FOOD OF THE WEEK

*INFOTHERAPY*

*NATURAL PHARMACY(let food be thy drug and drug be thy food)

*Make a pharmacist your friend today*

FOOD OF THE WEEK:
*Ginger*

FAMILY:
*Zingiberaceae*

SPECIES:
Z. officinale

BOTANICAL NAME:
Zingiber officinale

Health they say is wealth,fasten ur seat belt,relax and journey with me as I bring to ur notice,the amazing health benefits of GINGER.After reading this,u will have no reason to neglect ginger again.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or simply ginger, is widely used as a spice or a folk medicine.It is a herbaceous perennial which grows annual stems
about a meter tall bearing narrow green leaves and yellow flowers. Ginger is in the family Zingiberaceae, to which also belong turmeric (Curcuma longa), cardamom (Elettaria
cardamomum), and galangal. It originated in the tropical rainforest in Southern Asia
.
 Ginger was exported to Europe via India in the first century AD as a result of the lucrative spice trade and was used extensively by the Romans
Ginger is a major ingredients in many dishes of various parts of the world which include India,China,Korea,Japan,South Asia,Africa,Malaysia,etc.
Traditionally, the rhizome is gathered when the stalk withers; it is immediately scalded, or washed
and scraped, to kill it and prevent sprouting. It is advisable to peel a ginger before eating it.

MINERAL CONSTITUENTS:
Calcium. (11%) 114 mg

Iron (152%) 19.8 mg

Magnesium (60%) 214 mg

Manganese (1586%) 33.3 mg

Phosphorus (24%) 168 mg

Potassium (28%) 1320 mg

Sodium (2%) 27 mg

Zinc (38%) 3.64 mg

*HEALTH BENEFITS*

1. Fights Cancer
Today, most people are affected by cancer in one way or another. Chances are you know someone who is battling cancer or you may be fighting it yourself. If that’s the case, add ginger into your daily diet. Several studies have found it
beneficial in fighting lung, prostate, ovarian, colon, breast, skin, and pancreatic cancers.
According to researchers, ginger’s anti-cancer properties are a result of the compound 6-gingerol, which is found in large amounts in raw ginger. 6-gingerol has anti-bacterial, anti-
inflammatory and anti-tumor activities.
Adding ginger to your diet can help prevent new cancer cells from forming and destroy active ones. It’s also beneficial for people who are already on cancer treatments since ginger has been known to prevent the toxic effects of cancer drugs.
In a study with 744 cancer patients, ginger supplementation significantly reduced chemotherapy-induced nausea.

2. Protects Against Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system. It accounts for nearly 60–70 percent of dementia cases in people over
65 years old worldwide. If Alzheimer’s runs in your family or you are worried you may one day suffer from the disease, you should think about incorporating more ginger into your
current diet and daily routine.
Research shows ginger can help slow down the loss of brain cells, which typically leads to Alzheimer’s Disease.
Additionally, some studies done on animals suggest the
antioxidants and other powerful compounds found in ginger
can fight inflammatory responses that occur in the brain.

3.Digestion
 Helps with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBS is a common disorder that affects nearly 25-45 million Americans. Some symptoms include cramps, bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, and mucus in the stool. People who suffer from painful IBS will be happy to hear ginger can offer
some relief. That’s because ginger can help relax the intestines during a flair up.
There are several ways you can consume ginger – add ginger root in your cooked dishes, take ginger supplements, or brew ginger tea. The good news is they all seem to have a calming effect on the digestive system.


4. Relieves Heartburn
 Studies show certain heartburn drugs do more harm than good. Instead of turning to drugs,
drink ginger tea.
According to doctors, ginger has been found to have a gastroprotective effect, meaning it prevents the loosening of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and blocks acid from
regurgitating back into the esophagus. It also kills off harmful bacteria, such as helicobacter pylori.

5.Weight Loss
 Aids Weight Loss
Losing weight is one of the best things you can do for your overall health. Did you know being overweight can lead to heart attack, stroke, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and some cancers? To help aid your weight loss efforts, incorporate ginger into your diet.
Ginger is a natural ingredient that’s found in many “fat-burning” supplements. It can speed up the metabolism, leading to calorie-burning. It can also help keep you feeling full for longer, reducing your overall calorie intake.
.
6. Helps Manage Blood Sugar Levels
Research out of Australia suggests that ginger can help keep blood glucose levels in check. This is important because these levels have a direct impact on weight loss and weight gain, as well as how energetic or lethargic you feel throughout the day. If you’ve noticed that you’re feeling a
mid-day crash it’s likely due to your blood sugar levels.
7. Relieves Tired Muscles
When you workout, your muscles naturally get tired. One way to help speed up muscle recovery is to munch on ginger root. Studies have shown people who eat ginger experience a significant reduction in muscle pain, allowing people to get
back to the gym in a shorter amount of time. More workouts lead to increased lean muscle mass, which generally equates to natural weight loss as you burn calories around the clock.

8. Boosts Nutrient Absorption
You probably don’t realize, but when you eat a healthy meal you aren’t actually absorbing all of the beneficial nutrients.
Rather, people only absorb anywhere between 10-90 percent of the vitamins and minerals in their food. If you are
looking to improve your health and lose weight, you’ll want to absorb as many nutrients as possible. That’s because
nutrients can signal your hormones to let the body know when it’s full and keep your fat-burning system working in tip-top shape. Ginger has been known to boost nutrient
absorption!

*OTHERS*
9. Helps with Morning Sickness
Pregnant women might want to increase their ginger intake
if they are suffering from bouts of morning sickness. That’s
because the ginger acts as a calming agent. When compared
to a placebo in clinical tests, participants who consumed
ginger noticed significant symptom relief.

10. Reduces Arthritic Inflammation
Ginger has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. For thatreason, it can help relieve a host of inflammation-based conditions and diseases. That includes arthritis, a condition that affects millions of Americans. Along with reducing inflammation, people with arthritis can expect some pain
relief from the ginger.

11. Opens Up Inflamed Airways
If you have asthma you have likely been scouring the internet for ways to help open up your airways (ones that don’t involve taking steroid-based medications). Ginger has been shown to open up airways by reducing inflammation. It can also relieve pain associated with asthma. While
researchers say ginger may not solve your asthma condition on its own, it can definitely be used as part of a comprehensive approach.

12. Improves Circulation
Ginger can help thin blood, improving overall circulation. As ginger improves blood flow, it can generate a warm feeling inside the body. That’s one reason many people enjoy sipping ginger tea on cold days.

WAYS OF TAKING GINGER

1. GINGER AS SPICE.
Ginger can be crushed and added to food to improve the taste
2. GINGER TEA:
Active ingredients in ginger can be extracted by boiling sliced ginger and filtering to get only ginger water. Add honey and or lemon and drink.

3.GINGER JUICE.
it can be used in making juice like the one we generally call ZOBO

4. GINGER CAN BE CHEWED RAW.

Which ever way that goes well for u,adopt it.

Thank YOU and stay healthy.