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Ginger Fights Ovarian Cancer

FitSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:47:06 -0700

I recently quizzed you all on the behaviors that can increase or decrease your risk for ovarian cancer. Now I have another tidbit to add to the mix: ginger. This versatile spice has been found to kill ovarian cancer cells. Not only that, but ginger also prevents cancer cells from building up a resistance to cancer treatments, which can be a problem when treating the disease. In terms of complementary medicine, I would say this is a tasty means of fighting the disease. More research is necessary to further explore ginger's role in the war against ovarian cancer. Already established as a remedy for nausea and inflammation, I see no reason not to go heavy on the ginger when cooking up a stir fry or making a curry.

Seven Habits of Women Who Don't Get Sick

FitSugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 05:30:00 -0700

Nothing is worse than getting a cold or the flu. Sometimes it seems unavoidable, but CNN recently reported on seven habits of women who rarely get sick. I've highlighted some key points in this slideshow, so see for yourself what you may want to do, or pat yourself on the back for those things that you already do.

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Weekend Well-Being: Make Your Own Ginger Ale

FitSugar — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 02:30:00 -0700

If I am going to indulge in a soda, I usually choose some form of ginger ale. So you know I was excited when I found this recipe for making my own ginger brew. This recipe makes a tasty, mild and quite refreshing drink, perfect for sipping in the afternoon shade. Plus, ginger is a great antidote for motion sickness and promotes digestion as well.

Interested in seeing the recipe? Then read more

Ginger Ale
from The Healing Kitchen

What you need:

4 teaspoons fresh grated ginger
2 cups water
4 teaspoons honey
2 cups carbonated water
Lemon slices
Ice

What you do:

Finely chop or shred ginger in a food processor or with a hand grater. Boil water and add the ginger to it. Cover and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain.
Add honey. Agave nectar can be used as a substitute sweetener.
Allow mixture to cool to reach room temperature. Pour 1/2 cup in a glass. Add seltzer, a lemon slice, and ice. Stir and serve. Any leftover drink must be refrigerated or the mixture will begin to ferment and you'll have ginger beer!

Makes 4 servings.

Nutrition information (per serving): 23 calories; 6 g carbohydrate; 0 g fat; 0 g saturated fat; 0 g fiber; 0 mg cholesterol; 25 mg sodium.

Print recipe with images | without images

Ginger for Motion Sickness: FACT

FitSugar — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 09:30:00 -0700

I can tell you for certain that being adventurous and being prone to motion sickness is not a great combination. There are various OTC medications one can take for motion sickness, but they leave me drowsy. However, ginger just really fires me up and it has been proven to reduce symptoms of motion sickness.

Several studies have found ginger to be effective against nausea from seasickness and other motion sickness related conditions. Taking two capsules of ginger in powdered form can delay the onset of sickness about twice as long as taking the medication. Now that is super cool!

Why it worked remains a mystery, but I am happy to know this is one herbal folk remedy that works!

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Recall Round Up: Part Three

FitSugar — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:15:00 -0700

Good or bad, recalls are all the rage these days.

So get ready to check your goods -- Here's what's being recalled now:

About 18,900 pounds of Chinese fresh ginger contaminated with a toxic pesticide have been recalled by the Christopher Ranch food company of Gilroy, Calif. The ginger was shipped to more than a dozen wholesale and retail clients in California, Louisiana, Michigan, Oregon and Washington state between July 10 and July 26.

