Ginger

Ginger is the common name for the monocotyledonous perennial plant Zingiber officinale. The term is also used to describe the edible part of the plant which is commonly used as a spice in cooking throughout the world. Often erroneously referred to as "ginger root", the edible section is actually the horizontal subterranean stem or rhizome of the plant. It has a pale yellow interior and a skin varying in colour from brown to off-white.

History Of Ginger

The ginger plant has a long history of cultivation known to originate in China and then spread to India, Southeast Asia, West Africa, and the Caribbean. Ginger's current name comes from the Middle English gingivere, but ginger dates back over 3,000 years to the Sanskrit srngaveram meaning "horn root" with reference to its appearance. In Greek it was ziggiberis, and in Latin, zinziberi. Although it was well-known to the ancient Romans, ginger nearly disappeared in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire. Thanks to Marco Polo's trip to the Far East, ginger came back into favor in Europe, becoming not only a much-coveted spice, but also a very expensive one.

Ginger Nutrition Info

As ginger is generally consumed in relatively small doses its nutritional value is of less concern. However, ginger's nutritional value on a per 100g basis contains 17.77g of carbohydrates, 1.7g of sugars, 2g of dietary fiber, 0.75g of fat, 1.82g of protein and contains most vitamin B categories, vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and zinc. This fabulous natural concoction could account for the ties to classic medicinal use and uses suggested in folklore...

Ginger Health Benefits

Ginger has long been known to help relieve nausea, and research at the University of Sydney has found it may also reduce pain and inflammation; initial studies have shown that the active ingredients in ginger -- compounds called gingerols -- have a similar structure to capsaicin, the active ingredient of chilli peppers and capsicum, a known pain reliever. Ginger is most commonly known for its effectiveness as a digestive aid. By increasing the production of digestive fluids and saliva, ginger helps relieve indigestion, gas pains, diarrhea and stomach cramping.

Ginger has long been ascribed aphrodisiac powers, taken either internally or externally. It is mentioned in the Karma Sutra, and in the Melanesian Islands of the South Pacific it is employed ‘to gain the affection of a woman’. Conversely, in the Philippines it is chewed to expel evil spirits. Ginger is a known diaphoretic, meaning it causes one to sweat. It was recorded that Henry VIII instructed the mayor of London to use ginger’s diaphoretic qualities as a plague medicine.

Storing Ginger

Fresh ginger should be stored in a paper bag in the vegetable crisper of the refrigerator, where it will keep for weeks. If you need to keep it longer, you can break it apart, peel the pieces, and store them covered in a jar of sherry.

Ginger Trivia

Ginger has a sialagogue action, stimulating the production of saliva. Ginger contains up to 3% of an essential oil that causes the fragrance of the spice. The main constituents are sesquiterpenoids with (-)-zingiberene as the main component.

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