Ginger has long been known for its healing properties as well as its good taste, and practitioners of Chinese, Japanese and Indian medicine have long known of its value.

One of the most significant benefits of ginger seems to be its ability to reduce nausea, and ginger is being studied as a possible way to avoid the nausea and vomiting often associated with chemotherapy treatment.

Ginger is also thought to have a profound effect on the circulation, and it is felt that it has an important role to play in reducing the incidence of heart disease.  Scientists are not yet certain whether these benefits are derived from increased circulation or some other, as yet unknown, mechanism.

Another important benefit of ginger may be its ability to prevent and treat motion sickness, and many frequent travelers swear by the effectiveness of ginger for this purpose.  Taking a small amount of ginger prior to travel has proven remarkably effective for many people.

In addition, the ant nausea effects of ginger may offer a natural way to treat the morning sickness and nausea that can accompany pregnancy.  Ginger is currently being studied for its effectiveness as an anti morning sickness treatment, and many women swear by the power of ginger in the diet to reduce the uncomfortable effects of pregnancy.

In addition, ginger is thought to have strong anti-inflammatory effects, due to the presence of powerful anti-inflammatory compounds known as gingerols. The presence of these gingersols is thought to explain why so many of those who suffer from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis enjoy a reduction in their levels of pain as well as an increase in mobility when they eat ginger frequently.

In addition to these important benefits, ginger is even thought to play an important role in the prevention of colorectal cancer.  Again the gingerols contained in this spice are thought to be responsible for its protective impact.  These gingerols are the same compounds responsible for giving ginger its distinctive flavor and aroma, and these same compounds may be able to inhibit the growth of colorectal cancer cells.  This anticancer benefit of ginger is the subject of much ongoing study, and it may be one of the most important roles of this superfood.

As with other valuable superfoods, ginger is also thought to provide a boost to the immune system.   A strong and vibrant immune system is essential to good health, and ginger is thought to have the ability to boost the effectiveness of the immune system.

This may be one of the reasons that ginger has traditionally been used at the first sign of a cold or the first symptoms of the flu.  It is thought that the warming and flushing action of ginger help to promote healthy sweating, which can be important to fighting off the effects of colds and flu.  In addition, it is thought that the flushing and sweating associated with consumption of ginger may speed the detoxification process, thus providing a boost to the immune system and a shorter duration of colds, flu and other common infections.