Ginger has health and wellness benefits such as warming the middle to stop vomiting, resolving the exterior to disperse cold, and more. It can treat dampness pain, abdominal pain, and diarrhea caused by cold exposure. Additionally, ginger contains amino acids, starch, phosphorus, iron, and other components needed by the human body, which helps promote blood circulation and accelerate the body's metabolic functions. Furthermore, ginger is considered a yang-tonifying food. Since ancient times, Traditional Chinese Medicine has the saying, "A man should not go without ginger for a hundred days." Therefore, one can moderately consume more ginger in the spring.
Precautions for Eating Ginger
1. Do not peel the skin. Some people like to peel ginger when eating it, but doing so prevents ginger from exerting its full effects.
2. People with certain conditions should avoid eating ginger. Those with yin deficiency and excessive fire, red eyes, and internal heat, or those suffering from carbuncles, sores, pneumonia, lung abscess, tuberculosis, gastric ulcers, cholecystitis, pyelonephritis, diabetes, or hemorrhoids should not consume ginger long-term.
3. Each serving of ginger should be about 10 grams. Consuming too much ginger can lead to a large amount of gingerol being excreted by the kidneys, which can irritate them and cause symptoms such as dry mouth, sore throat, and constipation.
4. Ginger has detoxifying and antibacterial properties, so it should be avoided by those with internal heat. Do not eat spoiled or frozen ginger, as ginger can produce carcinogens after it has gone bad.
It is better to eat ginger "in the morning" than "in the evening"
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 eating ginger can be beneficial, it can also be harmful depending on when it's consumed. This saying is more applicable to people in northern regions.
Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that ginger can warm the middle to stop vomiting and resolve the exterior to disperse cold. Ginger also contains phytoncides whose antibacterial effects are no less than those 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 serum.
Furthermore, in the morning, the body's qi is ready to rise. Eating some ginger can strengthen the spleen and warm the stomach. The volatile oil in ginger can also speed up blood circulation, excite the nerves, and warm the entire body. Eating a moderate amount of ginger on a winter morning can also dispel cold and prevent colds. By evening, the body's yang energy should be conserved and yin energy should be more prevalent. Therefore, it is better to eat foods that clear heat, promote qi descent, and aid digestion for a more restful night's sleep, with radish being a good choice. The pungent and warm, dispersing nature of ginger can interfere with normal nighttime rest, and consuming pungent and warm ginger at night can easily lead to internal heat, with symptoms of "heatiness" appearing over time.