Ginger is known as one of the world's healthiest foods, packed with tons of vitamins and gingerol, the benefits of adding ginger to your diet are so vast it’s almost unbelievable. Ginger is also very low in calories, so it’s a great way to pack an extra punch to your meals without extra sugars. Ginger will actually lower the blood sugar levels in people who suffer from type 2 diabetes.

First let’s look at all the vitamins and minerals packed into this super spice, a significant source of Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Pantothenic acid (B5), Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, it’s also got Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, and Zinc! Not to mention gingerol, which is the main contributor to gingers medical benefits. It’s the active ingredient in ginger and if most potent when eaten raw.

So, what will eating ginger DO FOR YOU? Well, it’s a proven anti-inflammatory, so it’s going to help with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, muscle pain, stiffness, and soreness. It’s also an antioxidant, so it helps detox your body! There's a reason people drink ginger ale when they're sick, ginger is a super effective anti-nausea remedy and is completely safe for pregnant women to consume. It helps with IBS and chronic indigestion, as well as eases cramps. With all the cancer-causing products in the world, today ginger may help prevent certain types of cancer – pancreatic, breast and ovarian, although more studies are being done to confirm this. And if none of these benefits have convinced you to add some ginger zing to your life, the fact that ginger is AMAZING at fighting off infections is reason enough. Ward off the common cold and keep the sniffles at bay by drinking a ginger tea a day!!!

Wondering how to pick out good ginger? You want to find a good thick chunk, as firm as possible. Also, pick up a few ginger roots that look around the same size and pick the heaviest one. Firm and heavy, that’s the key!

Now that you’ve got your ginger it’s time to consume it! Add diced ginger to your stir fries or meat dishes. Add some extra flavor (and some awesome healthy benefits) to your soups with some puréed ginger in there. Almost every cookie tastes better with a bit of ginger in it, or go with the classic ginger snaps and feel good about having an extra cookie for desert. Drink your ginger!!!! Make ginger tea by adding some diced pieces to boiling water and a squeeze of lemon. If booze is more your style feel free to infuse your vodka or gin with ginger, grate up some ginger root, add it to your bottle, let it sit for a bit to blend that delicious spicy flavor in your alcohol and enjoy, YUM!!!!

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