 |
Spice Up Your Day -- and Your Health
Spice Up Your Day -- and Your Health
The irresistible aroma and pungent flavor of ginger perks up everything from carrot soup to stir-fries. But with fresh ginger, spicy-great taste is only the beginning. While it's best known for quelling queasy motion sickness, fresh ginger has also been shown to soothe a sour stomach, calm achy joints, reduce cholesterol (one great way to lower your RealAge), thwart artery-clogging clots, kill ovarian cancer cells, quash inflammation, and -- maybe most impressive of all -- fend off the common cold! Ample reason to try these quick and tasty recipes.
Fizzy Refresher
Try your hand at some homemade ginger ale -- you'll never buy the canned stuff again. This recipe from Ellen Michaud's The Healing Kitchen makes it so easy:
Homemade Ginger Ale (serves 4)
4 teaspoons fresh grated ginger
4 teaspoons honey, or more to taste
2 cups seltzer water
Lemon slices
Ice
1. Finely chop or shred ginger in a food processor or with a hand grater. Boil 2 cups water and add the ginger. Cover and steep for 10 minutes. Strain.
2. Add honey.
3. Let cool to room temperature. Pour 1/2 cup into a glass. Add seltzer, a lemon slice, and ice. Stir and serve. Refrigerate any leftovers.
Per serving: 23 calories, 6 grams carbohydrate, 0 grams fat (0 grams sat.), 0 grams fiber; 0 milligrams cholesterol, 25 milligrams sodium
The Best Digestive
Sipping fresh ginger tea after a hearty meal helps food go down easier. And it tastes great! "The most effective -- and least expensive -- way to brew a cup of ginger tea is to grate two teaspoons of fresh ginger into a cup of just-boiled water," writes Michaud. Steep for 10 minutes, strain, and serve.
Not Just for Christmas
Don't wait for the holidays to bake this sweet favorite. This low-fat treat from EatingWell makes a healthy desert or snack any time of the year:
Old-Fashioned Ginger Bread (serves 12)
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger or 4 teaspoons finely chopped fresh ginger
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
1 cup molasses
1 cup applesauce
1/2 cup buttermilk
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat an 8x11-1/2-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
2. Whisk both flours, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
3. Place egg, sugar, and oil in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on high speed until thick and creamy. Reduce speed to low and beat in molasses and applesauce.
4. With a rubber spatula, gently mix reserved dry ingredients and buttermilk into egg mixture, making 3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 additions of buttermilk. (Do not overmix.)
5. Scrape batter into prepared pan. Bake until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Let cool slightly in the pan on a wire rack. Serve warm.
Per serving: 243 calories, 47 grams carbohydrate, 5 grams fat (1 grams sat.), 18 milligrams cholesterol, 3 grams protein, 2 grams fiber, 128 milligrams sodium
Find five other tasty ways to spice up your health.
Permalink
: Comments (40)
Comments
If you need (or want) a computer that’s easy to take along,you can see it from http://www.adapterlist.com/mitac/bp-8x11.htm mitac bp-8x11 battery whcih offer the longlife and consistently reliable performance you need to get the most out of your notebook. Posted by: laptop bettery | March 08, 2009 at 11:55 PM
What are the best foods to a healthy heart and good blood flow?
Posted by: Cecelia | February 11, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Their was a comment made by Dr. Oz today(tuesday) about men living longer (3 years). How often do men have to have sex to gain another 3 years? Posted by: Marian | January 06, 2009 at 03:36 PM
am 80=male get weak spells.
have no pep am on bp meds
160 mg diovan 2x. any hints what could be cause Posted by: edward. pike | December 24, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Hi!
I am over 50 and have hypothyroidism. I am on meds and get regular blood tests at the clinic but still suffer from many of the symptons of this disease. What foods could help me? The nurse said to watch carbs but it's almost impossible for me.
