Pickled ginger - useful properties and contraindications

Ginger is a herbaceous seasoning plant that has been successfully used in oriental cooking and alternative medicine.

Recently, pickled ginger, which is prepared from a white root, has gained popularity. It retains all the beneficial properties, but becomes less sharp, which improves the gastronomic characteristics of dishes.

Chemical composition

The benefits of pickled ginger are determined by vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which are part of its chemical composition.

It is known that the root of the plant does not have significant calorie content and nutritional value. The content of energy elements per 100 g of the product is as follows:

• 0.2 g of protein;
• 0.3 g of lipids;
• 12.5 g of carbohydrates (sucrose and fructose);
• 40 g of water;
• up to 6 g of dietary fiber.

Calorie content is only 51 kcal per 100 g, which makes the product dietary.

The most valuable content in ginger is amino acids: asparagine, tryptophan, valine, etc. Ginger also contains the following components:

1. Organic acids (oleic, linoleic, nicotinic and caprylic);
2. Essential oils (the main share belongs to zingibern - up to 70%, gingerol - about 1.5%, camphene, bisabolen, etc.);
3. Minerals (magnesium in the amount of double daily intake, calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, sodium and potassium);
4. Antioxidants;
5. Vitamins (group B, A and ascorbic acid).

Useful properties of pickled ginger

Seasoning produces a general strengthening effect on the body, but can also affect narrowly on internal systems and organs.

1. The fight against oncology. Essential oils, antioxidants and amino acids are natural components that reduce the division of cancer cells and slow down the development of the malignant process.
2. Anti-inflammatory effect. Vitamins and amino acids increase the body's immunity and ensure its resistance to inflammatory diseases (acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections, influenza, tonsillitis, respiratory diseases, colds). It is known that several eaten spoons of pickled ginger help to clear the nasal sinuses during rhinitis or sinusitis, sputum discharge during sore throat.
3. Strengthening the musculoskeletal system. Behind the plant, the ability to restore the cartilage tissue of bones was noted, which improves the condition in chronic diseases of the skeleton and joints (arthritis, arthrosis, spondylosis, osteoporosis, osteochondrosis and others).
4. Strengthening the heart and blood vessels. The ingredients in the seasoning reduce plasma cholesterol and thin the blood, which is the prevention of blockage of blood vessels and thrombosis, as well as stroke and heart attack.
5. Oral cleansing. It is known that people who chew pickled ginger are less likely to suffer from caries, gingivitis, periodontitis and pulpitis. Esters and organic acids contribute to the dissolution of pathogenic microflora and the cleansing of enamel from soft yellow coating, carious foci. A pleasant bonus is breath freshening: a couple of teaspoons of seasoning - and freshness for several hours is provided.
6. Anesthesia. For many people, the pickled ginger root helped relieve headaches or stomach cramps (including menstruation).
7. Suppression of nausea and gag reflex. To this end, ginger has been used since ancient times to relieve toxicosis during pregnancy and motion sickness on board a ship. In the modern world, seasoning is added to the diet of patients after chemotherapy.
8. Improving digestion. Natural plant spice suppresses the accumulation of gases in the stomach and reduces intestinal cramps, contributing to normal peristalsis. When using pickled ginger as a main dish, a laxative effect and cleansing of the body of toxins are possible, which is necessary with severe poisoning or prolonged constipation.
9. Normalization of blood flow in the mucous membranes. It is thanks to this effect that pickled ginger is considered a natural aphrodisiac and has long been used by oriental pharmacists to improve the sexual function of men and women.
10. Antiparasitic activity. No wonder Japanese and Chinese chefs are actively offering ginger as the main seasoning for raw fish. It has been proven that regular use of spices reduces the risk of foodborne parasite infection.
11. Improving the appearance. Pickled ginger contains a lot of vitamins and minerals, which allow you to maintain youthfulness and elasticity of the dermis, strength and health of the hair and nail plate. According to some reports, the diet on ginger helps cleanse the skin from acne.
12. Help smokers. Interestingly, pickled ginger depresses the body's need for nicotine, as a result of which the desire to smoke weakens. At the same time, healing seasoning cleans the already clogged vessels of the smoker from atherosclerotic plaques and helps to thin the blood.

The effect of pickled ginger on the health of women and men

In addition to the general effect on the human body, pickled ginger affects the urogenital and reproductive systems of women and men.

Benefits for women
First of all, seasoning allows you to lose weight without having to follow a strict diet. Replace daytime snacks with low-calorie seasoning, and in a month you will lose up to 2 kg without harm to health and the digestive tract.

Vascular cleansing allows the fair sex to more successfully deal with diseases of the veins (varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, large vein thrombosis, etc.).

Helps the plant and alleviate the symptoms of PMS. It suppresses nausea, reduces bleeding and strengthens the nervous system. Of course, with menstruation, pickled ginger should be consumed sparingly.

Ancient medicine also described the use of ginger root to increase uterine tone and improve labor during the last stages of pregnancy. Of course, taking the spice should occur with the permission and under the supervision of the attending gynecologist.

Benefits for men
The stronger sex prefers to use pickled ginger to increase libido and increase potency. Doctors fully support the initiative, since the amino acids and minerals in the plant reduce the risk of developing prostatitis and other inflammatory processes of the genitourinary system.

How Pickled Ginger Helps Lose Weight

Spice is appreciated due to its taste and low calorie content. Nutritionists recommend using ginger for the following purposes:

1. Fat burning;
2. Dissolution of bad cholesterol and blood sugar;
3. Decreased appetite;
4. Drainage of fluid from tissues, which reduces puffiness and allows you to quickly (in 2-3 days) lose weight by 1-2 kg;
5. Stimulation of metabolic processes, which allows lipids to be thoroughly absorbed, and not distributed over the hips.

Dietary fiber (fiber) in the composition of ginger promotes active peristalsis and digestion, due to which there is a feeling of fullness of the stomach and, as a result, there is no hunger for a long time.

There is no separate diet for pickled ginger. Nutritionists and gastroenterologists recommend introducing the plant into the diet carefully in small portions, gradually increasing to 100-150 g per day. In this case, it is necessary to distribute the volume for 2-3 small snacks.

Harm and contraindications

Medicines, dietary supplements and herbal preparations have strictly defined dosages and indications for use.There are also contraindications that are due to the chemical composition.

If you are going to use pickled ginger for medical purposes, then, first of all, you need to familiarize yourself with the list of contraindications.

1. Pregnancy is normal (last 1-2 months) and pathological (seasoning is monitored by the doctor for the entire period).
2. The period of breastfeeding.
3. The presence of allergies to components in ginger. Exacerbation of other food allergic reactions, individual intolerance of citrus fruits, etc.
4. Exacerbations of gastritis, colitis, stomach or intestinal ulcers, gall bladder diseases. High acidity, heartburn.
5. Viral hepatitis and other acute forms of liver disease.
6. Rehabilitation after diseases of the cardiovascular system (heart attack, stroke, etc.), serious operations on internal organs.
7. Hypertension.
8. Diabetes mellitus (the use of spices should be controlled by a therapist).
9. Blood coagulation disorders. It is forbidden to use spices with a tendency to bleeding.
10. Children's and advanced age. It is necessary to limit the use of pickled ginger to a couple of times a week, not more often.

The recommended dose is not more than 150 g per day, while the entire volume is distributed over several snacks. Overuse of spice can cause diarrhea, nausea and acute poisoning, even in a healthy person.

In general, pickled ginger is a universal seasoning to enhance health and improve appearance. Thanks to its gastronomic properties, the spice is easy to incorporate into the diet.

Video: pickled sushi ginger