Ground ginger: beneficial properties, use in medicinal products

Ground ginger contains almost as many beneficial substances as fresh, unground root. The difference in the chemical compositions of these products is minimal. The ground root contains slightly less vitamin C and essential oils.

The spice has no other differences in medicinal properties. Therefore, you can replace the fresh root with a prepared ground product. As a result, it becomes possible to use the spice all year round.

Beneficial features

The beneficial properties and contraindications of ground ginger come from the rich composition of the plant, which includes the following compounds:

• essential amino acids - thiamine, riboflavin;
• essential oils (zingiberene, gingerol, linalool);
• organic acids - linoleic, nicotinic, oleic, caprylic;
• vitamins - B1, B2, B5, A, C;
• minerals - calcium, sodium, zinc, potassium, phosphorus.

The benefits of ground ginger are comparable to the effect of eating the fresh plant. There is a slight difference in the content of essential oils and ascorbic acid (vitamin C), but this does not significantly affect a number of healing properties of the product.

The effects that dried ginger has on the body are as follows:

• relieves inflammation, including on the outer membranes;
• has an analgesic effect;
• warms: therefore effective for coughs and runny nose;
• has a positive effect on the digestive system - eliminates nausea, bloating, diarrhea;
• speeds up metabolism;
• gently cleanses the body of waste and toxins, and the blood from “bad” cholesterol;
• improves immunity, allows the body to naturally defend itself against viruses and bacterial infections.

Dry ginger can be an effective addition to a low-calorie diet. The ability to gently and quickly cleanse the body, saturate it with vitamins and minerals will help speed up and facilitate the process of losing weight. But for this it is important to understand how to prepare and how to use ground ginger correctly.

You will learn even more useful information about how to treat yourself with ginger by reading one of our following materials.

Composition of ginger

The root vegetable contains many useful microelements; let’s consider the main ones and their effect on the human body.

1. Magnesium. Actively participates in metabolic processes: fat, energy. Increases life expectancy. A deficiency leads to poor health, apathy, weakness, and depression.
2. Phosphorus. We need it to keep our bones and teeth strong. Affects our performance and mental qualities.
3. Potassium. With a lack of this microelement, energy and endurance decrease, we become nervous and irritable.
4. Calcium. Healthy teeth and strong bones are the main things calcium is responsible for in our body. It also has a positive effect on the nervous system, hair and nails.
5. Sodium. Prevents dehydration, improves digestion. A lack of sodium can lead to low blood pressure, frequent nausea, and constant thirst. There may also be consequences for appearance: the skin becomes dry, loses elasticity and firmness.
6. Chromium. Improves metabolism, regeneration processes, and thyroid function. If the amount of this microelement is normal, then a person is not overweight.
7. Iron. When it is deficient in the body, oxygen starvation occurs, resulting in apathy and poor health. The functioning of the thyroid gland may worsen, cholesterol may increase, and skin sagging may appear.
8. Vitamin C. If you do not consume enough of this vitamin, your skin loses its radiance and begins to peel. Your gums may begin to bleed and your immunity may decrease (you will get colds more often). Vitamin C is necessary for the normal functioning of the thyroid and pancreas and maintaining blood pressure.
9. Acids: nicotinic, linoleic, oleic, caprylic. They support the nervous system and are responsible for good metabolism.
10. Amino acids: phenylanine, tryptophan, threonine, methionine. They reduce appetite, burn fat, and help muscles recover faster after physical activity.

Thanks to these vitamins and microelements, ginger becomes an indispensable product. The beneficial properties are extensive: it is important for almost all body systems.

How to dry at home

Buying dried ground ginger in the supermarket is a convenient and quick way to become the owner of a healthy spice, but it will not ensure the quality and freshness of the product. Therefore, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with how to dry ginger at home.

The first thing to start preparing seasoning is to choose the appropriate root. It should be a strong and juicy plant, without external damage, mold, rot, etc. The peel is milky in color with a slight brown tint, the flesh is light yellow.

The second stage is direct drying, which can occur in three ways: in the sun, in the oven, using an electric dryer or convection oven. A description of each technique is given in the table below.