California officials said the ginger may contain potentially harmful levels of the pesticide aldicarb sulfoxide, the San Jose Mercury News reported. As of Monday, there had been no reported cases of illness linked to the imported ginger.
Toy maker Mattel has recalled nearly one million toys in the United States because they are covered in lead paint. The recall covers 83 different kinds of toys -- many of which feature Sesame Street and Nickelodeon characters -- that were made in China.
By halting product shipments from its distribution centers and by contacting retailers last week, Mattel said it prevented more than two-thirds of the 967,000 affected toys from reaching consumers, The New York Times reported. However, more than 300,000 of the lead-tainted toys have already been purchased by US consumers. The affected toys, made between April 19 and July 6, may have a date code from 109-7LF to 187-7LF on the product or packaging, said the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Lakeside Foods, Inc., is recalling 15,000 cases of its 14.5-ounce French style green beans because some of the cans may have been under-processed and some may have leaked. This could have lead to the beans being contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, which causes botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning. No illnesses have been reported, and no botulinum toxin has been found in any cans tested to date.
The cans with the following code in the top line should be returned to place of purchase: EAA5247, EAA5257, EAA267, EAA5277, EAB5247, EAB5257, ECA5207, ECA5217, ECA5227, ECA5297, ECB5207, ECAB5217, ECB5227 and ECB5307. Details: by phone at 800-466-3834 ext. 4090; by Web at Lakesidefoods.com.

There's been a lot of other recalls recently, review them all here

Soothe Your Tummy With Reed's Ginger Candy

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 14:30:00 -0700

There are certain things I try to keep in my purse just in case - tissues, Advil, tampons, peppermint gum, an emergency $20 bill, and Reed's Ginger Candy.

Not only are Reed's Ginger Candy great for calming an upset tummy, they also soothe a sore throat, and really satisfy my craving for something chewy.

The recipe actually comes from Indonesia and it contains real ginger root, so this chewy treat has a bit of a bite to it. I love to pop one in my mouth after going out to eat, since sometimes restaurant food doesn't always agree with me.

Reed's Ginger Candy is made with a little sugar, so it also curbs my sweet tooth - once I have the taste of ginger in my mouth, I lose my craving for dessert. One delicious piece contains 25 calories, 0g of fat, and 3g of sugar. This just might be the healthiest candy I've ever eaten, and I wouldn't even call it candy since it's more like medicine. When I've got an upset tummy, I chew on Reed's.

Fit's Tips: Reed's also makes Ginger Brew, so if your tummy's feeling really bad, sipping down these gingerly bubbles always makes me feel better.

Chai Tea - Raise a Cup to Your Health

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 02:30:00 -0800

What is not to like about tea? Tea and especially chai tea help prevent and fight many different kinds of cancer, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and may reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

The fact is - every ingredient in chai tea is good for you, and when you put them all together they pack a powerful punch for your immune system.

Chai is a great alternative to your morning cup of coffee - a 5 ounce cup of coffee contains 200 mg of caffeine and black tea contains half that.

In the winter, after a long day of playing out in the snow, it's nice to come home, take a hot shower and curl up on the couch with a steaming cup of chai tea. Of course you can buy chai tea packets, but nothing compares to making it yourself.

Want to see my recipe? Then read more

Masala Chai Tea (serves 4)

3 cups water
1/2 cups milk (good source of calcium and protein)
2 packets of black tea (full of healthy antioxidants, that may help prevent everything from heart disease to strokes to cancer)
4 whole cloves (believed to invigorate and restore energy; helps generate heat in the body; useful during the cold and flu season)
1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces (is a stimulant to other herbs enabling them to work faster)
2 cardamon pods (stimulates the mind and gives clarity)
1/4 tsp dried ginger (believed to strengthen and heal the digestive and respiratory system, as well as to fight off colds and flu; removes congestion, soothes sore throats, and relieves body aches; recent studies have shown it to be effective in preventing motion sickness)
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper (warms the body)
2 Tbsp honey (for sweetness and soothing qualities - adjust amount to your liking)

In a mortar, crush the cloves, cardamom pods, and cinnamon.
In a saucepan, add the mixture to the water, ginger, and pepper, and bring to a boil.
Remove the pan from the heat, cover and let steep for 5 minutes.
Add the milk and honey to the pan and bring to a boil.
Remove from the heat and add the black tea. Cover and let steep for 3 minutes.
Stir the chai, then strain it into a warmed teapot or directly into teacups.

