Ginger Roots
The rhizome of the ginger plant is referred to as a root and is used as a spice in cooking and as a pickled vegetable. The knobby, fibrous mature root has a light yellowish brown skin when fresh. The rhizome is also harvested at a very early stage before fibre development has taken place, for use in pickles and confectionery.
Desired quality characteristics include skin color, plumpness of tuber pieces, sheen on skin and absence of vegetative sprouts, blemishes, soil and insect injury.Young ginger is bright yellow to brown and has a high sheen with greenish-yellow vegetative buds, but no sprouts.
Mature ginger rhizomes can be stored at 12°C to 14°C with 85% to 90% RH for 2 to 3 months. Storage at 13°C with 65% RH leads to extensive dehydration and a wilted appearance. Mature ginger is chilling sensitive if held below 12°C. Symptoms include loss of skin color and pitting of the skin. In severe cases there is internal breakdown and purple surface discoloration.
Health benefit of Ginger Roots
Ginger has a very long history of use in various forms of traditional and alternative medicine. It’s been used to aid digestion, reduce nausea, and help fight the flu and common cold, to name a few of its purposes.
Gingerol is a substance with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Just 1–1.5 grams of ginger can help prevent various types of nausea, including chemotherapy-related nausea, nausea after surgery, and morning sickness.
According to studies in animals and humans, ginger may help improve weight-related measurements. These include body weight and the waist-hip ratio.
Ginger has been shown to lower blood sugar levels and improve various heart disease risk factors in people with type 2 diabetes.
Chronic indigestion is characterized by recurrent pain and discomfort in the upper part of the stomach. Ginger appears to speed up emptying of the stomach, which can be beneficial for people with indigestion and related stomach discomfort.
There’s some evidence, in both humans and animals, that ginger can lead to significant reductions in LDL (bad) cholesterol, total cholesterol, and blood triglyceride levels.
Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation can accelerate the aging process.They’re believed to be among the key drivers of Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline. Animal studies suggest that ginger can protect against age-related damage to the brain. It can also help improve brain function in middle-aged women.
Ginger may help fight harmful bacteria and viruses, which could reduce your risk for infections.