ready to use. Not only does it retain most of its freshness, but it is much easier to slice and grate when it is frozen.

Helpful Tips for Buying, Using,

When Buying Fresh Ginger:

Try to find ginger that is firm and has smooth skin. Try to avoid ginger with wrinkled skin, soft spots, or any mold.

When Using Ginger:

Ginger is most beneficial when grated or pressed in a garlic press. You can also slice it. I like to use a citrus zester to grate my ginger.

How Do You Use Ginger?

RSS for comments on this Hub

livelonger profile image

livelonger  says:
2 years ago

I like that tip about freezing ginger. Mine usually gets moldy or shriveled up.

Isabella Snow profile image

Isabella Snow  says:
2 years ago

Ginger scares me.. but you've made me want to try that tea!

Stacie Naczelnik profile image

Stacie Naczelnik  says:
2 years ago

Isabella: Why does it scare you? The tea is great...wishing I had some now: I sat by a sniffly girl on the bus. Livelonger: I about died and went to heaven when I learned the freezing tip. It's amazingly simple and convenient. I love never having to throw away moldy garlic, and it is sooooo much easier to use once it is frozen.

Isabella Snow profile image

Isabella Snow  says:
2 years ago

Cos every time Ive had it, it has felt extremely hot to me. I ate a small piece of it raw once and my mouth felt like it was on fire!

Stacie Naczelnik profile image

Stacie Naczelnik  says:
2 years ago

True, it has a bite to it! Especially raw. Maybe try integrating it, slowly, into cooked foods.

djsartin profile image

djsartin  says:
2 years ago

Our family loves ginger. One of the greatest additions to many dishes and helthy eating too! Thanks for the freezing tip, had never heard that before.

janfrance  says:
2 years ago

Peeling will remove some of the enzymes, better to sellect good quality ginger, wash it , dry, and put it inside the plastic bag and put it inside the ref. we use as tea in the morning and at night, what we do is we slice the ginger to pieces and blend it then boil for 5-7min, strain it and presto you got a nice fresh tea.

Enjoy the health benefit of it..

janfrance

James  says:
2 years ago

Good to read of the benefits of ginger. I juice carrots every morning to begin my day and it was suggested to me the other day to add ginger into the mix. So that's what I do~juice the ginger alongside my carrots. It's a great way to kick start the day.

GingerDildo  says:
2 years ago

just started to try ginger today, here in the philippines, we got too much smoke from fire crackers during the eve of december 31st, i got this insane cough and tried out ginger, so far its good.

Nereida  says:
2 years ago

I love ginger, help me warm my body when I feel cold but I want to know about the benefit of high pressure.

Evelyn Lim profile image

Evelyn Lim  says:
2 years ago

I certainly enjoy ginger tea. Great tip about taking it as a natural cold remedy!

Princessa profile image

Princessa  says:
2 years ago

I do love ginger in tea and soups and the caramelized ginger just drives me mad... love it...

Thanks for the storage tip, my gingers usually went off before I could finish them, now I will have no waste.

maricar dela calzada  says:
2 years ago

ginger helps my hig blood pressure low

TotalHealth profile image

TotalHealth  says:
2 years ago

I didn't realize it had so many purported health benefits. You've peaked my curiosity; going to start doing some research into ginger.

emma   says:
2 years ago

I am doing a science faie project and i want to do it about ginger. the info was great. theres not a lot of info about the way ginger treats high and low blood pressure.

Ty for everything

Mohammad  says:
2 years ago

Take a one inch cube of ginger and peel it. Then cut it into very thin slices. Eat the raw slices with your food. It will add some hot flavour to your food, if you like your food to be hot and spice.

cengiz  says:
2 years ago

nothing that i tried before was able to stop my appitite. i add ginger power into hot water and drink it all the time. in one week i lost 4 kgs. (from 114 to 110).

imommy profile image

imommy  says:
2 years ago

I love ginger. When I have a bad headache I just cant seem to get rid of, I boil a pot of water and cut-up ginger root for tea. Ginger is great if you are sick. I have noticed it cut my appetite down, so maybe it is a an appetite suprresant.

anita  says:
2 years ago

heya, ginger is brill! it has so many health benefits x

Nickey  says:
18 months ago

I got a recipe from a popular source to juice carrots, ginger, and apple. It took me a minute to get use to the bite of the ginger, but once i did its actually pretty good. I did not know ginger had so many benefits. Thanks for the advice.

Trudie  says:
18 months ago

The gym instructor mentioned that the best way to prevent colds and fly in winter is ginger in your food and ginger tea. I'm sure I can get used to the taste if I can benefit in a nuatural way. BIG WIN!

Greg  says:
17 months ago

I was have had high-blood pressure for over a year, taking doctor prescribed drugs to help lower it. After months of taking several different drugs (with side effects) and finding they did not work for me, I tried ginger and it works! My BP is lower than I remember it being in years. I love ginger!

solarstories profile image

solarstories  says:
17 months ago

Hi I just came across your hub while I was searching for information on ginger, as I am writing a blog post about it. I love ginger more than you can imagine. Ginger tea is one of my favorite drinks in the world, especially when mixed with peppermint. I use organic medicinal-quality herbs and the difference it makes is incredible. I also use it for stomach trouble, colds, flues et al. Great hub you have here and I am always glad to see people promoting natural remedies. We really don't need all the drugs and toxins.

