Ginger, the Superfood for your Health

Ginger is packet with healthy benefits. Ginger is an awesome superfood (or in our case we can add essential oil). It treats nausea to muscle pain to name a few. Since breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it can sometimes get repetitive or boring, or in case you run out the door..Here are some great ways to incorporate ginger (essential oil) into your breakfast or daily routine.

1. Spice up your morning coffee. Coffee and ginger create one powerful free radical-fighting duo, especially since coffee is one of the world’s biggest sources of antioxidants. To get your morning superfood pick-me-up, simply add ground ginger to your java (up to 1 teaspoon per cup), or try making the Yemeni drink qishr. This traditional Middle Eastern ginger coffee isn’t only spicy and delicious, it can also aid in digestion.

And for those of us who don't like or drink coffee....

2. Ginger Tea for your daily dose of vitamin C Ginger tea is a popular beverage for warming up chilly winters. Not only is it warm and comforting, it may help calm an upset stomach. A cup of this spicy tea in the morning would be particularly helpful in relieving nausea, motion sickness, or pregnancy-induced morning sickness.

3. Ginger jam. For people on a low-sugar fix, you can also mince ginger and fold it into your butter. This just may become your new favorite thing, especially if you’re into bulletproof, or butter, coffee.

4. Replace your maple syrup with a zestier option. You can also easily make your own ginger syrup at home by gently boiling the ingredients for 30 minutes and straining the mixture through a sieve or strainer for a smoother texture. Recipe: 1/4 pound peeled and thinly sliced ginger (or 3-4 drops, approximately), 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water.

5. Granola bowl with Ginger. A bowl of crunchy, fiber-rich granola is always an easy breakfast choice. But adding fragrant, spicy ginger granola to the mix would make it even better!

Grate 1 inch of ginger and mix it with honey or melted coconut oil, then drizzle it over your breakfast bowl. For a super dose of nutrition, try this superfood granola that’s packed with 11 superfoods (including ginger, of course).

Adding ginger to your morning breakfast bowl provides some serious anti-inflammatory benefits, especially for people with rheumatoid arthritis.

6. Ginger Smoothies or Mimosas. For a spin on this morning beverage, try a gut-awakening ginger juice. Ginger juice is great in a variety of things, like stir-fries and salad dressings. It includes a myriad of health benefits, from boosting the metabolism to naturally fighting bacteria. It’s also particularly good for treating pain, menstrual cramps, and exercise-induced soreness. Since ginger juice is too strong on its own for you, go ahead and add some to your morning smoothie or post-workout protein shake.

7. On-the-Go Superboost . Low on time? You can still reap the benefits of ginger on the go. Grab a healthy, gluten-free turmeric and ginger Lärabar or meal prep some ginger energy bites (see recipe below), like these delicious dough balls Well Plated calls her “saving grace.” These treats make for a healthy breakfast if you’re rushing out the door.

8. Add them into breakfast (or anytime) pastries (if you're into those). Ginger is used in popular baked goods — there’s gingerbread, ginger snaps, ginger-spiced cakes and pies. But you can rely on ginger to amp up breakfast pastries, too. Try these (see recipe below) Lemon Ginger pre-workout Breakfast Cookies by Vega for some seriously sustained energy. For people who exercise in the morning, they’re filled with healthy fats and protein to improve your performance.With all of ginger’s incredible health benefits and low-effort methods to make any breakfast fit for royalty, it’s hard to see why you wouldn’t want to include it in the most important meal of the day.

Lemon Ginger Pre-work out Breakfast Cookies

These Lemon Ginger Pre-Workout Breakfast Cookies will help you start your workout—and day—strong. Bananas and oats for both instant and sustained energy combine with cashews and coconut oil to help improve your performance.

Ingredients

2 bananas, pureed
2 Tbsp water
1/2 cup cashew butter
2 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp maple syrup
1 Tbsp fresh ginger, chopped fine
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1 tsp baking soda
1 pinch salt
1 cup oats, ground
1 1/2 cups oats
1/4 cup cashews, chopped

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
In a food processor, combine banana, water, cashew butter, coconut oil, vanilla extract, maple syrup, ginger, lemon zest and juice. Process until well combined.
In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix until well combined.
Roll cookie batter into balls (1-2 tablespoon sized) and flatten onto cookie sheet.
Bake 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Healthy Energy Bites

These Ginger Cookie Healthy Energy Balls are also vegan, raw, gluten free, no bake, and naturally sweetened.

Ingredients:

1 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup almond butter
1/2 cup finely shredded unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup ground flaxseed meal
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup maple syrup*
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

Add all of the ingredients to a large mixing bowl: oats, almond butter, coconut, flaxseed, sesame seeds, maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. Stir by hand with a wooden spoon or spatula, until the mixture is incorporated and sticky. Place the bowl in the refrigerator for 10 minutes, or until the mixture is firm and easy to shape.
With damp hands, take 1 tablespoon of dough and shape it into a compact 1-inch ball (squeeze a little as needed) and place it on a plate. (Keep a bowl of water by your side, since the mixture is easier to handle with damp hands.) Repeat with the remaining batter. Enjoy immediately or store in the refrigerator for 2 weeks or freeze for 3 months.
*If you prefer not to use maple syrup, you can swap raw honey or 1/3 cup chopped Medjool dates. If using dates, puree them in the bowl of a food processor along with the almond butter first, then add the resulting paste to the bowl with the other ingredients.

* Recipes from: https://www.wellplated.com/healthy-energy-balls-ginger-cookie/