Ginger

Published February 2010

To simply say that ginger is good for you would be to indulge in broad, generalized strokes. Until very recently, I was vaguely aware of ginger benefits but I wasn’t fully clued in to all the superb things that ginger brings with it.

While lunching with a friend two weeks ago, we started talking about natural remedies for ailments ranging from the common cold to sunburn. Ingredients like yoghurt and honey came up fairly often, as did ginger. My lunch partner shared that she follows a daily ginger juice regime and she vouched for its pros. I was intrigued and brushed up on my ginger knowledge, and I came away extremely impressed by what that little tuber packs.

I toyed with the idea of a daily ginger tea beverage and finally gave it a shot by boiling up a small nub of lightly pounded ginger in water and drinking it first thing in the morning. I’m now onto Day 10 of this regime and I’ve noted that this has helped with some minor heartburn and indigestion issues I’d been dealing with – largely due to overdoing it during the festive season.

Ginger has a strong reputation etched in the culinary and medicinal annals of history in almost all Asian countries. However, quite a few people I spoke to were either unconvinced or unaware - which left me a little stumped as this plant does more good than you could shake a stick at. Could it be that perhaps ginger isn’t as accepted or recognized for its beneficial properties over here as, say, in India or China, for example? Who knows, but it’s definitely food for thought.

WHAT IS GINGER?

Ginger is a tuber plant that comes from the same family as galangal, turmeric and cardamom. An underground stem offshoot of the Zingiber officinale plant, ginger is found mainly across Asia, the Caribbean and West Africa.

WAYS TO USE GINGER:

Ginger can be incorporated into your health plan in a number of ways. Ginger can be freshly grated and taken raw, or as a daily supplement in pill form available from most pharmacies. Crystallised ginger and pre-packaged ginger teas are also popular. As ginger oil isn’t as easy to find, it can be substituted with a fresh ginger paste when used for massage.

GINGER BENEFITS:

Nausea

Ginger is said to relieve nausea caused by motion sickness. Research suggests that the gingerols in ginger could be responsible for blocking the body’s reflex to vomit. Regular sipping of ginger tea prior to a car or boat journey is proven to be beneficial.

Migraine

Migraine sufferers also find ginger to be helpful as it blocks the effects of prostaglandins - responsible for the swelling of blood vessels in the brain. Though results are still not confirmed, taking 1/3 teaspoon of fresh powdered ginger upon the start of a migraine is said to reduce pain significantly.

Stomach Ailments

Ginger eases a vast number of ailments such as stomach upsets, bowel related problems, colic and spasms. As ginger is an antiseptic and carminative, it can also be used for treating food poisoning, bacterial dysentery and intestinal infections.

Respiratory Ailments, Colds, Sore Throats

Ginger packs a very powerful punch in keeping the common cold, coughs and a variety of other related illnesses, at bay. Ginger is also a good expectorant and is great for removing mucus from the throats and lungs. It should go without saying that the benefits of the ginger-honey-lemon tea combination in this area of health are very well known.

Inflammation& Pain

The presence of a substance called Zingibain is responsible for ginger’s anti-inflammatory properties. It is further believed that regular massage using ginger oil or ginger paste on those suffering from muscles aches, rheumatism and arthritis helps to reduce inflammation and blocks compounds associated with pain.

Others

Ginger reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, reduces cholesterol levels, alleviates high blood pressure, reduces stress and treats dandruff.

It has to be said though that a few words of caution are required. Large amounts of ginger increases bile activity, which may not be ideal for those suffering from gallstones. Also, pregnant women would do best to check with their doctors before using ginger to treat morning sickness nausea, especially during their first trimester.

Sources: NutritionalSupplementsHealthGuide.com/LifeMojo.com/FitnessAndFreebies.com/Wikipedia.com

The Layperson's Take on Heart Health

Published February 2010

It would be fair to say that I have a somewhat active social life. Translated, this means that late nights coupled with the bad diet that points to the (so-called) freedoms of bachelorhood, are regular fixtures. Do I enjoy myself while I’m imbibing and indulging? Well, yes. I’m no hypocrite in this department. But the tinges of guilt at taking my health so blatantly for granted, are beginning to show.

In an effort to act my age (in spite of what my behaviour and mental capabilities seem to suggest), I thought it only appropriate to take steps to improve my nutritional intake. In a moment of unabashed grown-up-ness, my trip to the grocery store resulted in shopping that was very sensible. A couple of quarts of milk, eggs, green tea, a variety of fruit, fresh yoghurt and a little salmon sashimi were items that I saw as appropriate purchases.

