All about Ginger

“I use ginger like garlic. I love it for steaming fish and making barbecue sauces or roasted chicken.” - Tom Douglas

Ginger provides a distinct seasoning to your dishes while also complementing other healthy elements!

 Five Fun Facts

• Ancient Greeks used to eat ginger wrapped in bread and eventually added it to the dough which is where Gingerbread came from.
• The UK produces Ginger beer which is not beer but a carbonated soda that we know in the U.S. as Ginger Ale and is used to help ease nausea and sickness.
• During the 13th and 14th century, a sheep could be bought with one pound of ginger.
• Ginger turns pink in color when you put it in sweet vinegar; this is what is typically served with sushi.
• There is an island called Ginger Island, but it is not able to actually cultivate ginger.

Nutrition Info

Ginger on its own does not contain many vitamins or minerals – especially when eaten in such small quantities. The primary source of its health benefits are found in what you compound with it; gingerol, shogoals, zingiberene, and zingerone.

Fresh ginger does contain a small amount of:

• Magnesium
• Iron
• Vitamin C

Benefits

Ginger may be beneficial in the following ways:

• Reducing inflammation.
• Relieving many types of nausea, indigestion, stomach discomfort, and morning sickness.
• Helping with osteoarthritis by improving pain and disability.
• Preventing heart disease by lowering cholesterol and blood sugar.
• Fighting off bacteria and viruses with current new studies including possible links to cancer and RSV benefits.

Cautions

Eating ginger can increase risk of bleeding by decreasing blood clotting. So anyone with platelet disorders or risks of bleeding from medications or disorders may need to limit the amount of ginger in their diet.

Suggested Recipes

For the Kids and Kids-at-Heart

Download this activity sheet of Dot-to-Dot Ginger!

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