A Cookie That Combats Cancer

With just 180 calories, this treat packs a big health punch.

Two recent studies have shown that the compounds in ground ginger-the kind used in most gingerbread recipes-help battle two major types of cancer in women. "The spice seems to inhibit breast cancer cells from spreading," says Woo Kyung Kim, Ph.D., a professor at Eulji University in South Korea. In another study from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, ground ginger caused ovarian cancer cells to attack themselves and die. It's unknown exactly how much is needed to get disease-fighting benefits, but incorporating ginger into everyday dishes, like cooked carrots, is a good start.