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How to identify chemical ginger?Image Credit source: pixabay

From fruits, vegetables, grains to spices… most of the things available in the market have started getting adulterated. Similarly, ginger has also started getting adulterated, hence some precautions should be taken while buying ginger in the market, otherwise ginger which is beneficial for health can cause harm. A compound called gingerol is found in ginger, which is helpful in improving digestion, reducing swelling, providing relief from cold and cough etc. Apart from this, ginger also has many benefits. Know how you can identify ginger containing chemicals.

According to the data given at the University of Rochester Medical Center, ginger contains many nutrients like magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, folate in good quantities. Gingerol is its bioactive compound. Apart from this, a lot of nutrients are found in ginger in small quantities, but now we do not even know how the chemical ginger available in the market is silently harming our health.

How are chemicals found in ginger?

Actually, chemicals are not directly injected into ginger, rather people often use sulfuric acid and bleaching agents to make it look better. After harvesting ginger, it is dipped in a solution of these chemicals to sell it at good prices in the market and then it is taken out and sold in the market. Often it is also called acid ginger.

Image:Pixabay

Don't be attracted by the shine

People buy clean and shiny ginger in the market, but this is where you make a mistake. This ginger is washed with chemicals so that it looks good. If the ginger is light yellow in color it looks very clear. If the peel is slightly removed and very thin, then it may be possible that either the ginger is not real or it has been cleaned with chemicals. Ginger without chemicals has a dull, light brown peel and is not very smooth. Sometimes mud may also be present.

check ginger by pressing

While buying ginger in the market, check it by pressing it. If it is solid and hard then it is absolutely fine, whereas if it is soft or feels spongy then it has been dipped in chemicals or the ginger is old and has been stored after applying chemicals.

smell the ginger

Now such ginger is also coming in the market which is not actually ginger, but may be the root of another plant that looks similar to it. For this you can break ginger and smell it. If there is a pungent aroma then it is real ginger. If there is a strange smell then it may contain chemicals. In this way you can know its taste by tasting it.