Healthy Eating- Ginger

Ginger is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used as a spice and a folk medicine. It is a herbaceous perennial which grows annual pseudostems about one meter tall bearing narrow leaf blades. 

Scientifically Called: Zingiber officinale

Rank: Species

GINGER 

Ginger lends its zing to sweet and savory dishes and drinks across a wide range of cuisines. In Ghana cooking you will find fresh ginger root in many meat, seafood, and vegetable dishes, even in local tea. In Western cooking, ground ginger often flavors cookies, quick breads, and drinks such as ginger ale, tea, and coffee. It is also very common to find ginger in Caribbean dishes.

Varieties of Ginger

Ginger has different uses depending on the form and variety.

Ground ginger, also referred to as powdered, is the dried and ground ginger root. It is readily available in standard supermarkets and is used primarily in sweets and curry mixes.

Fresh ginger is available in two forms: young and mature. The young roots are also called green or spring ginger. They have a pale, thin skin that requires no peeling, is very tender and has a milder flavor. It can be grated, chopped, or julienned for use.

Cooking With Ginger

Mature fresh ginger must be peeled and then grated or chopped, while young ginger does not need to be peeled. It is added to food during cooking. 

Benefits 

1. It can reduce your risk of diabetes.
2. It's a natural way to relieve period pain.
3. It's an anti-inflammatory. 
4. It can settle an upset stomach. 
5. It can also curb morning sickness. 
6. It may help prevent heart disease. 
7. It may lower your risk of cancer.

Some side effects of ginger may include:

• It may increased bleeding tendency.
• It may cause abdominal discomfort.
• cardiac arrhythmias (if overdosed)
• central nervous system depression (if overdosed)
• dermatitis (with topical use)
• diarrhea.
• heartburn.
• When too much taken, it may cause mouth or throat irritation.