It’s no secret that many patients with cancer experience nausea when undergoing treatment. It can be caused by having a certain area of the brain triggered during treatment, or if certain areas of the esophagus, stomach, or intestines are triggered. Once theses triggers are hit, they activate the pathway that leads to nausea, vomiting or both. Out of 10 patients, around 8 usually experience a feeling of nausea. It can be an uncomfortable and sometimes painful experience. It is unclear if the nausea comes from the disease itself, or is a side-effect of the treatment as each patient is different. It is however one of the dreaded and unpleasant side effects to deal with during treatment. It can also cause other issues when it leads to vomiting like dehydration. If you can’t keep fluids down because you are nauseated it can also prevent you from taking the medicines you need. While there are drugs that can be used to block these triggers, the simplest and natural solution to nausea is ginger.
Ginger is an old folk remedy that dates back centuries. While no one can say exactly how it works it has proven time and time again to treat nausea quickly and effectively. The phytochemicals in ginger may play a role in quieting the stomach, and scientists are focusing on how to effectively use ginger to treat nausea rather than find out just exactly how it helps. A protective dose of ginger is ½ to 1 gram of powdered ginger, which is about the equivalent of 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon fresh.
Looking to spice up the holidays with a beverage that is light, fresh and more importantly can keep your guests comfortable this season? Try out our recipe for spectacular ginger limeade that is guaranteed to entice your whole family. Fun and delicious, the limeade can be garnished with anything from lemon wedges to cherries to turn an ordinary drink into a festive one. Served in beautiful glasses to complement the season the ginger limeade is the ideal drink for those patients undergoing treatment. An added benefit is it isn’t just for cancer patients – anyone who experiences nausea can take a sip of this drink to settle their stomachs. A refreshing alternative to most nausea fighting aids, the ginger limeade will be a big hit with everyone. Take this recipe into the New Year and give everyone a reason to celebrate.
Ginger Limeade
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Yields: 4 servings
Ingredients:
6 cups cold water, divided
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons chopped peeled fresh ginger
3 tablespoons grated lime rind
10 mint leaves
1 1/4 cups fresh lime juice (about 6 limes)
4 lime wedges (optional)
Directions:
Combine 1/4 cup water, sugar, ginger, rind, and mint leaves in a blender, and process until well blended. Cover; chill for 2 hours.
Add remaining 5 3/4 cups water and juice; stir to combine. Garnish with lime wedges, if desired.