A Ginger Tea moment…..

02/22 | by Susan Powter

Filed under: | Lifestyle |

I’m sitting with my ginger and honey tea, having just had a lovely dinner of roasted red peppers (stuffed with brown rice, tofu and red chili peppers) topped with parsley.
Then, I found out what just some of that means to my body. All of it available, all of it simple and all of it, a privilege.

And now it’s time for, the first susanpowteronline.com cook off!

Make it up, mix it up - send in your recipes using these three beautiful, bountiful ingredients or, find your own spices, foods and toppings and send it in.

Let the cook off begin!

Susan Powter


Parsley:
Health Benefits: Chief among parsley's beneficial properties is its ability to fight cancer. Animal studies have shown that it can inhibit tumor formation, particularly in the lungs. It's also known to neutralize carcinogens including those found in cigarette smoke and charcoal grill smoke.
Parsley is also a rich source of antioxidants and heart-protective nutrients including vitamin C, beta-carotene and folic acid.
How it's Used: Parsley comes in two popular varieties, curly and flat leaf. Fresh parsley is more flavorful than the dried variety. The curly version tends to have a more intense flavor than the flat-leaf variety. Use it in soups, salads and casseroles, or to top fish, meat, potatoes, vegetables and more.
Interesting Tidbit: Parsley is a great breath freshener at the end of a meal.


Red Chili Peppers
Health Benefits: These peppers, which include the popular cayenne pepper, contain capsaicin, an anti-inflammatory compound that helps with pain relief. Chili peppers have been found to help:
• Clear congestion by clearing mucus from the lungs and nose
• Boost immunity
• Prevent stomach ulcers by killing bacteria
• Help with weight loss
• Reduce blood cholesterol, triglyceride levels and platelet aggregation
• Prevent cancers, including stomach cancer
• Relieve pain
How it's Used: Chili peppers are, of course, great in Mexican dishes, but that's not all. Try them with other vegetables, tuna salad, chili, corn bread, dips, curries, soups, sauces and more.
Interesting Tidbit: The hotter the pepper, the more capsaicin it contains. Some of the hottest chili peppers out there are the habañero, Scotch bonnet, and jalapeño peppers.


Ginger
Health Benefits: The active ingredient in ginger is gingerol, a compound that's thought to relax blood vessels, stimulate blood flow and relieve pain. It's commonly used as a digestive aid and contains compounds that ease motion sickness and nausea and inhibit vomiting. This makes it a helpful spice for morning sickness or for people suffering from the side effects of chemotherapy.
Ginger is also an anti-inflammatory, which means it may be useful in fighting heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease and arthritis. Plus, it's high in antioxidants that fight all kinds of diseases.
How it's Used: Ginger can be used freshly ground from the root (see picture) in Asian dishes, as well as in any type of meat, seafood or vegetable dish. Ginger is commonly served along with sushi. Dried ground ginger is typically used in desserts and baking (gingerbread cookies, etc.), and it's also available candied and pickled. Fresh ginger root can also be used to make a soothing ginger tea.
Interesting Tidbit: The health benefits of ginger were documented over 2,000 years ago!

Send in your recipes and discover others' favorite ways to incorporate parsley, red chili peppers and ginger into a meal in our Online Community.

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