093 | 生姜博士に聞く。カラダにいい生姜（前編） | HuffPost Life

寒くなってくると、いくら体の外から温めようとしてもなかなか温まらないもの。そんな時、体の中から温めるのにうってつけなのが、摂るとすぐにぽかぽかと体感を得られる生姜。

美と健康とカラタづくりに関するオンラインメディア

美と健康とカラタづくりに関するオンラインメディア

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寒くなってくると、いくら体の外から温めようとしてもなかなか温まらないもの。そんな時、体の中から温めるのにうってつけなのが、摂るとすぐにぽかぽかと体感を得られる生姜。でも普段は薬味として使うくらいしか取り入れていない人も多いのでは？そこで〈株式会社永谷園〉の社員で、「生姜部」の一員として活動する萩尾安希奈さんに生姜活用法を聞きました。

--まずは〈永谷園生姜部〉の活動内容を教えてください。

「2007年に働く女性の美容と健康をサポートするような商品の開発を始め、そこで着目したのが生姜でした。その商品がご好評いただいたので、そこから永谷園としてもっと生姜を知ろう、ということになり、当時は商品開発のチームがベースとなり、〈永谷園生姜部〉が発足しました。畑ではどうなっているのか、どんな成分なのか、美味しいレシピはあるのかなど、みんなで勉強してきました。」

--なぜそこで生姜に着目されたのでしょう？

「開発者が女性で「あたたか生活の大切さ」を実感しており、何か体を温めるような素材を探していました。そこでスパイス系やニンニクや唐辛子、根菜など色々試した結果、例えばスパイス系やニンニクはお昼に食べるのには向かないですし、唐辛子は辛さによっては好みが分かれますしメニューも限られてくる...など、試行錯誤を重ね、生姜にたどりつきました。」

--寒さが苦手な方にうれしい生姜ですが、どんな特長があるのでしょうか？

「実際に食べた後に体感としてぽかぽか感じることができるのが魅力の一つだと思います。生姜は加熱するとショウガオール（じんわりぽかぽかくる辛味成分）が増えるので温かパワーがアップします。永谷園生姜部では加熱加工してから乾燥させた生姜を【あたたかパワー生姜】と名付け、HPで作り方などを紹介しています。」

--あたたかパワー生姜は自分で作れるのですか？

「はい。生の生姜をスライスして、1時間ほど茹で、それをオーブンで90分ほど加熱、完全に乾燥させると【あたたかパワー生姜】の完成です。それをミキサーなどで粉末にすると使いやすいのでオススメです。私も粉末にしたものをオフィスに置いていて、スープに入れたり紅茶に入れたりしています。詳しい作り方はHPでも紹介しています。http://www.shouga-bu.com/ginger/

--生姜の上手な保存方法はありますか？

「冷凍がおすすめです。日持ちもするんですよ。皮付きのまま綺麗に洗ってそのまま、まるごと冷凍すると、すりおろしが楽なんです。生の時にすりおろすと繊維が気になることもあると思うのですが、冷凍したものだと気にならなくなるんです。使う分だけすりおろして、残りはまた保存すれば問題なく使えます。また、冷凍する前にみじん切りや千切りをして、小分けにしておくと、炒め物にそのまま入れたりできるので楽ですね。」

イラスト／榊原ミドリコ文章／佐藤麻弥

●永谷園生姜部

2007年の商品開発をきっかけに、生姜に本気で取り組む永谷園の社員で結成される。実際に畑で生姜を育て、収穫するところから、レシピの紹介、生姜の食べ歩きまで、生姜愛に溢れた活動を続ける。

詳しくは公式HPで。永谷園生姜部公式HP

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（「からだにいい100のこと。」より転載）

10 Energizing Yoga Poses

Half Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskara)(01 of10)

Sun Salutation sequences are traditionally performed as a way to awaken the body. \"This is great to do upon rising, even before you have had your first cup of coffee,\" Bielkus says. \n\nTo perform the sequence, stand up straight in Mountain Pose (Tadasana) with the feet together and arms at the side of the body with open palms. Sweep the arms up and extend them over the head on the inhale, then exhale and bow forward into a forward bend. On the inhale, lift the torso halfway up, place your hands at your shins and extend the spine. Fold forward again on the exhale. When you inhale, sweep back up and bring the palms together into prayer. Repeat this sequence three or four times. \n\nClick here for a video tutorial. (credit:Getty Images)

Camel Pose (Ustrasana)(02 of10)

