Ginger
Juicy Trivia
Ginger is not a fruit or a vegetable, but is in fact classified as an aromatic bitter herb. The part that we use is actually the root (rhizome) of the herb. Ginger contains essential oils called gingerols, zingerone and shogaol that give ginger its strong zingy aroma and pungent flavour. Ginger has been a staple for Chinese medicine for more than 2,500 years.
Jason Says...
Ginger is simply amazing so I make sure I get my fix everyday. A couple of years ago I discovered something called the 'Ginger Shot' and now I swear by them for a daily dose of intense nutrition. It is so simple to make as all you do is juice 1 x apple with a fairly decent sized chunk of ginger (approx. 1 inch). As with any shot it's best to 'knock it back in one' and as long as you put enough ginger in, you will really feel this as it hits your throat and awakens your senses. Ginger is everyones favourite 'anti', it's antiviral, antiseptic, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory and a great natural antibiotic. It is also what you need to be getting inside you if you ever suffer with a head cold or sinus congestion. I personally found that it has vastly improved my once annual and often debilitating hayfever by about 80%, so I really do swear by this little beauty.
Juice or Smoothie?
Juice: But bare in mind it is very powerful, so you only need a small piece roughly the size of a thumbnail or it tends to overpower the whole juice.
Juicy Tip: For a warm, comforting and nutritious drink; put a few slices of lemon and ginger along with a teaspoon of manuka honey into hot water and sip whilst curled up on the sofa!
Juicy Benefits
Because ginger helps to tame nausea, it can be beneficial for people undergoing chemotherapy and suffering with nausea as a result. It may also help relieve the feelings of sickness associated with travel or in the early stages or pregnancy. Ginger is also renowned for helping to soothe the stomach.
Ginger has been referred to as 'the king of anti-inflammatory foods' and is incredibly useful for any inflammatory problems in the body from rheumatoid arthritis to easing muscle pain after strenuous activity and exercise. The reason it is such a powerful anti-inflamatory is because it contains compounds or essential oils called gingerols that help to interrupt the inflammation process. Essentially they interfere with an enzyme called cyclooxygenase (COX) that is involved in switching on inflammation and instigating pain. When we experience a cold, we feel all bunged up with mucus, although actually most of that feeling actually comes from inflammation of the of the mucous membrane in the nose and sinuses. Most conditions and pain in the body are associated with inflammation including all muscle pain, arthritis and even skin conditions.
Ginger is a great circulation stimulant due to the compound gingerols, which cause a rapid and noticeable widening of the blood vessel walls and in turn helps to enhance circulation and also lower blood pressure. Enhanced circulation of course means that the body can transport oxygen, nutrients and white blood cells to the site of infection more efficiently as well as enhance the removal of waste. It is also beneficial for circulatory conditions such as Reynaud's.
Adding a small chunk of ginger to your juice is a fantastic way to boost the nutritional value. Ginger will support your overall immune system, so is great to use during the winter months, to help fight off colds and bugs.
Ginger, along with radishes, horseradish and cayenne pepper all heat up the respiratory system and help break up congestion in the lungs and clear the sinuses.
Research
A study funded by a National Cancer Institute grant and recently published in Cancer Pre-vention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Suzanna M. Zick, N.D., M.P.H., a research assistant professor at the University of Michi-gan Medical School, and her research team studied 30 volunteers, who were randomly assigned to take either two grams of ginger root supplements daily or placebo for 28 days. After four weeks, the scientists measured markers of standard levels of colon inflamma-tion. The results? The inflammation markers, which have been implicated in previous stud-ies as a precursor to colon cancer, were significantly reduced in the people taking ginger. This is crucially important because these inflammation markers have been implicated in prior studies as a precursor to colon cancer.
The University of Georgia have found that daily consumption of ginger in capsule form helps to relieve soreness caused by exercise.
Studies by Danish researcher Srivastava illustrate gingers therapeutic potential against Arthritis - Clinical trials suggest that ginger is more effective than commonly prescribed drugs with No side effects.
A study from a group O Cornell Medical School researchers, published in the New Eng-land Journal of Medicine 1980 found that ginger completely inhibited the potentially life threatening process of platelet aggregation, so has enormous potential as a premier heart medicine.
Professor Agarwal, a Biochemical Pharmacologist found that anti-platelet agents block tu-mor cell platelet interaction and tumor metastasis in lungs and liver of mice.
Vitamins, Minerals and Extras
Viamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C and E.
Copper, Potassium, Sodium, Iron, Calcium, Zinc, Phosphorus and Magnesium.
References
Pinnock, Dale, 2011, Medical Cookery, Right Way, London.
Jensen, Bernard.Dr, 2000, Juicing Therapy, Keats Publishing, Illinois.
Meyerowitz, Steve, 2000, Power Juices Super Drinks, Kensington Books, New York.
www.enwikipedia.org
www.juicebenefits.net
www.healthalternatives2000.com
www.cancer.gov
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
www.care2.com
www.herballegacy.com
Disclaimer
Please be aware that we are not Doctors, so it is important BEFORE making any changes that you consult with your GP or Medical Practitioner. The suggestions above are not meant as an alternative to any current medical treatment so please DO NOT stop taking any medications you are on. They are also not an endorsement of their effectiveness, nor a recommendation that they should be followed but instead, provided for informational purposes. None of the information on the Natural Juice Therapy site is intended or implied to treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease.