The Evidence Based Diet: Ginger Cookies for Nausea, Pain, Cholesterol
Robert Latkany, MDPicture by Barbara Lock, MD
May 17, 2009
Ginger, a well known spice in cooking, is also used in alternative medicine. One of ginger's well-researched benefits is its effect on nausea: A study by Ozgoli et al of pregnant women complaining of nausea and vomiting revealed those women who took 1 gram of ginger daily had significantly reduced vomiting episodes and complaints of nausea compared to a placebo. A randomized controlled trial by Vutyavanich et al in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology demonstrated similar efficacy of ginger for pregnant women with nausea, with no side effects. On the basis of several small studies demonstrating the benefit of ginger in the treatment of post-chemotherapy nausea, the National Cancer Institute has funded a randomized placebo-controlled trial of ginger for nausea, in progress now at private oncology groups affiliated with University of Rochester Cancer Center Community Clinical Oncology Program Research Base.
While ginger’s anti-nausea affects are no secret, it has several other important medicinal properties. Ginger reduced
bad cholesterol levels (LDL) and elevated good cholesterol levels (HDL) in subjects given 3 grams of ginger daily when compared to placebo according to Alizadeh-Navaei et al. Ginger also appears to reduce pain in patients with primary dysmenorrhea as well as two commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, according to Ozgoli et al. Brown et al found promising results in ginger’s ability to block the blood supply to the tumor and tumor cell growth in rats with colon cancer.
But who wants to slug down another capsule in the morning? While I have not done a randomized controlled trial comparing my ginger cookies to oatmeal cookies or cheese crackers in pregnant women with nausea, my two-year-old did keep trying to steal them off of the cooling rack. I added almonds to boost the protein content a bit. These cookies are great for making vanilla ice cream sandwiches.
Recipe for Ginger and Almond Cookies
2 cups of unbleached white flour
2 ½ teaspoons powdered ginger
1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
½ cup almond flour *
½ cup white sugar
¾ light brown sugar
2/3 cup of canola oil**
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. Mix dry ingredients: flour, ginger, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nuts to a large mixing bowl and mix
3. Mix wet ingredients and sugars in a separate bowl: eggs, vanilla, white and brown sugars, and canola oil 4. Combine wet and dry ingredients in a large bowl with a wooden spoon
5. Drop by spoonfuls onto greased baking sheet, cook in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned
Makes 24 cookies
Calories: 142 per cookie.
*Almond flour can be found in most grocery stories in the baking section, or you can grind your own from whole almonds in a food processor.
** Don't be afraid of using canola oil in place of butter in cookie recipes; just reduce the volume by 20 to 30% (also cuts down on calories).
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Reply #1 on : Fri October 02, 2009, 09:33:14
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What are these?