The gentle heart-opening stretch of the camel pose -- performed either with the hands on the lower back or reaching down to touch the heels -- can be highly invigorating for the entire body. \n\n\"Camel is great because it\'s a total front-body opener,\" Bielkus says. \"You have the front of the legs moving forward. ... The core is stretching and the torso is lengthening up. The chest is really opening and expanding so that the lungs can expand full of breath.\" (credit:Getty Images)

Warrior II Pose (Virabhadrasana II)(03 of10)

\"This pose combines both leg strengthening and mild back bending, bringing energy into the body,\" Bielkus says. \"Just like the name suggests, this pose awakens the warrior within -- power and strength, but with ease.\"\n\nClick here for basic Warrior II instructions, and try adding what Bielkus calls the \"breath of fire\" for an extra energy boost. \n\n\"A great way to rev up this posture is to add in breath of fire -- rapid belly breath, focusing on the exhalation,\" Bielkus says. \"To start, take a deep breath in and then pump the navel in as you exhale. The inhale will take care of itself.\" (credit:Getty Images)

Triangle Pose (Utthita Trikonasana) (04 of10)

After Warrior II, try going into a restorative Triangle Pose. Straighten the front knee and extend the arm forward and then down to the shin, the floor next to the leg, or a block. Reach the other arm up and turn to face the sky, breathing deeply for five breaths, Bielkus advises. Then, repeat on the other side. \n\n\"This pose is about fully expanding not contracting,\" Bielkus says. \"Focus less about stretching and more about expanding and bringing breath and energy to every cell, every skin pore, every fiber of your being.\" (credit:Getty Images)

Side Plank (Vasisthasana)(05 of10)

For the whole body-strengthening Side Plank, start in a plank pose. Turn to the right side, stacking the feet on top of each other, and lifting the left hand. Breath deeply for five breaths before repeating on the other side. If you\'re looking to modify the pose, Bielkus suggests bringing either the bottom knee or the forearm down to the ground. \n\n\"Yoga brings our mind to a oneness and a focused attention,\" Bielkus says, regarding the balancing poses. \"The more that we\'re coming into a mental clarity or focus, the less energy we\'re expending on that stress. The cortisol levels can drop and then we feel a little more energized.\" (credit:Getty Images)

Chair Pose (Utkatasana)(06 of10)

The dynamic Chair Pose is performed by standing with the feet together or hip-width apart, and bending the lower body down as if you were sitting on a chair. Raise the arms to the ears and raise the chest up to complete the pose. \n\n\"This pose is literally translates from Sanskrit as \'powerful\' pose,\" says Bielkus. \"Sometimes in class, I refer to it as lighting bolt pose because [of] the amount of energy it creates in the body by using the big muscles of the legs and glutes while also creating a slight backbend, which awakens the spine.\" (credit:Getty Images)

Half-Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana) (07 of10)

In addition to warding off stress and anxiety, the Half Moon Pose can be therapeutic for fatigue, according to Yoga Journal. In a forward fold, bring the right hand about 10 inches in front of you and slightly to the right, extending the left leg up while the hips and torso open. Extend the left arm up and hold the pose for five breaths before repeating on the other side. \n\n\"Any balancing poses are great for finding that inner balance,\" Bielkus says. (credit:Getty Images)

Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana)(08 of10)

\"Back bends are all about unlocking the energy of the spine and nervous system,\" Bielkus says. \n\nLying on your back, bend the knees and place your feet flat on the floor with arms by your sides. Lift the hips up high and interlace the hands together or leave the arms at the sides of the body. Breathe deeply for five breaths and repeat several times. (credit:Shutterstock)

Locust Pose (Salabhasana)(09 of10)

For this strengthening pose, lie on your belly with arms by your side and palms down. Then, gently lift the arms, legs, chest and head off the floor and breathe deeply for five breaths, trying to lift up higher with each breath. Repeat three or four times, being careful not to strain the neck. For more of a challenge, extend the arms in front of you, as pictured at left. \n\n\"You\'re really stimulating the upper, middle and lower back, and the muscles of the hamstrings are engaging\" Bielkus says. \"You\'re using so many muscles in the body to lift yourself off the earth. The neurons are firing to make that all happen.\" (credit:Getty Images)

Right Nostril Breathing (Surya Bhedana)(10 of10)

This energizing pranayama (breathing exercise) offers a counterpoint to the calming left nostril breath. To perform the exercise, sit upright in a chair or on the floor in a comfortable cross-legged position, blocking the left nostril with the thumb and extending the fingers. Breathe long and deep, in and out of the right nostril for around five minutes, Bielkus advises. \n\n\"The right nostril is associated with the energy of the sun,\" Bielkus says. \"This breath is stimulating, invigorating and awakening.\" (credit:Getty Images)

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