Method name	Implementation stages
In the sun	1. Wash and dry the root with a paper towel, cut into thin slices. 2. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and place ginger petals in one layer. 3. Dry the plant in the sun during the day, put it in a dry, well-ventilated room in the evening, and turn it over periodically.
In the oven	1. Preheat the oven/oven to 50°C. 2. Peel and thinly chop the ginger, place in the oven for 2-2.5 hours. It is recommended not to close the door to allow free access of oxygen. 3. Increase the temperature to 70 °C. Dry for 5-8 hours.
Using an electric dryer/air fryer	1. Prepare the root, place thin slices at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other. 2. Temperature - 60 °C for an electric dryer and 70 °C for an air fryer. In the first case it will take 5-8 hours, in the second - 3-4 hours.

You can store the slices in a jar or make ginger powder in a coffee grinder or blender. The place is dry and dark, the most suitable container is a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.

Cooking recipes

Among many women housewives, recipes for dishes prepared with the addition of ginger are popular. These include:

• Pork in ginger sauce. To prepare such a delicious dish, you will have to peel the garlic, chop the bell pepper and pass the ingredients through a meat grinder. Then the chopped pieces of pork are added to the container. The meat is added to the oven and baked for 40 minutes at a temperature of 15 degrees. Then it is sprinkled with ginger powder. When adding spice, you need to be very careful not to add too much seasoning.
• Curry. The surface of the frying pan is coated with vegetable oil. Then it is heated and 50 grams of chopped zucchini are added to the frying pan. They are stewed for 10 minutes, after which garlic and pepper are added. After half an hour, the mixture is poured into plates and sprinkled with seasoning.

How to use

Ginger powder has found application in many areas of human activity. Most widely - in cooking and folk medicine.

The spice is included in gingerbread and cookies, buns, marinades for meat and fish, and warming first courses. Since the amount of seasoning added is small, significant health benefits will not be observed. But spicy drinks based on ground hot root can protect against seasonal diseases or relieve unpleasant symptoms during them.

To obtain delicious healing tea from ground ginger, it is recommended to remember the basic rules for brewing the spice:

• the optimal proportion is 1/3 tsp. dried raw materials for 1 cup of water;
• You should not boil the tea; it is better to pour boiled but slightly cooled water over the ginger, so the product will not lose its beneficial components;
• It is better to brew the drink in a thermos or a cup wrapped in a warm cloth;
• the longer the tea is brewed, the more bitter the main component will be, so you should not prepare a large portion;
• cooking time - no more than 20 minutes;
• As a sweetener, you should choose natural healthy products, such as honey.

To improve the health of the body, speed up metabolism and improve well-being, you can also eat dried pieces of the root as a complement to tea or coffee. The product is not subjected to heat treatment, so the beneficial properties of dried ginger are preserved.

Description of the spice

Ginger powder is obtained from the roots of a herbaceous perennial that grows primarily in Southeast Asia. India is considered the birthplace of the plant, where this spice is used almost unlimitedly to season a wide variety of dishes. The first information about the usefulness of the herbaceous plant dates back to the pre-Christian era. But, since the cost of the spice was similar to the price of the noble metal, the aromatic powder was available only to people from the upper class.

Today, anyone can buy ginger powder, and the tropical crop is grown on a commercial scale in different parts of the world. Manufacturers from China, Brazil, Japan, and Jamaica supply the spice to the world market.

Many enterprising compatriots also grow decorative varieties of perennials on their property in order to be able to prepare medicinal tea and other healthy compositions. To obtain a popular spice, the roots of the plant are dried and then crushed to a powder. Ground ginger is easy to recognize by its pleasant aroma, light yellow tint and pungent taste. Although many spice lovers prefer to use fresh ginger roots, the powder concentrate is in no way inferior in properties.

Where to add

To get the effect of consuming dried spices, it is not necessary to prepare products based on the active ingredient. You just need to understand where to add ground ginger:

• Black or green tea. The spice will add heat to regular tea, warming properties and a unique flavor.
• Sea buckthorn, cranberry infusion. A powerful remedy to strengthen the immune system.
• Kefir. Despite the non-standard taste, kefir with ground ginger, pepper, cinnamon, turmeric will significantly improve metabolism and speed up the process of losing weight.
• Green coffee. Popular composition for weight loss. You can prepare it yourself or purchase a ready-made mixture. But it is worth remembering how to drink ground ginger with green coffee - no more than 3 cups per day. Prepare strictly according to instructions.
• Coffee. An unpopular variation, but a sweet, invigorating drink with a hint of spice that will brighten up your day.

