There are so many ways to incorporate the amazing things nature provides into our daily lives in order to live a healthier lifestyle.
One of those ways is by replacing the products we use with products that contain natural, healthy ingredients. Many people enjoy a carbonated beverage from time to time and we have all been told for years how bad they are for us. So, we learned how to make our own homemade, healthy soda using organic ginger root and a mason jar.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a flowering, herbaceous perennial plant that can grow to be three to four feet tall. The rhizome (underground stem), also known as ginger root, is the part commonly used in cooking and in traditional, herbal medicines. They can spread to be one to two feet wide.
Before we have fun in the kitchen, let’s look into what a ginger bug is and the health benefits it provides.
What is Ginger Bug?
Ginger bug is a mix of ginger, sugar, and water that has been allowed to ferment until its bubbly. It’s a starter culture, similar to a sourdough starter, except it is used to make drinks instead of bread. The microorganisms on the ginger breakdown the sugar and create ethanol and carbon dioxide, which are used to preserve food.
Once the bug is ready to use, in about a week, it can be added to fruit juice or sweetened herbal teas to make a healthy, homemade bubbly soda. The process is easy to do, inexpensive to make, and much healthier than traditional sodas. It doesn’t require a special machine, just a glass jar, ginger, sugar, and water.
Health Benefits of Ginger
For many centuries, people all over the world have used ginger for food and medicine. Ginger contains a compound called gingerol which has many beneficial properties, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antivirus, antitumor, antiemetic, and antioxidants. The National Library of Medicine published a chapter where they examined the scientific research regarding ginger’s health benefits.
The most well-known benefit of ginger is relieving symptoms of nausea, indigestion, and vomiting. It also helps food move through the digestive tract more efficiently, promoting healthy digestion. Ginger contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants which are important for immune health. It has been used for many years to boost the immune system and help fight the common cold and flu.
Research also suggests ginger may help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, promote weight loss, reduce cancer risk, improve blood sugar levels, lower cholesterol levels, improve brain function, and fight infections. Some scientific studies were done in vitro and on animals, so more research is needed to confirm ginger’s benefits to humans.
Ginger bug contains the benefits of ginger plus beneficial probiotics that our bodies need for optimal digestive and immune health. Probiotics are live microorganisms (bacteria and yeast) needed to improve or maintain the good bacteria in the gut. A healthy gut microbiome helps breakdown and absorb nutrients, while an unhealthy gut microbiome can contribute to a variety of gastrointestinal issues.
Let’s start taking care of our second brain, our gut.
How to Make a Ginger Bug Starter Culture
Gather your supplies and ingredients: You’ll need a quart size jar, coffee filter (or clean cloth), rubber band, organic ginger root, real sugar, and filtered water.
Take a piece of the ginger root, enough for three tablespoons, and cut it into smaller pieces. If using organic root, leave the skin on. If using a non-organic root, consider peeling the ginger first. Some recipes suggest grating the ginger, however it’s easier to strain when it’s not grated.
Place three tablespoons of the freshly cut (or grated) ginger in the jar and add three tablespoons of sugar. Make sure it’s not a sugar substitute, such as stevia or monk fruit. The bacteria and yeast need real sugar to feed on. Most recipes call for granulated sugar, cane sugar, or raw sugar. However, honey worked for us.
Add two cups of non-chlorinated water and stir with a non-metal spoon until the sugar is completely dissolved. Chlorinated tap water will kill the starter culture. Be sure to use spring, distilled, or filtered water in your ginger bug.
Put the coffee filter (or any clean cloth) over the jar and secure it with the rubber band. Place it on the counter top or in the cupboard away from direct sunlight.
How to Feed the Ginger Bug
Everyday feed the bug a tablespoon of ginger and a tablespoon of sugar. Stir vigorously until the sugar is completely dissolved and place it back on the counter. In about five days, the bug should be bubbly, have a slight yeasty smell, and ready to use.
In order to keep the culture alive, place the jar in the refrigerator and once a week bring it out for a feeding. Make sure it’s up to room temperature, feed the bug with a tablespoon each of ginger and sugar, and let it sit out for a few hours. Then, place it back into the refrigerator. It can also be left on the counter, you’ll just need to feed it daily instead of weekly.
How to Use Ginger Bug to Make Homemade Sodas
Strain a ½ cup of the ginger bug and mix it with 7 ½ cups of cool liquid such as lemonade, sweetened herbal teas or fruit juices. Do not add the culture to hot liquids, it will kill the microbes. There are several recipes online to try including ginger ale, ginger beer and recipes using real fruit.
Pour the two in a bottle that can handle the pressure of carbonation. We recommend using a swing-top glass bottle and leaving an inch or two of space at the top. Allow the mixture to ferment in the bottle for a few days and then consume or store it in the refrigerator. Every 24 hours while the mixture is fermenting, open the top carefully in order to release some pressure before closing it again.
Ginger Safety
Ginger is generally safe and well-tolerated by most people in moderation. If too much is consumed, stomach upset and heartburn may occur. Be sure to check with your healthcare provider if you’re taking prescription medications, have gallbladder issues, pregnant, or nursing.
Our Personal Experience
Brian and I love nature and want to use all it has to offer to live a healthy, simple, all natural lifestyle. We both enjoy a carbonated beverage from time to time and knew the traditional sodas on the market were not good for our bodies. So, we did some research and learned to make our own healthy sodas using ginger bug.
We made our starter culture with organic ginger root, honey, and distilled water. After about a week of feeding our bug daily, it was ready to experiment with. The two of us have made a variety of herbal teas to turn into sodas and enjoy the taste. We decided to keep our bug alive allowing us to make sodas as needed.
It feels good knowing we’re being a little kinder to our bodies by replacing traditional sodas with our homemade versions. Even if you’re not a soda drinker, we encourage you to look into ginger. For years, we’ve made ginger tea for an upset stomach and have used it in some of our recipes when cooking.
Look into ginger today and listen to your body, your immune and digestive system will thank you.