RECIPE: Spring Flu? Try Ginger Lime Tea.

The Recipe

Got a spring cold or flu?  I can empathize as I just got over a doozy.  I am also watching gads of my Facebook friends drop to their knees from spring ailments.  If you are one of those poor bloaks, try this soothing 5-step tea. Its one of my favorites and I don't just drink it when under the weather.

1.  Grate 1/4c. of fresh, well-washed ginger (you don't need to peel it since you aren't eating it directly).  Use a box grater for 1/4 c.  You can also use a zester, and in this case you would need only about 2 TBS and you will want to peel the ginger.*

2.  Throw it into a tea pot and pour 4 c. of boiling water over it.

3.  Steep for 4-5 minutes & strain into a mug.

4.  Add a good squeeze of fresh lime or lemon.  I like lime, but lemon has wonderful anti-microbial properties.

5.  Add a little honey or agave to taste.

When my herb garden is in bloom, I like to add a little fresh mint or fresh tarragon for a little extra somethin' somethin'.

 Chef's Tip:  If you use ginger in recipes where you actually eat the ginger, peel it.  The young root with a thin skin is what you find in most grocery stores.  Use a knife to cut the tough little knobs, but use a spoon to peel the skin.  A knife cuts to deeply into the flesh and wastes the ginger, whiile a spoon gently and easily scrapes off just the skin.

Ginger's Health Benefits

Ginger contains the following nutrients:

• Potassium
• Magnesium
• Copper
• Manganese
• Vitamin B6

Ginger is a root with anti-inflammatory properties.  It soothes your throat and is also very healing to your digestive tract.    Though especially nice served as a tea while recovering from the flu, the health benefits of ginger are as long as Michael Jordan's arm (you know, like a really tall basketball player).  Ginger has been used in Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine for centuries as a cure for and prevention of a variety of ailments.  Since 2006, the University of Michigan has been studying ginger for its ability to help cure and prevent ovarian cancer.  The University of Minnesota has been studying the effects of ginger on colon cancer cells and its ability to decrease tumor size. 

Other health benefits are:

• Decreases nausea
• Helps reduce the symptoms of motion sickness and morning sickness
• Decreases gastro-intestinal distress (gas/bloating)
• Reduces pain and swelling from arthritis (being studied)
• Helps you sweat - sweating detoxifies your bod, but German scientists are also finding that sweat itself has a potent germ-fighting agent that helps reduce infections. 

And for those with food allergies, the soothing, anti-inflammatory properties of ginger is very helpful to your digestive tract.  75 % of your immune system is there, so its good to take care of it.

Note:  if you are on medications, especially blood thinning medications, please discuss the use of ginger or any herb with your doctor.  This post is for informational purposes only and does not intend to be or replace proper medical advice.

Storing Ginger

Store your fresh ginger root with the peel on.  Break off what you need, and store the rest in an open glass container.  Do not store in plastic or plastic wrap and do not cover it.   Be forewarned, if you cover it and it ages, you will have a smell you will never forget.  Keeping it uncovered and well aired.  If it attracts mold, throw it out.  Keeping it well aired and dry will help the ginger last longer, and it will simply dry up (rather than give off a 5 alarm smell) when it ages.