Thank you! Posted by: Karen | December 21, 2008 at 10:42 AM
For:Lynette Brentwood: You sound like you have IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Try taking a probotic from the health food store-refrig. section after breakfast for a week. Drink plenty of water and eat smaller meals. Posted by: M. Bell | December 15, 2008 at 01:39 PM
For Lynette Brentwood: You sound like you have IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Take a probotic after breakfast and eat smaller meals. Drink lots of water! Probotic bought from Health Food Store-freezer section and store in frig or freezer for longer shelf life. Posted by: M. Bell | December 15, 2008 at 01:34 PM
Here's the ginger article. Posted by: Judi | December 15, 2008 at 08:49 AM
For Barbara Foster. You are overweight because your portions are too big or there is too much fat in your diet. You simply eat too much. Get rid of bread and keep your fruit and vegetable portions to 1/2 Cup. Salad one cup. Completely cut out white flour, and sugar. Limit to about 300 calories a meal four times a day. You will no longer be fat. Oprah is fat because she eats too much. Posted by: Mellow | December 14, 2008 at 11:52 AM
The very best way to preserve ginger is to peel it, cut it into usable size, put in a jar and pour vodka (or sherry) over it. Keep in fridge. Posted by: Barb | December 14, 2008 at 06:45 AM
I'm looking for information on excessive gas. I had Gastric Bypass surgery and Gall bladder removal almost three yr's ago. Since then I am experiencing a tremendous amount of gas, no matter what I eat or drink. Can you recommend some tips or ideas or provide information on what I can do. I constantly try all the over the counter acid reducers and gas relief products but to avail. Thank you Posted by: Lynette, Brentwood, CA | December 13, 2008 at 02:51 PM
the fizz in carbonated drinks, including seltzer, is from bicarbonate of soda...it is carbonated, with the bi- aspect of the compounded structure. It is the same stuff as you'll find in any soda, without sugars, colors, etc...just the bubbles have been added for the most part (unless they add something else which will be listed in the ingredients) Posted by: merry | December 13, 2008 at 02:08 PM
re seltzer water and club soda
i understand "sodas" can leech minerals from bones, and have found avoiding carbonated drinks reduces leg cramps. but it sounds like seltzer water might not have that negative characteristic (lisette described it as being oxygenated to make the fizz). is that so? does anyone know? thank you Posted by: torimac | December 13, 2008 at 09:44 AM
Can you use ginger powder when making ginger tea? Posted by: Susan | December 13, 2008 at 08:24 AM
Ginger is easy to grate, just use a rasp. Many recipes that use ginger also call for garlic. You can do both on the rasp, and not wash in between. Posted by: Sandra Rae | December 12, 2008 at 03:54 PM
I'm 54yrs old and have been dieting on & off since I was 12yrs. old.
This year alone I've tried about 6-7 different diets.
I seem to loss weight well the first week or 2 then very slowly after that so I loss interest very fast.
I heard a advert on T.V. recently about Oprah and her dieting over the years and it sounds so similar to my story
Is it an age thing or what?
I tend to think its in the mind.
Can you give me suggestions to help me get back to my goal of 64-66kgs I am at this time 78kg and feeling so frumpy.
Thanking you. Posted by: Barbara Foster | December 12, 2008 at 03:38 PM
easy way to save ginger. just put it in frig. don't peal, don't wrap or put in plastic bag. use as needed. doesn't spoil--just drys out. then you can still grate it. Posted by: jude | December 12, 2008 at 09:51 AM
Making a strong ginger tea (simmer a cut up nob for about 20 mins...) with honey is a Hawaiian cold/flu remedy. I spend a quiet day drinking lots of it and fight off colds easily. Posted by: carol noel | December 12, 2008 at 09:19 AM
Regarding the grating ginger question: You don't even need to peel it. I just keep a chunk of fresh ginger in a ziploc bag in the freezer, and grate it frozen, peel and all. The peel is edible, and when you grate it on a fine grater, it isn't noticeable. Also, if you have trouble cleaning the fine grater, I find a toothbrush works really well. Posted by: Heather | December 12, 2008 at 09:13 AM
Please define 'applesauce'
This could mean any sauce made of apple but that would not be a reliable ingredient. Posted by: silvie | December 12, 2008 at 08:57 AM
Thanks for the info, I feel better already! Posted by: Carol Brunetti | December 12, 2008 at 07:38 AM
Re: "too much sugar"
