Spice Rack Remedies! A Case for Ginger

Hello my dear Aalayam family!

I am back! And I promise the next few posts are going to be scintillating! I know you guys might have been expecting the Karmasuthra brand showcase and much awaited home tour (Yes!! it's a two post series) of the force behind Karmasuthra - Divya Thomas!

Well, you won't have to wait long. While we here at Aalayam are busy (and having a gala time) cranking out the upcoming two-post series, we thought we'd sneak in a quickie post! 

Here we are again, talking about house hold spices and their curative properties. You might fondly recall the cases made for Cardamom and Coriander and the gastronomic journeys we took with them! Today, let's put our hands together for Ginger in ....

Spice Rack Remedies!
What our kitchen counter might hold, to cure what ails us.

Ginger is one of the ancient, revered medicines of India and Asia. Popular medical journals say that Ginger's ability to combat a variety of diseases and conditions is due in part to its impact on excessive inflammation, which is a significant underlying cause of many illnesses.

Ginger is particularly useful in treating chronic inflammation because it partially inhibits two important enzymes that play a role in inflammation gone awry -- cyclooxygenase (COX) and 5-lipoxygenase (LOX). A 2010 study found that people who consumed two grams of Ginger daily for 11 days experienced about a 25 percent drop in exercise-induced muscle pain! All the more reason to eat curry before hitting the gym! Right?

Deemed as a super-food, Ginger helps combat nausea, and helps relieve stomach cramps and indigestion.  Scientists believe that through various processes in the digestive tract, including blocking serotonin receptors in the small intestine - Ginger can help keep us from throwing up. This is thought to be because of the spice’s high levels of gingerol; a powerful component that gives it its natural zingy flavor.

So, reach for that ginger tea, or just chew on a piece of candied ginger when you get a case of the tums or the gags! Trust me, it works.

Ginger’s current name comes from the Middle English "gingivere", but this spice dates back over 3000 years to the Sanskrit word "srngaveram", meaning “horn root,” based on its appearance. Indians and Chinese are believed to have produced ginger as a tonic root for over 5000 years to treat many ailments, and this plant is now cultivated throughout the humid tropics, with India being the largest producer. 

A popular food blog Food Matters quotes the following and I am happy to pass some juicy tips along!

Terrific Benefits of Ginger:

1. Haven’t been feeling hungry? Eat fresh ginger just before lunch to stoke a dull appetite and fire up the digestive juices.

2. Ginger clears the ‘microcirculatory channels’ of the body, including the pesky sinuses that tend to flare up from time to time.

3. Can’t stop the toot-a-thon? Gas—oops—guess what?! Ginger helps reduce flatulence!

4. Just had surgery? Chewing ginger post-operation can help overcome nausea.

5. Stir up some ginger tea to get rid of throat and nose congestion. And when there’s a nip in the air, the warming benefits of this tasty tea are even greater!

6. Bedroom blues? Try adding a gingery punch to a bowl of soup. (Psst...the Ayurvedic texts credit ginger with aphrodisiac properties) 

Fantastic right? I hope you enjoyed this post. Finally, I leave you with my favorite recipe for Ginger Fried Rice. Do try it and let me know how it turns out!! CANNOT go wrong with Ginger folks!

Love,
Supriya

P.S. Aalayam is proud to present the India Circus tray (remember The Grand Aalayam Giveaway, winner Preety!?) lovingly put to use to serve a scrumptious home cooked meal.  Preety is a food blogger, owns and writes in Preety's Kitchen. We love what she serves up!!