Many people wonder, since ginger is a great food for dispelling cold in the winter, can it be eaten in the spring? Our answer is: of course you can. However, there are things to note when eating ginger, and there are also specific considerations for eating it in the spring. Only by knowing the proper method can you use ginger for health and wellness.
The Benefits of Eating Ginger in Spring
Ginger has health benefits such as warming the middle to stop vomiting, resolving the exterior to expel cold, and more. It can treat dampness-related pain, as well as abdominal pain and diarrhea caused by exposure to cold. In addition, ginger contains amino acids, starch, phosphorus, iron, and other components that the human body needs, which help promote blood circulation and accelerate the body's metabolic functions. Furthermore, ginger is a yang-tonifying food. Since ancient times, traditional Chinese medicine has a saying, "A man should not go a hundred days without ginger." Therefore, one can eat a moderate amount more ginger in the spring.
Dietary Taboos for Ginger
1. Do not peel it. Some people like to peel ginger when eating it, but doing so prevents ginger from exerting its full effects.
2. People with these conditions should not eat ginger. Those with yin deficiency and excessive fire, or with red eyes and internal heat, or suffering from carbuncles, sores, pneumonia, lung abscess, tuberculosis, stomach ulcers, cholecystitis, pyelonephritis, diabetes, or hemorrhoids, should not consume ginger long-term.
3. Each serving of ginger should only be about 10 grams. Consuming too much ginger will cause a large amount of gingerol to stimulate the kidneys during excretion, leading to symptoms such as dry mouth, sore throat, and constipation.
4. Ginger has the effect of detoxification and sterilization, so those with internal heat should avoid it. Do not eat spoiled or frozen ginger, as ginger can produce carcinogens after it has gone bad.
Eating Ginger is Better "Early" than "Late"
Eating ginger in the morning is better than ginseng soup; eating ginger at night is worse than arsenic.
The ancients had a saying, "Eating ginger in the morning is better than ginseng soup; eating ginger at night is worse than arsenic." This means that while ginger is the same, eating it in the morning is beneficial, but eating it at night is harmful. However, this saying is more suitable for people in the north.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that ginger can warm the middle to stop vomiting and resolve the exterior to expel cold. Ginger also contains phytoncides, and its bactericidal effect is no less than that of onions and garlic. The gingerol in ginger can stimulate gastric juice secretion, aiding digestion. It also contains a relatively high amount of volatile oil, which can inhibit the body's absorption of cholesterol and prevent its accumulation in the liver and blood serum.
In the morning, the body's qi is ready to rise and flourish. Eating a little ginger can strengthen the spleen and warm the stomach. The volatile oil in ginger can also improve blood circulation and excite the nerves, making the whole body feel warm. In the morning of winter, eating a little ginger can also dispel cold and prevent colds. By night, the body's yang energy should be收敛 (shōuliàn -收敛 means to converge or gather in) and yin energy should be flourishing. Therefore, it is better to eat foods that clear heat, promote qi descent, and aid digestion, which is more conducive to rest at night. Radish is a good choice. The pungent and warm, dispersing nature of ginger can interfere with normal nighttime rest, and eating pungent and warm ginger at night can easily create internal heat, leading to "internal heat" symptoms over time.