Ginger/ja: Difference between revisions

In [[Western cuisine]], ginger is traditionally used mainly in sweet foods such as [[ginger ale]], [[gingerbread]], [[ginger snap]]s, [[parkin (cake)|parkin]], and [[speculaas]]. A ginger-flavored [[liqueur]] called [[Domaine de Canton (liqueur)|Canton]] is produced in [[Jarnac]], France. [[Ginger wine]] is a ginger-flavoured wine produced in the United Kingdom, traditionally sold in a green glass bottle. Ginger is also used as a spice added to hot coffee and tea. On the island of [[Corfu]], Greece, a traditional drink called τσιτσιμπύρα (''tsitsibira''), a type of [[ginger beer]], is made. The people of Corfu and the rest of the Ionian islands adopted the drink from the British, during the period of the [[United States of the Ionian Islands]].

Fresh ginger can be substituted for ground ginger at a ratio of six to one, although the flavours of fresh and dried ginger are somewhat different. Powdered dry ginger root is typically used as a flavouring for recipes such as [[gingerbread]], [[cookie]]s, [[cracker (food)|crackers]] and cakes, [[ginger ale]], and [[ginger beer]]. Candied or [[crystallized ginger]], known in the UK as "'''stem ginger'''", is the root cooked in sugar until soft, and is a type of [[confectionery]]. Fresh ginger may be peeled before eating. For longer-term storage, the ginger can be placed in a plastic bag and refrigerated or frozen.

====Middle East====

Ginger is used in [[Iranian cuisine]]. Ginger bread is a kind of cookie traditionally prepared in the city of [[Gorgan]] on the holiday of [[Nowruz]] (New Year's Day).

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===Similar ingredients===

Other members of the family [[Zingiberaceae]] are used in similar ways. They include the ''[[myoga]]'' (''[[Zingiber mioga]]''), the several types of [[galangal]], the fingerroot (''[[Boesenbergia rotunda]]''), and the bitter ginger (''[[Zingiber zerumbet]]'').

A [[dicotyledon]]ous native species of eastern North America, ''[[Asarum canadense]]'', is also known as "[[Asarum|wild ginger]]", and its root has similar aromatic properties, but it is not related to true ginger. The plant contains [[aristolochic acid]], a [[carcinogen]]ic compound. The United States Food and Drug Administration warns that consumption of aristolochic acid-containing products is associated with "permanent kidney damage, sometimes resulting in kidney failure that has required kidney dialysis or kidney transplantation. In addition, some patients have developed certain types of cancers, most often occurring in the urinary tract."

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==Nutrition==

{{Infobox nutritional value

| name = Ginger root (raw)

| caption = Cross-section of ginger root

| note=[https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169231/nutrients Full link to USDA Database entry]

Raw ginger is 79% water, 18% [[carbohydrates]], 2% [[protein (nutrient)|protein]], and 1% [[fat]] (table). In a reference amount of {{cvt|100|g}}, raw ginger supplies {{convert|333|kJ|kcal|abbr=off}} of [[food energy]] and moderate amounts of [[potassium in biology|potassium]] (14% of the [[Daily Value]], DV), [[magnesium in biology|magnesium]] (10% DV) and [[manganese in biology|manganese]] (10% DV), but otherwise is low in [[micronutrient]] content (table).

==Composition and safety==

If consumed in reasonable quantities, ginger has few negative [[side effect]]s, although large amounts may cause [[adverse event]]s, such as [[gastrointestinal]] discomfort, and undesirable interactions with [[prescription drug]]s. It is on the [[FDA]]'s "[[generally recognized as safe]]" list, though it does [[drug interaction|interact]] with some medications, including the [[anticoagulant]] drug [[warfarin]] and the [[cardiovascular]] drug [[nifedipine]].

===Chemistry===

The characteristic fragrance and flavor of ginger result from [[volatility (chemistry)|volatile]] [[essential oil|oils]] that compose 1–3% of the weight of fresh ginger, primarily consisting of [[sesquiterpene]]s, such as [[bisabolene|beta-bisabolene]] and [[zingiberene]], [[zingerone]], [[shogaol]]s, and [[gingerol]]s with [6]-gingerol (1-[4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl]-5-hydroxy-3-decanone) as the major pungent compound. Some 400 chemical compounds exist in raw ginger.

Zingerone is produced from gingerols during drying, having lower pungency and a spicy-sweet aroma. Shogaols are more pungent, and are formed from gingerols during heating, storage or via acidity. Numerous [[monoterpene]]s, [[amino acid]]s, [[dietary fiber]], protein, [[phytosterol]]s, [[vitamin]]s, and [[dietary mineral]]s are other constituents. Fresh ginger also contains an enzyme [[zingibain]] which is a [[cysteine protease]] and has similar properties to [[rennet]].

==Research==

Evidence that ginger use is associated with reduced [[nausea]] during pregnancy is of low quality. There is no good evidence ginger helps alleviate chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

There is no clear evidence that taking ginger to treat [[nausea]] during pregnancy is safe. Ginger is not effective for treating [[dysmenorrhea]]. There is some evidence for it having an [[anti-inflammatory]] effect, but insufficient evidence for it affecting pain in [[osteoarthritis]]. There is no good evidence that ginger affects [[platelet]] aggregation and [[Coagulation|blood clotting]].

A 2018 review found evidence that ginger could decrease body weight in obese subjects and increase [[HDL-cholesterol]].

==Adverse effects==

Although [[generally recognized as safe]], ginger can cause [[heartburn]] and other side effects, particularly if taken in powdered form. It may adversely affect individuals with [[gallstone]]s, and may interfere with the effects of [[anticoagulant]]s, such as [[warfarin]] or [[aspirin]], and other [[prescription drug]]s.

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==Gallery==

File:Ginger Plant vs.jpg|Ginger plant with flower

File:Opening ginger flower.jpg|Ginger flower about to bloom

File:Ginger flower stamen.jpg|Ginger flower stamen

File:Ginger crop.jpg|Ginger crop, Myanmar

File:Ginger on Dark Board.jpg|Chopped ginger

File:Gari ginger.jpg|[[Gari (ginger)|''Gari'']], a type of pickled ginger

File:German Ginger wine with stem ginger decoration 4.jpg|German ginger-flavored wine (grape-based) with stem ginger decoration