1. You don't HAVE to use it, you can cut down!
2. Honey is not sugar, and it has healing benefits of its own.
3. Same thing for Molasses...
Seltzer = Perrier Posted by: Jen | December 12, 2008 at 06:27 AM
Is pickled ginger (the kind you usually eat with sushi) just as beneficial? Posted by: Jennifer | December 12, 2008 at 06:23 AM
In response to Lois' ginger grating problem, peel the fresh ginger immediately after buying it and store in an airtight bag/container in the freezer. It lasts a LONG time and grates easily! Posted by: Jennifer | December 12, 2008 at 06:21 AM
What can I do for dark circles under eyes??
Please help!! Posted by: Lynette | December 12, 2008 at 06:19 AM
I have trouble grating ginger. It just does not grate. Am I doing something wrong? Posted by: Lois | December 12, 2008 at 05:58 AM
Is seltzer water carbonated?? Posted by: Cathy | December 12, 2008 at 05:57 AM
These recipes sound delicious! I'll have to try them soon! Posted by: mother | December 12, 2008 at 04:50 AM
recipe, step 4: mix 1/3 of the dry ingredients with 1/2 of the buttermilk. Once the dry ingredients are moistened, add another 1/3 dry ingredients and the remaining half of the buttermilk. Again, mix until moistened. Then add the remaining dry ingredients. Be careful not to overdo it--gently is the key! Posted by: bonnielu1380 | December 12, 2008 at 03:42 AM
Seltzer water has oxygen pumped in it to make it fizzy. Club Soda had CO2 and has sodium (not unlike baking soda)in it. Both are fizzy, and otherwise unflavored/unsweetened but Club Soda will add Sodium to your diet, Seltzer will not. (Tonic or Tonic Water is altogether different, is fizzy, somewhat sweet and contains traces of Quinine.)
Lisetta (pharmacist) Posted by: Lisetta | December 12, 2008 at 02:17 AM
What exactly is seltzer water? Posted by: marion cranston | December 12, 2008 at 01:38 AM
Important to know. Club soda and seltzer are NOT the same. Club soda has sodium and seltzer does not! Posted by: patti | December 11, 2008 at 11:58 PM
Deb...
Tonic water and seltzer water are not the same thing.
Posted by: gratheeus | December 11, 2008 at 11:48 PM
Deb...
Tonic water and seltzer water are not the same thing.
Posted by: gratheeus | December 11, 2008 at 11:47 PM
Sharon...
Seltzer water is the same thing as club soda. It is just carbonated water. You can find it in any supermarket. Posted by: gratheeus | December 11, 2008 at 11:44 PM
hi'
for the first time, please will you tell me how do i make my self evry day my cup of tea with ginger
thank a lot
dalia
dalid1506@walla.com Posted by: dalia kaplan | December 11, 2008 at 11:33 PM
re: the 3 additions and 2 additions means to break up the dry into 3 and the other into 2, and then add it like this: dry, wet, mix gently, dry, wet, mix, dry wet. I am not sure that that matters, actually. As a baker by hobby, I think you can just gently mix them.
RE: SELTZER WATER is also called tonic water. you can get it in bottles (with the soda/pop aisle) in most grocery stores. Posted by: deb | December 11, 2008 at 10:14 PM
What does "3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 additions of buttermmilk" mean? Posted by: Tara | December 11, 2008 at 09:56 PM
what is seltzer water. Please explain..I would like to make my own ginger ale.
thanks
Regards
Sharon Posted by: Sharon | December 11, 2008 at 08:09 PM
Too much sugar in your "cures". Posted by: Sue | December 11, 2008 at 07:39 PM
|
|
 |
