Ginger: Provider Of Vitamins and Minerals, Metabolism Booster... Warm Up With Ginger (RECIPES)

As it gets colder, we look for ways to keep warmer and adding ginger to your day is a great way to warm up and boost your immunity.

According to Green Med Info, Ginger is extremely low in calories (only 80 per 3.5 ounces) and is an excellent source of: Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Pantothenic acid (B5), Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin C, Vitamin E as well as Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium and Zinc.

Cynthia Sass, creator of the S.A.S.S. diet (formerly the CINCH diet), advocates adding spices and flavors to your meals that will taste great, satisfy your palate (which will in turn satisfy your hunger) and rev up your metabolism.

Liana Werner-Gray instructs her clients with sugar addiction to drink ginger tea. "Ginger can help to rid intense refined sugar cravings and many comment they feel 'so clean' after drinking it," she wrote.

To pick a nice piece of ginger, look for a firm tuber that is heavy for its size, suggests Spark People. It should have a nice spicy smell and the tuber should not be wrinkled. "Fresh, unpeeled ginger tubers should be wrapped in paper towels, placed in a plastic bag and refrigerated up to three weeks," according to Spark People. "You may also wrap ginger tubers tightly and freeze them up to two months."

Here are some ideas to add more ginger into your life:

Ginger Tea - Inspired by Liana Werner-Gray

Serves two

Ingredients:

4 cups water

2 inch piece of ginger, diced

Lemon, optional

Instructions:

Boil water and diced ginger in a sauce pan for five to 10 minutes. Strain the ginger bits as you pour into two teacups. Squirt a slice of lemon in your brew before serving.

Ginger Vodka

Using a microplane grater (zester), grate some ginger into a mason jar of vodka. Let it sit anywhere from an hour on the counter to a few days in the refrigerator.

Drink it with ice, club soda or mix into your favorite martini for a fat burning cocktail.

Ginger Pear Smoothie

Serves one

Ingredients:

1 ripe pear

1 cup milk (cow's milk, soymilk, coconut milk)

1/4 to 1 whole teaspoon grated ginger (to taste)

Instructions:

Blend until smooth. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Hoisin Ginger Meatloaf - From Eating Well

Serves 10

Ingredients:

1 large red bell pepper, cut into 2-inch pieces

8 ounces shiitake mushroom caps, halved

1-8 ounce can water chestnuts, drained

4 scallions, sliced, whites and greens divided

1-1 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil or canola oil

5 tablespoons hoisin sauce, divided

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 large egg, lightly beaten

3/4 cup cooked brown rice

1 1/2 pounds ground turkey

8 ounces ground pork

Instructions:

"Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a large rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.

"Pulse bell pepper, mushrooms, water chestnuts, scallion whites and ginger in a food processor until finely chopped.

"Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the vegetables and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and most of the liquid has evaporated, five to 10 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool for 10 minutes.

"Add two chopped scallion greens, 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce and salt to the vegetables; stir to combine. Stir in egg and rice. Add ground turkey and pork and with clean hands gently knead the vegetable mixture into the meat; do not over mix. Pat the meat mixture into a loaf shape (about 12 x 5 inches) on the prepared baking sheet. Spread the remaining 3 tablespoons hoisin on top.

"Bake the meatloaf until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 165 degrees Fahrenheit, about 45 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining scallion greens. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing."

Ginger Crinkle Cookies - From All Recipes

Makes two dozen

Ingredients:

2/3 cup vegetable oil

1 cup white sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup molasses

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 cup white sugar