HEALTH & FITNESS
superfood
ginger In addition to spiking your meals and drinks, this spicy rhizome is a saviour for myriad ailments, from motion VLFNQHVV WR WKH VQL̈HV 7U\ LW IRU \RXUVHOI %UHZ D FXS RI RXU KHDOLQJ WHD DQG UHDS JLQJHU¶V JROGHQ UHZDUGV TEXT AMANDA ETTY RECIPE THE TEST KITCHEN
THE BENEFITS
• Ginger is prized for its ability to help calm the digestive tract, reducing indigestion and nausea associated with morning sickness and motion sickness. Its active ingredients, gingerols and shogaols, neutralize stomach acids, which, in turn, prevents bloating.
• Studies show that daily consumption of anti-
inflammatory ginger (raw or cooked) can relieve joint stiffness and exercise-induced pain.
• Ginger helps boost your immune system since it may promote healthy perspiration, which can ward off germs. Fever and sweating are your body’s ways of kicking out an infection.
HOW TO USE FRESH GINGER Peel the thin outer layer using the edge of a spoon, then grate the flesh or slice it into matchsticks and add it to a smoothie, soup or stir-fry. To store, wrap unpeeled ginger in paper towel, then tightly pack it in a resealable bag; refrigerate it in the crisper for up to three weeks. Freeze one-tablespoon mounds of grated ginger for up to six months.
BEAUTY
NOTES
Z HERBIVORE Jasmine Green Tea
V SAJE Ginger-Aide Soothing Lemon Ginger Drops, $9, saje.com.
Incorporate antioxidant ginger into your personal-care routine.
Balancing Toner, $40, sephora.ca.
Y DR. BRONNER’S Organic Lip Balm in Orange Ginger, $6, well.ca.
Z SKINCEUTICALS Daily Moisture, $78, skinceuticals.ca.
58 | CANADIAN LIVING JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018
