| Ginger's zing helps meals, fights nausea
I like to use the spice in Asian dishes, marinades, tea blends, fruit compotes and, of course, gingerbread.
Scientists have found the pungent-flavored spice has medicinal purposes as well. Here's what ginger can do for your cooking and your health.
Tuberous stems prized
A native of tropical Asia, ginger has been widely cultivated since very early times.
The irregularly shaped underground stems, or rhizomes, are the part we use for food. The chunks sold fresh in grocery stores are popularly called "ginger root."
After a process that involves washing, peeling and drying, the rhizomes are also made into candied ginger and ground ginger.
The spice has been used to flavor many different foods in different lands, and is an important ingredient in curry powder.
Calm before the storm
I heard Patriots coach Bill Belichick, on sports radio WEEI, mention that he was happy to have the wind in the fourth quarter. Now that Mel Mitchell has been placed on IR, who is most likely to fill that extra roster spot?
Nick A: If it is to be filled, I would assume it is someone off the practice squad. Receiver Bam Childress, offensive lineman Dan Connolly, receiver C.J. Jones, cornerback Tim Mixon, tight end Jason Rader, cornerback Gemara Williams, linebacker Kyle Bissinger and defensive lineman Santonio Thomas are the practice squad possibilities. Since Mitchell was a gunner on special teams, Williams would be my choice. Yet whoever is activated to the 53-man roster isn't a slam dunk to be on the 45-man game-day roster. Do reporters ever stay later than the 15-minute allotment they are given to watch practice? Do they ever sneak back in to see if a player came to practice late? Are there penalties for this? Thanks.
Tuberculin Purifed Protein Derivative (PPD)
Tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) is an extract of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that cause tuberculosis in humans. It is used to test if a person has been exposed to tuberculin protein, either from a previous tuberculosis vaccination, or from environmental exposure. When the body is exposed to foreign organisms, such as bacteria and viruses, the immune system produces antibodies against them. Antibodies help the body recognise and kill the foreign organisms. The antibodies remain in the body to help protect the body against future infections with the same organism. This is known as active immunity. Tuberculin is injected under the skin to test if a person already has antibodies to the tuberculosis bacterium. The tuberculin will be injected under the skin of the forearm, where it forms a pale wheal a few millimetres in diameter.
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