Why Ginger is a Must-Have in Your Diet

Ginger isn't just a delicious addition to your stir-fries and curries – it's a powerful superfood packed with bioactive compounds and antioxidants. With a rich history in traditional medicine, ginger offers a range of scientifically backed health benefits for both the body and mind. Here’s why you should include more ginger in your diet:

1. Natural Pain Relief

Ginger is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which may help alleviate muscle soreness and joint pain. It’s particularly effective for conditions like arthritis and post-workout aches.

2. Improved Digestion

Ginger can aid digestion by soothing gastrointestinal discomfort. It helps stimulate the movement of food through your gut, promoting better digestion and reducing bloating.

3. Lower Cholesterol

Research suggests that ginger may activate an enzyme that helps the body utilise cholesterol, potentially lowering cholesterol levels and improving heart health.

4. Nausea Relief

Ginger is widely used to combat nausea, making it a great remedy for morning sickness and motion sickness. Try sipping ginger tea or munching on raw ginger to calm your stomach.

5. Antioxidant Rich

Packed with phytonutrients, ginger is a natural powerhouse that helps protect your cells from damage and may boost your immune system.

Wholistica shared her delicious healthy recipe for Vegan Ginger Cookies with us for a great way to incorporate this culinary spice into your diet.

SERVING: 15 cookies

TIME: 20 - 30 minutes

- 1 cup of sugar

- 2 cups of flour

- 1 teaspoon baking soda

- 2 and a half tablespoons of freshly grated ginger

- A quarter teaspoon of salt

- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

- 1/2 cup of canola oil (can also substitute for rapeseed, coconut, olive)

- 1/4 cup soy milk

METHOD:

1) Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon into a bowl and mix and set aside

2) Add the sugar, milk, oil into another bowl and mix well also. Once mixed add in the rest of the ingredients from step 1 and whisk all together. The mixture will remain quite wet.

3) Have a baking tray ready with greased paper ready for the cookies to be baked. Now the mixture is ready, make small balls (about 1 teaspoon in size), and add to the tray. You can use a spoon to gently flatten the cookies out and as an optional extra you can sprinkle each cookie with sugar. My batch made around 15 , but yours may be a little more or less

4) Place on the top shelf of your oven at 180 Celsius and bake for around 10 minutes, check cookies are golden slightly but do not burn. adjust cooking time accordingly to your preference and you are all done. Either eat straight away or store in an airtight jar to keep fresh