DULCE TOLDA  says:
17 months ago

I LOVE SO MUCH GINGER AND NOW I AM SO GRATEFUL TO READ YOUR "BLOG"

THANKING YOU

sam  says:
15 months ago

the best way to have ur ginger is add ginger juice(2tsp) from crushed ginger+half cup orange juice(tropicana)+little less than a half cup sprite and crushed ice.....PERFECT WAY TO CUT UR APETITE!I LOST 6 POUNDS IN 2 WEEKS

Nicole  says:
13 months ago

I usually used ginger when cooking dishes, especially if its seafoods like fishes because it removes the unwanted smell on it.

I like that peeling and freezing strategy, its new to me.

Its very good also for soar throat problem

More power

samson buseni  says:
13 months ago

l like ginger becaues l want to reduce my cholesterol level which also reduce my high blood pressure and gererally to increase my immune system

Richard  says:
12 months ago

At sushi restaurants it's used all the time, said to be used to clean your palate between different fish, which is true but the deeper meaning is that it helps clean your mouth from the possible harmful bacteria that may be on the fish. Ginger is a definite mouth cleanser!

Wanda  says:
12 months ago

A man from Jamaca told me of the benefits of ginger and how to prepare it. I peel fresh ginger, slice it and put it in the food processor. When it is very fine I add almost an equal amount of sugar to draw out the extract. Put it in a jar and refrigerate it. The sugar preserves it. I use one teaspoon in a half cup Lipton tea. My husband gets the other half.

Linda  says:
12 months ago

Hello Sam:

I use ginger for cooking and in tea I am curious about the ginger + orange drink. You mentioned that you lost 6 lbs in 2 weeks.

My question to you is whether you have this drink twice a day or once a day and do you take it in the morning or evening. I am interested in losing weight, so I do appreciate your reply.

Thank you

Linda

Candi  says:
11 months ago

I have health problems and ginger really helps relieve my nausea! I make fresh ginger tea by boiling the root and putting a pinch of brown sugar in it just to taste for sweetness. The Ginger People also make a really great product called ginger chews. Ginger is a life saver for me!!!

Laura  says:
11 months ago

Ginger Gizer has really helped me with digestion, headaches and nausea. Plus I drink it when I want something other than water, it's very refreshing and has a zip. Finding out that it helps arthritis is good news too.

Anna  says:
11 months ago

Whenever I feel I am getting a cold - I grate a large (very large!) piece of ginger, put it in a pan, add about half a litre of water, large amount of honey to sweeten and limejuice and I let it warm up without boiling. It both tastes good and does good

lama  says:
11 months ago

Hi, i just wonder if i want to use ginger as a drink , is it better to soak the ginger with hot water or boil it.....

Faith  says:
10 months ago

I juice everyday and in each and every juice mix I make, I include a large chunk of ginger. It taste great. My favorites are green lemonade w/ romaine, spinach, kale, 2 apples, 1 lemon, and chunk of ginger. It is a great detox. Also, carrot, beet, apple, and ginger is delicious!!

soni  says:
10 months ago

few drops of ginger juice and mix it well with 1 tsp of honey and take it its very good for cough . take it few days

Ali Rafatjah  says:
10 months ago

No one mentioned the spice form of ginger that you can easily buy in the grocery. Sure, the fresh ginger is best peeled, grated and sliced, but if you're too lazy or don't want to bother, I'm sure it's worth having just a half teaspoon a day of the store bought kind. That should confer at least some benefits shouldn't it?

Fatima  says:
10 months ago

Ginger is a wonderful spice. It can be used in so many ways. Besides taking it in juice form with honey or tea for migraine, indigestion etc. It can also be juiced, mixed with some flour (wheat, cornflour or white plain flour), spread onto a strip of cloth and applied to the breast bone or back, to draw out the pain and infection. But make sure that you do not bathe or wet the patch where the ginger poultice was applied, for at least 24 hours.

timc  says:
9 months ago

where would one buy raw ginger? thanks

ron  says:
7 months ago

good info on ginger.good someone tell me if you can dry ginger into power form

Ilse Marais (South Africa)  says:
7 months ago

It really is interesting reading all your comments. I just love ginger tea and lemon. If fresh ginger is hard to come buy, will ginger powder have the same effect?

Hernando Antenor  says:
5 months ago

But can you or anyone recommend most appropriate amount/frequency to take per day say for people with high cholesterol? Thanks

nadia  says:
4 months ago

it's a mircacle plant, the best when you read enough about it

nancy randolph  says:
3 months ago

MY GRANDMOTHERS USED TO DRINK GINGER TEA WITH AN ASPIRIN EVERY NIGHT. SHE WAS NEVER SICK. SHE LIVED FOR 83 YEARS

Yajibreel  says:
2 months ago

I never new how good ginger is, untill I saw a presentation on TV. Since then I never want to let it go. I feel good when juice it or take it with hot tea.

samuel a.y. feyi  says:
5 weeks ago

I discover the use of ginger, garlic and orange juice. It is wonderful it relieves me cold high blood pressure and many other symptoms. It gives you the ability to sleep soundly and you are up you are fit for the days work.

cejaye  says:
2 weeks ago

Great info. Having immune system issues and looking at alternative/natural remedies instead of the tradtional steroid treaments.

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