For all I prefer to buy my fresh produce at a farm shop or farmers' market, I do appreciate the role that supermarkets have played in improving the variety in our diets, not to mention the convenience. Ginger, the root, is one of those foods that not too long ago, you would have to have hunted high and low for. Now it's available in every supermarket and if you are lucky enough to live in a culturally diverse area, in local convenience stores too.
In my local Waitrose, it's stocked alongside the lemongrass, coriander, garlic and chillies so you could be forgiven for thinking of it solely as just one ingredient in an oriental dish. When you consider all the wonderful properties this humble looking little root delivers, you might want to think again.
Ginger...
- Speeds up your metabolism.
- It's a warming food so grate it into juices or on salads in the winter.
- Its soothing antiseptic properties help the body handle the cold and wind.
- It's a natural remedy for morning and travel sickness. Something to do with the Gingerols
- It's great for the spleen.
Now I don't know about you, but up until about a year ago, I had absolutely no idea where the spleen was, what it did and why I should even care!
I mean, 'spleen'... it's not the most attractive of words is it? Sounds a bit nasty. But the thing is, it's really rather crucial if you want to benefit from a healthy diet. You see, for all it's a small organ, the spleen has many functions:
- #1 - It acts as a blood reservoir in times of emergency, for example, if we cut ourselves badly.
- #2 - It recycles worn out red blood cells by transforming them into iron in your blood.
- #3 - It's part of the immune system, it neutralizes unhealthy bacteria preventing colds and flus.
- #4 - It works with your stomach for the uptake of nutrients from the food we eat, so a worn out spleen means that even if you are eating healthy foods, you are not going to absorb them properly.
A tired spleen is very common indeed.
If you are prone to colds and flu the chances are your spleen is weak. Other signs that yours needs a bit of TLC would be wind, bloating and (I trust you've eaten) constantly loose and runny bowel movements ie. where no stool has formed.
Ginger is just one example of foods that nourish the spleen. Others are onions, leeks, garlic, cinnamon, fennel and anything high in chlorophyll eg. Kale and leafy greens. And try eating oats, rice or spelt for breakfast.
The main active ingredient in Ginger is thought to be a compound called gingerol, which helps to relax blood vessels and stimulate blood flow. Given that the spleen is so busy with our blood, it's no surprise that it benefits so much from ginger, which also appears to be effective in helping to lower blood pressure and reduce blood clotting (as an alternative to Aspirin).
I always have ginger in the fridge and use it in juices, salads, stir-fries, soups, marinades and dressings. My top tip - if it's just the juice you need, use a garlic press. Far less fiddly than grating it! Here's a recipe for Spinach Salad with Ginger Dressing - http://claireraikes.blogs.com/claires_blog/2005/06/spinach_salad_w.html.
Claire Raikes is a Wellbeing Coach, Speaker and Writer who 'cured' herself of a chronic, disabling and potentially life-threatening bowel condition without the use of steroids, surgery or any other traditional medical intervention. She now shares her passion for natural and vibrant health through coaching, speaking and writing about the importance and power of a truly healthy diet.
She publishes a free weekly eZine, In Essence and is compiling an eBook of Healthy Fast Food with 25% of the proceeds going to The Cancer Project, a charity set up by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and nutritionists to educate the public on the benefits of a healthy diet for cancer prevention and survival. If you have a recipe you would like to submit, visit http://www.liveinessence.com for further details. To book Claire to speak at your event, email her at http://www.liveinessence.com.
Airbnb cleaning service Glenview ..So, what is new about this that you already don't... Read More
Hi Readers,My message today is simple short and perhaps blunt... Read More
I'm willing to bet you probably haven't heard the word... Read More
Milk is highly underrated. Experts say, America finds itself in... Read More
"It is a bone-deep change you are going into, my... Read More
Most people understand that it is wise to limit the... Read More
THE RISKThe primary symptom of acid reflux is obvious to... Read More
So what's all the shake up about anyway?. To put... Read More
When I hear the word fat I usually think of... Read More
You may have heard of the "Portfolio Diet" wherein it... Read More
Get back to the basics - eat fresh at home... Read More
Did you know the average American gains 5-7 pounds every... Read More
I had finally come to a place in my life... Read More
The subject of health care itself often seems plagued with... Read More
Finally, a positive solution regarding America's difficult and costly campaign... Read More
How Can... Read More
Health is the thing. And no matter how many ways... Read More
Can the colors on your plate tell you what health... Read More
Despite the fact that accurate nutrition information can be accessed... Read More
The cry of "I have no willpower!" often emerges from... Read More
This free list of fat burning foods will help you... Read More
For most people, the concept of capsulized food? usually conjures... Read More
We know we need to eat a minimum of 5... Read More
Monosodium glutamate, commonly known as MSG, was thought of as... Read More
1. Enjoy what you eatWhether someone is following the Atkins... Read More
efficient cleaning crew Highland Park ..Your face turns flush and your skin starts to itch.... Read More
People want to get the very best they can when... Read More
Recently I found the book : "Eating and health according... Read More
Vitamins & Minerals are essential to sustain life. Its what... Read More
Constipation is a condition whereby the fecal matter traveling through... Read More
Enzymes are the workers in our body that make everything... Read More
Unhealthy eating is a harmful problem in America, and contrary... Read More
If you drop a bomb, you kill not only your... Read More
There are a lot of very good reasons to eat... Read More
Proper hydration is extremely important during exercise. Adequate fluid intake... Read More
I know that the headline is a oldie, but it... Read More
Here's something you probably don't know. The fruit and vegetables... Read More
Although you may have heard about soy and all of... Read More
Could it be possible that our beloved chocolate may actually... Read More
The Benefits of SnackingYou may feel regretful about snacking, but... Read More
Many people use sugar as medicine. Sugar tends to change... Read More
You may have noticed an ever-expanding choice of oils at... Read More
The ingredients list found on the back or side panel... Read More
According to the National Institute of Health, Magnesium is needed... Read More
You can trust me that I make sure to take... Read More
Studies on whey demonstrate it's an even better protein supplement... Read More
If you want to lose weight, there is one thing... Read More
What is your brain made ofOver 50% of your brain... Read More
FOOD (Macro-nutrients)One of the most important aspects of hill walking... Read More
Biological clockObviously you need biological clock to time and alarm... Read More
Nutrition |