By the way, you will find a recipe for delicious aromatic coffee in our next material. Try making a drink with a tart and slightly spicy taste at home.

Ayurveda experts recommend drinking tea with ground spices after meals at every meal - this will powerfully cleanse the body. But it is worth continuing such therapy for 1-2 weeks, then taking a break.

Ground ginger is also included in recipes for masks, scrubs, lotions for the face and body. The product cleanses, eliminates pigmentation, fights acne and boils.

Gallery: ground ginger (25 photos)

There is no significant difference in the benefits of dried and fresh spices. The component composition does not change with the exception of essential oils and vitamin C. Ground ginger contains slightly less of them than fresh ginger, but the aroma of the latter is not as bright and pungent as spices from a bag. The advantage of dried and crushed root is its shelf life. It is much higher than that of fresh, which can be stored even in the refrigerator for no more than a month.

The beneficial properties of the spice allow it to be used to treat or prevent many diseases. Thus, the best sailors and travelers - the Greeks - used the spice as a cure for seasickness. Today, antiemetic and antidiarrheal properties are used for poisoning, toxicosis in pregnant women, and digestive problems. A pinch of spice, diluted in water, will reduce the number of vomiting, improve and disinfect the microflora of the stomach and intestines.

Ground root helps relieve PMS cramps

The spice contains a powerful antioxidant effect. It has been used in China for hundreds of years to combat aging. It prevents cell destruction under the influence of free radicals and other harmful factors, including stress. Ground ginger is especially useful for women. It can be used to increase libido and eliminate PMS symptoms.

The spice contains the main micro- and macroelements needed by the human body, from iron and calcium to manganese and potassium. They are integral components of most cells of organs and systems.

Contraindications

Despite the abundance of medicinal properties, there are a number of contraindications, which, if ignored, can negatively affect your health.

The main ones include:

• pregnancy, breastfeeding;
• chronic damage to the heart, gastrointestinal tract, urinary system;
• children's age (up to 6 years);
• high body temperature;
• allergy to fresh or ground ginger.

You should also remember how to take ground ginger - no more than 2-3 tsp. per day, so as not to irritate the stomach and nervous system.

The benefits and harms of dry ginger seasoning

Many people know how useful dried ginger root powder is; we can talk about this for a long time. It is a rich source of minerals and vitamins needed by the human body; it contains many macro- and microelements.

No matter how useful the product is, we must not forget about its possible harm to the body. Ginger powder, like every product, has its own dosage. If overused, nausea, even vomiting, and possible intestinal upset occur. The negative effects of the spice will help neutralize milk or water if you drink at least a glass, as well as a teaspoon of soda.

The spice should not be consumed: at high temperatures, peptic ulcers.

Useful video

While much is known about the internal effects of ground ginger on the body, the external effects have been studied less. The spicy root not only heals and improves the appearance of the skin, but is also beneficial for hair. Masks based on the product will accelerate the growth of curls, get rid of dandruff, strengthen and heal strands. Other properties of ground ginger for hair and mask recipes are described in the video below.

Ground ginger is an original spice and an indispensable remedy for health. The main thing to remember is that regularity and moderation are necessary - then the natural product will have the best effect on your health.

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Reviews

Irina: I use powdered ginger only for New Year’s baking. These cookies are flavorful with a beautiful, vibrant glaze. I love the smell and the fact that it lasts a long time, so I can make it in advance and then give it to my family in a beautiful package.

Zhenya: I don’t like the smell of ground root, it’s so strong, the taste of the dishes is also not very good, even if you add just a little. I prefer fresh root, it is both more aromatic and more pleasant to the taste.

Katerina: I always have powdered ginger in my kitchen. I add it to meat, to bread dough, to make face masks, I have problem skin.

Lyudmila: I use the spice during colds; one good pinch per cup of tea, milk or herbal decoction is enough to warm the body well, sweat and relieve inflammation. I’ve been treating like this for two days and I’m almost healthy without Coldrex or other chemicals.

