Food for Thought Ginger
Mickayla Hosking
Ginger, the wonderful and warming spice, is a rhizome that originates from Southeast Asia. The plant belongs to the same family as turmeric, cardamon and galangal. The flowering portion looks amazing during Spring and Summer. While you may know this plant largely for its use in the kitchen, did you also know that it can be a healing medicine too? In the world of a Naturopath, Ginger is used for it’s circulation boosting effects, it’s warming digestive properties, and to improve nausea. The active components of ginger include; zingiberene, ar-curcumene, beta-sesquiphellandrene, betabisabolene, and gingerols (this one is responsible for the ginger smell). Some of these components help ginger to be a great gastrointestinal aid. If you have an upset stomach, cramps or ate something that didn’t agree with you - a bit of ginger tea can work wonders! Not only does it actively encourage food breakdown by stimulating digestive enzymes, ginger also speeds up the processing time of your food. Meaning, it helps to move food out of your stomach a little bit faster and it’s antispasmodic effects help calm down muscle spasms in your digestive system (read: bloating, discomfort, diarrhoea). This same antispasmodic effect, in combination with it’s warming circulation promoting effect is also a home remedy for period cramps. Something you may not know about Ginger, is that it can also improve your blood lipid levels and may improve triglyceride levels. So if you or a loved one has high cholesterol, try including more ginger in your diet.
32 | Embrace
