That's Fit

Each week, we'll be naming a Super Food and offering unique ways to use those Super Foods that pack nutritional power. After all, you are what you eat -- make it count!

When I feel sick, when I feel nauseated, when my stomach hurts, I hit the bottle -- of ginger ale, that is. My mama always told me that ginger would make me feel better, and it does. It's not just all in my head either -- it's a well-known fact that ginger can provide relief to nausea, ulcers and other digestive issues. But that's not all -- in addition to spicing up your food and adding a one-of-a-kind flavour, ginger has lots of great health benefits.

In studies, ginger has been shown to alleviate many common ailments, including pain, swelling, inflammation and even the common cold. Got menstrual cramps? Have some ginger. Headache? Grab some ginger. Gas? Yep, you guessed it -- ginger will help. It can reduce your fever and reduce your LDL (bad) cholesterol. It's also widely believed to help slow down or even stop the spread of some cancers. Pretty impressive, huh?

So what is it about ginger that makes it so special? The secret to ginger's healing qualities (and its unique taste) is the volatile oils it contains, gingerols and shogaols. These oils help the body produce more digestive enzymes, which in turn aids digestion. This also helps neutralize any acids in the stomach, helping reduce nausea and pain. The best part about ginger is it's all-natural, so pregnant women can use it to relieve morning sickness.

Here are some ways you can incorporate ginger into your diet:

• Enjoy it with some fresh sushi or sashimi.
• Sip some ginger tea by steeping about five slices in boiling water.
• Skip the sugar-laden ginger ale in the supermarket and instead, make your own.
  
• Add ginger to your stir-fry. It's especially delicious when combined with garlic.
  
• Make your own ginger salad dressing - Mark's Daily Apple has some great recipes.