A PLANT OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN ORIGIN,THE GINGER PLANT IS USUALLY CULTIVATED IN TROPICAL CLIMATES AND IS POPULAR FOR ITS SPICY, AROMATICAND PUNGENT RHIZOMES(UNDERGROUND TUBES).THE PLANT PRODUCES CLUSTERS OF WHITE AND PINK FLOWER BUDS THAT BLOOM IN WINTER.BECAUSE OF ITS AESTHETIC APPEAL AND ADAPTABILITY TO WARM CLIMATE, THE PLANT IS OFTEN USED FOR LAND SCAPING.GINGER IS A KNOTTED,THICK ,BEIGE UNDERGROUND STEM;IT ROUGHLY EXTENDS TO 12 INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND WITH NARROW RIBBED GREEN LEAVES AND WHITE OR YELLOWISH GREEN FLOWERS.
GINGER STIMULATES THE PRODUCTION OF SALIVA.VOLATILE OILS AND PUNGENT PHENOL COMPOUNDS(SUCH AS GINGEROLS AND SHOGAOLS) ARE IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF THE GINGER ROOT.MEDICINAL RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT GINGER ROOT CAN EFFECTIVELY TREAT NAUSEA CAUSED BY MOTION SICKNESS.
AS THE ROOT CONTAINS MANY ANTIOXIDANTS,IT IS DRIED AND MADE INTO PILLS FOR MEDICINAL USE.GINGERALE AND GINGER BEER HAVE LONG BEEN USED AS STOMACH SETTLERS.THE GINGER WATER IS COMMONLY USED IN MANY COUNTRIES TO AVOID HEAT CRAMPS.FRESHLY POUNDED GINGER IS COMMONLY USED TO TREAT COLD AND FLU SYMPTOMS,SORE THROAT AND HEAD€HE.ACCORDING TO SOME RESEARCHERS,GINGER MAY LOWER CHOLESTEROL,PREVENT BLOOD FROM CLOTTING,THEREBY GIVING PROTECTION AGAINST STROKES AND HEART ATTACKS.SO GINGER SHOULD FORM A PART IN OUR DAILY DIET.
SPEAKING ABOUT THE CULINARY USE,AN IMPORTANT INGREDIENT IN DIFFERENT CUISINES,GINGER IS USED FOR FLAVOURING AND TO MAKE SWEET MEAT THAT HELPS IN DIGESTION.IT IS USED FRESH OR DRIED, GRATED OR PRESERVED IN SUGAR,AS SYRUP OR VINEGAR.
BESIDES ADDING TASTES TO TRADITIONAL CURRIES AND NON VEGETARIAN DISHES,IT IS WIDELY USED IN ASIAN COUNTRIES TO FLAVOUR TEA.BUT IN CUUNTRIES SUCH AS CHINA AND JAPAN,GINGER IS USED IN SOUPS AND SAUCES.SURPRISINGLY GINGERS USE IN THE EUROPEAN COUSINE HAS BEEN ON A DECLINE SINCE THE 18TH CENTURY.BUT IT IS STILL SOMETIMES USED TO FLAVOUR DRINKS,EATEN RAW WITH TOFU OR NOODLES,AS GINGER BREAD,GINGER SNAPS(A TYPE OF COOKIES),GINGER CAKE AND GINGER BISCUITS.
More abstracts about the MEDICINAL AND CULINARY USES OF GINGER