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Bon Appétit: Gingerbread Cookies

 In Brain Health, Brain Longevity Therapy Training, General, Health, Newsletter

The holidays are upon us, and we all know that means food– and lots of it. Although it’s important to be careful and not indulge too much, why not enjoy some healthy desserts? Is there such a thing? Only one way to find out.

Ginger is a main ingredient in gingerbread cookies, of course, and one that we love for good reason. A characteristic of dementia in older people is neurodegeneration.  The most common forms of degenerative dementia are Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Lewy body, vascular dementia (VD), frontotemporal lobar degeneration, and Parkinson’s disease. The inflammatory state and oxidative stress cause neuronal damage, so different medical and nutritional treatments have been investigated. Scientific studies have focused on plants, stems, flowers, and roots such as ginger that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial properties.

Inside our brains, we have different “gears” that generate signals, balance, and responses throughout our bodies. When there is an inflammatory state these “gears” do not work correctly, since they produce oxidative substances damaging cells, tissues, and systems. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of ginger extract reduces and protects against oxidative resistances. By stopping these processes, brain cells are protected from the pathogenesis of the disease.

This interesting root has been widely used in the culinary world, and one recipe ranks at the top for this time of year: Gingerbread Cookies!

Gingerbread Cookies

Prep and cook time: 35 minutes

12 cookies

Ingredients:

  1.   1 ½ cup whole wheat flour (If you need a gluten-free option you can use a certificated GL all-purpose flour)
  2.   1/3 cup olive oil
  3.   1 egg + 1 white
  4.   3 tablespoons milk (you can use fat-free milk or non-dairy milk)
  5.   8-15 drops stevia or monk fruit extract
  6.   5 grams yeast
  7.   2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  8.   1 teaspoon ginger powder or ginger zest
  9.   Cinnamon to taste

Decoration:

Monk fruit and cinnamon to taste or 1 teaspoon melted chocolate (use a 70-90% cocoa)

*If possible, choose organic products.

Directions

  1.   In a mixing bowl, mix the olive oil, egg, white, vanilla, and milk until creamy.
  2.   Then add the dry ingredients: flour, yeast, ginger, and cinnamon and mix until you have a dough– if the dough feels too dry, add a tiny bit of milk (start with a teaspoon) and mix again.
  3.   Preserve the dough in plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
  4.   When you’re ready to bake, remove the dough and preheat the oven to 350 F.
  5.   Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a baking mat. Roll out the dough 1/4″ thick on a floured surface. If it is too hard, you may need to let it soften for a few minutes. If it is too sticky, knead with a little more flour. Cut into shapes or use a gingerbread man cookie cutter.
  6.   Carefully place cookies onto the baking sheets.
  7.   Bake for 10-15 minutes at 350 F, they are done when they are golden, not brown. Let it cool, decorate, and enjoy!

Are you interested in learning more about brain health diets? Check out our Brain Longevity Therapy Training (BLTT). BLTT has the latest information on nutrition, diet, and supplements. BLTT is a fully online course that is designed so you can take it from the comfort of your home, on your own time.

 

Sources:

Schepici, G., Contestabile, V., Valeri, A., & Mazzon, E. (2021). Ginger, a Possible Candidate for the Treatment of Dementias Molecules26(18), 5700. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26185700

Mohd Sahardi, N. F. N., & Makpol, S. (2019). Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) in the Prevention of Ageing and Degenerative Diseases: Review of Current Evidence. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine2019, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/5054395

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