Ginger for immunity

Experts advise starting to drink drinks or mixtures with ginger in the summer. This way you will have time to strengthen your immunity for the cold season. This plant helps cure diseases due to its anti-inflammatory properties. It can destroy many bacteria. How to take ginger to increase the body's defenses? Usually special mixtures or tea are prepared with ground ginger (recipe below). Here are some popular recipes.

• Buy about 200 g of ginger root (it is sold in any hypermarket), 1 lemon and 100 g of honey. Chop the root and lemon into small pieces, place in a container (for example, a jar) and mix with honey (200-250 g). You can take 1-2 tsp per day. mixtures: alone or adding to dishes. Children – no more than 1 tsp, but you should first consult with your pediatrician.
• You can make an infusion. It will take a little time to prepare. Pour boiling water over thinly chopped ginger and lemon, leave for about half an hour, add honey to taste.
• Ginger candies for children. Melt the sugar in a saucepan, add a large spoonful of lemon juice and a teaspoon of ground ginger. Cook until the mixture thickens slightly. Pour into molds and leave to harden for several hours.

Experts recommend taking these ginger-based products in courses: a month on and a month off. Eat the mixture on an empty stomach in the morning, drink a glass of ginger tea before each meal. You can drink no more than 1 liter per day. Before offering such candies to children, be sure to consult with your pediatrician. The child may have an allergic reaction.

The most effective methods

There are many recipes with ginger for weight loss, you can easily choose according to your preference. The best results can be achieved with their regular use and with sufficient ginger content in the composition.

The most effective way is to drink drinks in the morning and afternoon before meals. However, it is not at all necessary to adhere to only this rule. You can use ginger as a spice for other dishes. For example, with fish - the combination of fatty acids with ginger speeds up metabolism.

Many who use the ginger diet are satisfied with the results. There is no weight loss only if ginger is taken irregularly, from time to time. But here, too, there is a positive effect from the tonic properties of this white root.

The best tea recipes that are suitable for both lazy and real gourmets

You have determined that you should introduce this drink into your diet. Great! There are several options for its preparation.

Mono tea with ginger

There are quite a variety of different options available for adding to the usual root. You can throw rosemary into a cup; some will like the option with berries, while others will love tea with a pinch of red pepper. But, no matter what you choose, you should first try the option where there is nothing additional. Cooking goes like this:

1. Cut the ginger root into any shape.
2. Boil water in a small container.
3. Place the slices in boiling water and cook over low heat for about 10 minutes.
4. You can add a little honey to the drink.
5. Drink tea and be healthy.

Before drinking ginger tea, you should study its contraindications. It is strictly contraindicated for young children, women during lactation and people suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver problems.

Ginger drink with cloves and cinnamon

An excellent option that can warm you up in the off-season and also has a positive effect on the body as a whole is ginger tea with cloves and cinnamon. To prevent acute respiratory infections and flu, you can start drinking the drink in early September about 2-3 times a week.

Preparation is as follows:

1. The root should be washed and cut into thin slices.
2. Boil water in a small bowl, then turn on low heat.
3. Throw a little tea leaves and 2-3 cloves, a little cinnamon, a little ginger root into the water, you can also add cardamom and nutmeg.
4. Boil everything over low heat for about 5 minutes.
5. Strain.

Advice! If you absolutely do not like ginger root with peel, then the most convenient way to peel it is with a spoon or a special knife.

Ginger hour with lemon and mint

This drink will help in the fight against extra pounds, and will also come to the aid of acute respiratory infections and flu. This is because lemon contains a lot of vitamin C. It is also used to improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. You can brew it in a matter of minutes.

One of the miraculous recipes involves the following steps:

1. The root should be washed and cut into thin slices.
2. You need to put about 2-3 cloves in a cup, also a little mint, a little lemon.
3. If desired, you can use a little green tea brewing as well as honey.
4. Then all components are poured with boiling water and left for 2-4 minutes.
5. This tea helps to get rid of extra pounds.

Ginger root has a tonic effect, so it should not be consumed immediately before bed. Better in 2-3 hours.