So sensible was this shopping of mine that after I cleared a path through all the beer cans and boxes of takeaway in my fridge, I arranged everything just so and stepped back to admire my handiwork. “This is the refrigerator of a grown-up,” I thought to myself with smug satisfaction.

I guess it was perfect timing then that I received a newsletter from a good friend of mine the very next day. Dr. Mubina Jiwa, a mate from high school days in Singapore, is now a very well respected Naturopath based in Toronto, Canada. From what I understand, a Naturopath is a medical professional who highlights the natural health benefits of fruits, vegetables and various meats as well vitamins and minerals. But seriously, Google the lady. You’ll find that she is a dedicated and well renowned expert in her particular field of medicine.

In her latest newsletter, Mubina wrote about the fact that February is Heart Health month, and that heart attack risks are on the rise for women the world over. She also touched on the generalization that women tend to make by taking heart disease for granted, assuming that it is a ‘man’s disease’. A big and extremely fatal mistake as statistics show that 23% of women over the age of 40 who have suffered a heart attack are likely to die within the year of a second attack, as opposed to 18% for men.

Her newsletter also included a list of heart-healthy foods such as oats, soy protein, salmon and spinach to name a few. Blueberries topped the list as the food most power-packed with goodness.

The more I read, the more I was convinced that blueberries are very deserving of their title - something not to be trifled with. However, taking geography and our currency exchange into account, blueberries are not something a large majority of us can enjoy on a regular basis. Nyet. Blueberries in Kota Kinabalu are about as elusive as a main road free of traffic congestion on a weekday.

Yes these little parcels of heart health are available, but be prepared to dig deep wallet-wise, and grab them while you can.

It was with that in mind that I started making a small list of foods with health benefits that are readily available in South East Asia. Yes I’m not above making an effort, but I’m not that hardworking I assure you. Again, I’m not a hypocrite. I’m simply trying to be realistic.

Online health sites and studies confirm one massive red flag in overall heart health: Obesity leads to some seriously dangerous issues. I made note of this, gave my love handles an affectionate squeeze goodbye, and decided that instead of a 20 minute run 3 times a week, I would do well to increase my cardio to 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week.

Daily workouts provide the energy boost needed to tackle a full day at work. As I’m one who enjoys getting out of bed literally at the crack of dawn, an early morning work-out would only do me good. And one of the most important factors here would be that this would pretty much guarantee that I’d have to have breakfast – a culinary notion that I’d often toyed with, but would usually ignore. Now, with a grumbling stomach to attend to, I’d have no choice but to give in to the most important meal of the day.

So back to that list of readily available healthy options: It should go without saying that the first thing to grab my attention was red wine with its antioxidant prowess which I’m sure many of us are aware of by now. Expert opinions vary between the ideal recommended intakes, from 4-8 ounces to a standard glass full. Olive oil, another favourite of mine, is superb in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease.

Almonds are great for keeping cholesterol levels in check, are rich in Vitamin E and other healthy oils, and are a great source of fibre as well as being a pretty decent snack. I remember my mother trying her best to get me to drink milk that was heated with ground almonds when I was a kid. And all I ever did was complain about how it made my throat itch. If only I knew then what I do now.

I used to love apples when I was young, sometimes going through 3 to 4 apples a day. And I was very pleased to read that apples act as an inflammatory, and help to prevent blot clots. I have begun thinking of ways to incorporate apples into my diet by way of salads.

In my earlier rambling about my shopping skills, I briefly mentioned purchasing some salmon sashimi. Fish is a good source of Omega-3 fatty acid which decreases the risk of arrhythmias, or abnormal heartbeats. Omega-3 also has numerous benefits that go beyond heart health.

Do also be aware that there are certain fish with high levels of mercury. A little reading will help you to decide what source of Omega-3 is best for you.

In summation, I have to state that I am no health professional. Until recently I had a pretty blasé and somewhat childish approach to my health, in that I kept putting off the fact that I could easily incorporate a reasonable amount of natural and beneficial nutrients into my diet, easily and without fuss.

I do not claim to make any tremendous changes in my social activities. I will still continue to eat out and, on occasion, will probably skip the odd meal here and there. But I do intend to restore balance to the way I live. I do not believe in abstinence. But I am going to try to enjoy everything that life has to offer, in a relatively moderate fashion from now on.

Sources: essenseofhealth.ca/nutrition.about.com