‘Tis the season! Health benefits of gingerbread

Gingerbread is a timeless tradition around the holidays, and whether you eat it or just use it for decoration, it’s one of those Christmas season delights that finds its way into almost every home. For those individuals who love gingerbread for its flavor, there is some uplifting health information that might make you feel better about indulging. SEE ALSO: 5 cocktails to make your Christmas more merry First, it’s never a good idea to eat your weight in cookies, but if you’re going to do it, gingerbread is one of the better choices. As long as your gingerbread recipe uses real ginger, you can count on gaining some of the health benefit this dynamic root spice has to offer. All about gingerbread Though the exact origins of gingerbread are unknown, history is full of accounts pertaining to this treat. The Solvang Bakery notes Queen Elizabeth I is credited with the development of the gingerbread man, a dessert she would have served to visiting dignitaries, designed in their likeness. Other accounts include references in Shakespeare’s works as well as inclusion in the original Brothers Grimm fairy tales. Gingerbread was also known to be one of Abraham Lincoln’s favorite treats, and the former president even included mention of it in one of his debates. But why should you eat gingerbread? Well, for the ginger, of course. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, ginger has a long history of being used as medicine in Asian, Indian, and Arabic herbal traditions. The root, or rather the rhizome as it is properly called, is backed by a number of research studies supporting its use for motion sickness, pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting, chemotherapy nausea, surgery-related nausea, osteoarthritis, and possibly heart disease. Some research indicates ginger is beneficial in controlling body inflammation–a condition which, when chronic, can lead to a number of serious illnesses. A gingerbread recipe Want to make your own gingerbread this holiday season? Try this recipe for classic gingerbread men: Ingredients: 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour 1 ½ tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. salt 1 ½ tsp. ground ginger ¼ tsp. ground cloves 1 egg ¼ molasses 1 cup softened butter Directions: Combine butter and sugar in a bowl. Add egg and molasses to the sugary mixture, then mix. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients, then add to the sugary dough and blend together. Refrigerate dough for two hours, then roll out and cut with desired cookie cutters. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes, or until firm and crisp. SEE ALSO: Top health benefits of ginger: The super rootThe post ‘Tis the season! Health benefits of gingerbread appeared first on Voxxi.