It's a Ginger thing.

No, I"m not talking about red-heads...I'm talking about that wonderfully spicy herb in the produce section of your local grocery store!

Ginger is often used to aid digestion, as well as to treat nausea, gas, diarrhea, acid indigestion, as well as general stomach upset.   While ginger has such a positive effect on nearly every stomach ailment you can think of (from morning sickness to chemotherapy stomach upset), it has several other benefits.  Ginger has a warming effect that can be helpful when suffering from the common cold.  It is said to decrease cholesterol, increase cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure, as well as to treat arthritis.  It is also has an overall detoxifying effect, which makes it a great addition to your diet to counteract all the toxins we come in contact with/inhale/ingest during our day.

Try a delicious ginger tea after dinner or when you are feeling under the weather.  Simply slice up about an inch of root, pour hot water over it and steep for 5-10 mins.  Strain out the ginger, add a splash of lemon juice and a dollop of honey...and enjoy.

Want another delicious way to use ginger?  Try these yummy cookies!

TRIPLE GINGER COOKIES
2C  AP flour                                         ¼ C molasses

2 tsp baking soda                                1 egg

1 tsp ground ginger                            1 TBSP minced fresh ginger  

½ tsp salt                                             1 TBSP minced crystalized ginger

¾ C  margarine                                               if using hard version from spice                                                                             rack, soak in boiling water to      1 ¼ C sugar, divided                                       soften                                                                              

Sift flour, baking soda, ground ginger and salt into medium bowl.  Melt margarine in small saucepan, pour into large bow and cool.  Add 1 cup sugar, molasses and egg; mix well.  Add flour mixture, mix well.  Add other gingers and mix until just blended.  Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.  Heat oven to 375F.  Line baking sheet with parchment paper.  Form 1 inch balls, roll in sugar, place 3” apart.  Bake 8-12 minutes.  (8 mins for chewy, up to 12 for very crisp)

These are the best ginger cookies I have ever had!!!  Give them a try!

There are many ways to use ginger in your diet: from the recipes above, to adding it to salad dressings or throwing some in your rice or in a stir-fry.  Experiment.  Just keep in mind that ginger has a strong flavor, so start out sparingly, you can always add more.

Today, make nourishing yourself a priority.
-Tracy