Mmmm. I'm going to make some right now.

The Ginger People

FitSugar — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 16:20:00 -0800

The Ginger People are passionate about nature's most versatile and vibrant flavor, you guessed it - Ginger. They have created many wonderful products using this powerful fiery taste.

Suffering from a cold? Drink some Ginger Soother. It's made with Chinese yellow ginger, honey, and lemon for instant relief. Ginger is said to soothe the throat and stomach, warm the internal organs, and ease nausea and ailments from colds to headaches.

They've also got Ginger candy. It's great to chew a piece if you have an upset stomach or feel a cold coming on.

And for the lover in your life...For only $7.00, send them Ginger Sweeties. They're heart-shaped crystallized baby ginger. Used as an aphrodisiac for centuries, ginger was first mentioned in the Kama Sutra for its ability to heighten sexual desires. Ooooh, nothing wrong with that.

Ginger is also a powerful antioxidant, good at relieving menstrual cramps, morning sickness, indigestion, heartburn, motion sickness, and inflammation.

Fit's Tips: Add a piece of crystallized ginger to a cup of hot tea or cocoa to add a tangy zip and to consume all the great qualities ginger has to offer.

Angelina's secret weight loss tea?

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 02:35:00 -0800

It was reported that Angelina used African Ginger Root, Garlic Tea and Yoga to lose some extra pounds after giving birth.

To find out if Ginger Root, Garlic and Yoga are the answer to all your weight loss dreams, read more

The evidence is not convincing that Ginger and Garlic would have any weight loss benefits aside from the fact that Ginger is mildly known to promote appetite loss.

So while Yoga certainly is a great way to get back into shape post baby, Ginger and Garlic when used for a method of weight loss, probably are not (and probably weren't used by Angelina for that reason). Don't shy away from them though, Ginger and Garlic are great for you.

Here is why:

Ginger: Known for helping settle indigestion and upset stomachs. Which is why you drink 'ginger ale' when feeling icky. Ginger is also great for motion sickness and is being studied for possible effectiveness against cholesterol.

Garlic: In any form, even tea, can fight a common cold and cough and could also be effective in the fight against cholesterol.

Seems that maybe Angelina was just feeling a little under the weather and couldn't get her hands on a can of ginger ale during her stay in Namibia.

Fit's take on it all in this case of weight loss--Stick to yoga.

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Newman's Own Ginger-O's

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 15:30:00 -0800

I'm sure you've all tried Oreos at some point in your life. They're definitely tasty, but they're also made with high-fructose corn syrup. Newman's Own makes a healthier version of Oreos, which are yummy, but when I saw Ginger-O's, I had to try them. I'm a huge fan of anything ginger.

Want to see how the Chocolate Newman-O's and Ginger-O's compare? Then read more.

Here's a picture of what they look like. They're basically made with organic unbleached flower, organic molasses, organic sugar, ground ginger, and nutmeg. There are no hydrogenated oils or other unnatural ingredients, so when you or your children are craving a little treat, you can feel good about eating these.

Check out the nutritional info. There isn't a huge difference between these two, except that the Ginger-O's contain more sodium, slightly more saturated fat, and slightly fewer calories. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the chocolate Newman-O's have 1g of fiber. I mean, I didn't expect to see any from a cream-filled cookie, but out of these two, I would have thought that the Ginger-O's would have more. I guess the chocolate O's are a little better for you, but since cookies in general aren't exactly healthy, I'd still choose the Ginger-O's because they are so very tasty.


Serving Size	1 oz (2 cookies)	1 oz (2 cookies)
Calories	130	120
Total Fat	4.5g	4.5g
Saturated Fat	1.5g	2g
Cholesterol	0mg	0mg
Sodium	85mg	160mg
Carbs	20g	19g
Fiber	1g	0g
Sugar	10g	10g
Protein	2g	2g