Candied ginger is sugar crystallized ginger molecules. They are sometimes also referred to as ginger chews. Candied ginger is soft in texture and has a sweet spicy taste. This makes it suitable to be used in making cookies and cakes.
Crystallized ginger is easily accessible and can be bought from health food stores, Asian grocers and some selected grocery stores. They usually come in small packages and are thus very convenient to carry with you when traveling or going about your day to day activities.
Table of Contents
What Is Crystallized Ginger?
Ginger chews are made from a ginger root that has been properly cooked until it is soft. The root is covered with a light coat of sugar. This leaves the ginger with a sweet, spicy taste. The crystals are extremely moist which makes them very chewy and delicious.
Health Benefits of Candied Ginger
The following are some candiedginger health benefits:
1. It Acts as Anti-Inflammatory
Crystallized ginger has been proven to reduce inflammation and also relieve you of any pain stemming from the inflammation.
There have been studies conducted that show crystal ginger helps to reduce inflammation in arthritis patients as effectively as other anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and cortisone.
2. It Helps Treat Nausea
For a long time now ginger has been used to reduce nausea that is caused by chemotherapy, morning sickness or motion sickness.
3. Crystallized Ginger Helps Boost Immunity
These tasty ginger snacks come in very handy during the flu season. This is because it has active compounds that help to help clear your sinuses. These compounds are great at protecting your body from viruses and toxins.
Studies have shown that ginger has the ability to activate your body’s T-cells which are a group of white blood cells that destroy tumor cells and viruses.
4. Help Reduce Stress
Ginger has a spicy smell that is great at helping lift your spirits when you are feeling low. Since the crystallized ginger is able to clear your sinuses, it will help you feel less fatigued and lethargic.
These crystals are able to act as antioxidants that help relieve you from oxidative stress.
5. It Is Used as an Alternative Medicine
Ginger has for years been appreciated for its healing properties. It has often been used in the treatment of ailments such as a sore throat, migraines, and arthritis.
Ginger has properties that help improve blood circulation and reduce total body fat. It is also known to treat cholera and anorexia in India.
6. Candied Sugar Is Rich in IRON
Iron is essential in our bodies as it helps increase blood count. Candied ginger is rich in this vital mineral.
Iron is also great in helping your body cells produce energy and it is also an essential aspect of boosting your immunity.
7. Treatment of Insomnia
If you don’t know what is causing your insomnia then you should look to ginger for help. For a long time now ginger has been used to help people who found it difficult to fall asleep and helps them relax.
Being relaxed is essential in helping one get to sleep. This treatment will vary from an individual to the next and thus may not be so efficient for some people but this does not mean it doesn’t work at all.
8. Anxiety Treatment
We all know that anxiety is one of the factors that cause people to be unable to fall/stay asleep.
Studies have shown that ginger is able to bind itself to serotonin receptors. These receptors are responsible for a person’s mood as well as anxiety levels. When you eat candied ginger or add ginger to your tea, it will help you to feel calm and hence reduce your anxiety.
When you are not anxious you will be able to fall asleep much faster and stay asleep throughout the night. This ensures that you get enough quality sleep which is essential in ensuring that you go about your daily activities with effectiveness.
Negative Effects of Eating Candied Ginger
Candied ginger, just like all other types of candy, has negative effects on your body when taken in large quantities on a daily basis. The following are some of these effects:
- It has a lot of calories
If you are looking to lose weight or you want to maintain a slim figure you should stay away from these ginger crystals.
These sweet and spicy treats contain a lot of sugar and carbohydrate content. This can cause you to gain a lot of fat. Sugar has often been associated with obesity which causes a number of health problems including insomnia and is sometimes fatal.
- Candied sugar can cause cardiovascular diseases
Eating a lot of sugar can increase the amount of fat in your body. This can sometimes increase the chances of you getting cardiovascular diseases which can sometimes be fatal and lead to death.
Sugar consumption has been known to cause obesity. This can cause an increase in fat around the heart which can make it impossible for the heart to beat properly and cause you to have a heart problem.
Caution
If you want to take ginger supplements even in the form of candied sugar, you should be very vigilant to avoid it if you are taking blood-thinning medication.
Mothers who are breastfeeding and people suffering from bleeding disorders should also stay away from ginger supplements as it has blood-thinning properties. Even those suffering from diabetes and heart problems are told to stay away from candied ginger due to the sugar content.
How to Prepare Candied Ginger
The following is a simple recipe for DIY candied ginger;
Ingredients
- 1 cup of fresh ginger
- 3 cups of sugar
- 3 cups of water
Procedure
- Peel your ginger carefully so as not to cut yourself or cut too much of the ginger off.
- Cut the ginger into round shapes of about 1/8 inches thick.
- Get a large saucepan and mix your water and sugar together.
- Boil this mixture until all the sugar dissolves.
- Add the ginger to the mixed sugar solution.
- Boil for about 45 minutes until the ginger is tender and sweet.
- Drain the ginger but don’t pour the liquid.
- Dry the drained ginger on a rack for at least 30 minutes.
- Toss the ginger in sugar to coat it.
- Place the coated on a wax paper and allow it to dry.
- Once dry, you should store the treats in a dry, airtight container.
- For the saved liquid, boil it until it gets a thick consistency that has a consistency between honey and maple syrup.
- In case the sugar crystallizes, add some water to dissolve the sugar.
- Store the syrup solution in an airtight container for use later in either ice cream, waffles,teaetc.
Conclusion
From the information provided above it is clear that candied ginger health benefits are very many. This herbal root can make a very tasty snack when it is crystallized and sugar added to it.
It is not advisable for anyone to eat candied ginger on a daily basis as it contains a lot of sugar which can cause a number of health problems. The sugar content of these sweet and spicy treats can cause tooth decay if not properly checked.
Ginger on its own has very many health benefits which include immunity boosting and weight loss.
When the sugar is added to the ginger it becomes a bit unhealthy. This is because the sweetness of the ginger snack will make you eat more than is required and thus cause you to add weight which can cause you a number of health issues.
One great benefit of consuming ginger is that it helps one fall asleep as it reduces anxiety and it acts as an anti-inflammatory.
As you well know by now getting enough quality sleep is essential for both your health and social life. When you get enough sleep you will wake up feeling positive and energetic which will then be reflected in your work and in how you interact with other people.
Candied ginger is a great and convenient snack but must be taken in moderation, much like any other sweet because of the sugar.
1 Shares
