Many parents do not know whether it is possible to use ginger in baby food. Nutritionists not only allow its use, but in some cases even recommend. Naturally, if there is no individual intolerance and contraindications. The main limitation - because of the rather acute taste of ginger can not be given to children until two years.
Gastronomic properties of ginger
Which of the children does not like sweets? But often they do not bring health benefits. To bake, cookies and gingerbread cookies have become more useful, you can use ginger in the nutrition of children. This sweetish culinary seasoning gives the dishes an extra flavor and a piquant taste. Ginger is also added to non-sweet dishes: soups, vegetable ragout, fish, meat. Thanks to complex essential oils, ginger stimulates the secretion of gastric juice and helps the food to be digested more fully. Ginger can be purchased in the form of fresh tubers, powder, candied pieces.
Therapeutic properties of ginger for children
Ginger since ancient times is known not only as a spicy product, but also as a curative remedy of a wide profile. It can be used in baby food to treat and prevent many ailments. Especially with a stomach disorder, weakness, nausea. Ginger is rich in vitamins and microelements, natural nutrients. Therefore, it is useful for children to improve immunity, to improve overall health, prevent various diseases. It helps to cure arthritis, colds, flu.
For children, it is best to cook ginger in the form of ginger tea. For example, with honey and lemon juice. Ginger tea has a mild effect, not very sharp and incredibly useful. Thanks to the anti-inflammatory effect, it removes the symptoms of colds in children, facilitates expectoration of sputum from the lungs, calms cough, lowers body temperature. It is very useful for inflammation of the lungs, bronchitis and other lung diseases. Instead of tea, you can make a decoction of ginger.
The root of ginger is an excellent natural remedy for calming such symptoms as abdominal and muscle cramps, headaches, nausea, vomiting. For example, if a child often suffers from eating disorders, you can, after consulting a pediatrician, include ginger in the baby's food.
Ginger and ginger tea also relieve muscle pain. Therefore, they are an effective food additive for recovery after a serious illness and a surgical operation. Ginger is recommended for children to enhance general immunity. Regular use of products containing ginger extracts, as good as garlic, protects against influenza, ARI, ARVI and other infectious diseases.
General recommendations
Since ginger - the plant is spicy, it can irritate the injured mucous mouth, throat, stomach. Because of the complex composition of essential oils is not recommended for young children. In any case, use it in baby food should be with the permission of a family doctor or a district doctor.
Ginger rarely causes allergies, but at the beginning to eat meals or drink ginger tea should be in small doses, watching the reaction of the body. For the same reason it is necessary to limit the use of sweets with ginger. The maximum of useful substances is contained in the fresh roots of ginger.
It is best for children to absorb ginger tea. It is prepared very simply. For 1 liter of water, 2-3 tables are added. spoonful of finely grated ginger and boiled for about five minutes. You can simply pour steep boiling water, wrap up the dishes and insist 5 minutes. Then add a fresh juice of orange or lemon and a few spoons of honey (sugar). If there is only ginger powder available, then it will take 1-2 tables. spoons per liter of water. Boil it should be about 20 minutes on a slow fire. They drink ginger tea hot enough. With throat diseases - only warm.