1. Rotten Ginger, Not Rotten Flavor
Many people say that ginger is fine to use even if the surface is spoiled, as the inside is still good and can be used as a seasoning. This is incorrect. When ginger rots, it produces safrole, a toxic substance that can easily lead to liver and esophageal cancer.
2. Ginger in Alcohol
Some people are accustomed to putting ginger in their alcohol, believing it makes the drink spicier and more flavorful. In fact, this is very harmful to the body. Alcohol itself can easily cause blood to circulate rapidly in the body, and ginger is a spicy food. The two together can easily create internal heat, which is not only bad for the eyes but can also easily lead to hemorrhoids.
3. Eating Ginger at Night
Many people feel that winter is cold and habitually eat ginger at night, thinking it can dispel the cold. However, what they don't realize is that although ginger is a spicy, warm food that can drive away cold, the body lacks "yang energy" at night. Ginger's spiciness can damage the liver and stomach, causing certain negative effects on the body.
4. Ginger with Brown Sugar
From a medicinal perspective, ginger and brown sugar water can be used not only for those with colds caused by wind and cold, but it can also relieve menstrual cramps for women. However, for those with heatstroke or summer heat-related colds, drinking it will not only be ineffective for treating the heatstroke but may also cause vomiting induced by the cold, due to the ginger.
5. Eating Too Much Ginger
Some people are particularly fond of eating ginger slices, even if it makes them feel hot and bothered. When the weather is hot and there is a sore throat, ginger is a spicy, warm food, and eating it will only make one feel even hotter, so it should not be eaten in large quantities. Although there are benefits to eating ginger in cold weather, it should not be overconsumed, as excessive amounts can be harmful to the body.
6. It Doesn't Matter Whether You Peel Ginger or Not
Sometimes, when cooking or making ginger tea, we peel it if we feel like it, or leave it on if we don't. This is incorrect. The flesh of ginger is pungent and warm in nature, making it suitable for those with colds caused by wind and cold, a weak spleen and stomach, or menstrual cramps from exposure to cold. However, the ginger peel is pungent and cool in nature, which is the opposite of the medicinal properties of the ginger flesh. Therefore, ginger should be used according to the specific condition. It should be peeled when necessary to avoid diminishing its effectiveness. For example, when treating edema, ginger should generally not be peeled, as people with edema often have concurrent internal heat symptoms such as bad breath and constipation. In this case, the ginger peel can counteract the ginger flesh, helping to dissipate heat and reduce edema. When cooking, it doesn't matter whether the ginger peel is on or off; just wash it thoroughly.