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Ginger recipes, just in time for flu season

Ginger recipes, just in time for flu season

With cold and flu season comes the home remedies — and many of us are reaching for the ginger this fall.

The versatile herb can be used fresh, dried, powdered, as a juice or an oil. And while it’s most commonly used as a spice and flavouring agent, it’s also used medicinally.

According to WebMD, ginger is commonly used to treat “stomach problems” such as motion sickness, morning sickness, nausea, gas and diarrhea, and can also be used for pain relief from arthritis, menstrual pain, muscle soreness, bronchitis, and even chest pain.

One study found that ginger might even slow the growth of colorectal cancer cells.

It can also help strengthen immunity and is frequently used to aid digestion.

Topically, fresh ginger juice can be poured on the skin to treat burns. Ginger oil can be used as a topical pain reliever, too.

It should be noted that there are some precautions that should be taken when using ginger medicinally. Pregnant women should limit their ginger intake to 1g a day, and people on blood thinners are warned that ginger might slow clotting, possibly increasing the risks of bruising and bleeding.

Children under the age of 2 should not take ginger.

If you’re new to working with fresh ginger, Simply Recipes provides a basic tutorial on how to peel, chop and grate ginger.

Here are a few ways to use fresh ginger at home:

Stay Healthy:

Fight colds and flu by infusing thinly sliced ginger root in boiling water. Or make a Ginger Honey Lemon Tonic. (Whiskey is optional.)

Cleansing Ginger-Chicken Soup is just what the doctored ordered on sick days.

Savoury Dishes:

Nothing says autumn like Ginger Carrot Soup. Take it up a notch with Joy the Baker’s Carrot Apple Ginger Soup.

Spice up dinner with The Kitchn’s Thai Giner Chicken Stir-Fry or Pinch of Yum’s Honey Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry.

Smitten Kitchen’s Ginger Fried Rice is a side dish that could likely be devoured as a main.

And Jamie Oliver’s Ginger & Honey Chicken Wings are sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Sweet Treats:

Why not make your own candy this upcoming holiday season? David Lebovitz’s Candied Ginger recipe calls for very few ingredients and doesn’t even require a candy thermometer.

This Gingerbread Cake recipe calls for three kinds of ginger: grated, candied and ground. So does Alton Brown’s Ginger Snaps recipe.

Raise a Glass:

You’ll be sure to impress your friends with Gourmet’s Homemade Ginger Beer. (Too spicy? Make your own Natural Ginger Ale instead.)

And instead of serving mulled wine this winter, consider serving this hot rum drink: Mulled Pear & Ginger.

How do you use fresh ginger in your kitchen?