Ginger
is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or simply ginger,
is widely used as a spice or a folk medicine. It is a herbaceous
perennial which grows annual pseudostems about a meter tall bearing
narrow leaf blades Ginger is a popular ingredient in cooking, and
especially in Asian and Indian cuisine. It has also been used for
thousands of years for medicinal purposes. Possible health benefits include relieving
nausea, loss of appetite, motion sickness, and
pain. The
root or underground stem (rhizome) of the ginger plant can be
consumed fresh, powdered, dried as a spice, in oil form, or as
juice. Ginger is part of the Zingiberaceae family, alongside
cardamom and turmeric. It is commonly produced in India, Jamaica,
Fiji, Indonesia, and Australia. It is
available fresh and dried, as ginger extract and ginger oil, and in
tinctures, capsules, and lozenges. Foods that contain ginger
include gingerbread, cookies, ginger snaps, ginger ale, and a wide
variety of savory recipes.
