Spicing up life

  Here I am with my heart full of gratitude and a beautiful smiling face. Life is beautiful, not just because of the big things, but also the tiny things we sometimes neglect.

In these beautiful, cold, and rainy days all over Nigeria, some people might be under the weather with either the flu or malaria due to the changing weather. I am grateful for the home-made drinks we have to boost the immune system and fight inflammation.

I am grateful for ginger 🫚. I love its unique taste, flavor, and color. Interestingly, ginger does not grow in the wild, and its actual origins are uncertain.

Nigerian Ginger: A Global Leader

Nigerian ginger is among the best in the world, known for its aroma, pungency, and high oil and oleoresin content. The main producing zone is Kaduna State, with contributions from Nasarawa, Niger, Gombe, Bauchi, Jos, and Benue. Nigeria is the leading producer of ginger in Africa and the fourth largest producer in the world.

The Benefits of Ginger

I am grateful for its numerous health benefits. Ginger aids in gastrointestinal motility the rate at which food exits the stomach and continues along the digestive process.

 Eating ginger encourages efficient digestion, so food doesn't linger as long in the gut. 

It also helps relieve nausea, reduce fermentation, constipation, and other causes of bloating and intestinal gas. 

Ginger contains antioxidants that help manage free radicals, which are compounds that can damage cells when their numbers grow too high. It also helps ease menstrual pain for us ladies.

Lastly, and most importantly, ginger can also boost vitality, virility, and vigor in men. Consuming ginger might help boost your sexual health. Aging men can consume ginger daily to retain their stamina and youthfulness, based on research.

Recipe to Enjoy

In these rainy days, you can have ginger, cloves, mint leaves, lemon, lemongrass, star anise, and cinnamon all boiled together and served hot with honey as a sweetener if you wish. With all the above ingredients, you'll find it sweet already.

My Personal Experience with Ginger

Today the weather was cold, so I looked around my kitchen to see if I could find some ginger to make tea and keep warm. Luckily, I found one left and prepared a nice tea for myself. Ginger is expensive in the market now, unlike before when it used to be very affordable. May it grow in abundance this rainy season! I no fit shout! Sometimes I love to drink pure ginger drink. Last Saturday, I bought a ginger drink, and my friend who was with me started complaining, asking why I should drink pure ginger. Funny enough, I wasn’t in the mood to explain, so I just enjoyed my drink in silence 😂.

I am so happy and grateful for ginger.

Have you tasted pure ginger drink? What’s your favorite way to use ginger?

Have a blissful new week.