Important anti-blood-clotting properties help to prevent the #1 and #4 killers in the US: heart attack and stroke. Ginger promotes excellent digestive health, respiratory function, and immune response. It is anti-fungal, and anti-pain working similarly to capsaicin on the sensory nerve endings. It’s anti-cancer and stunningly antibacterial–killing Staphylococcus and Streptococcus better than tetracycline in medical testing.

Got an upset stomach or feel a cold coming on? Try simple hot ginger tea. No need to peel, cut into coins, load up a tea pot, and pour boiling water over the pieces and steep with lemon and honey. It’s a sweet and savory player. Grate into hot, creamy soups, with fish, in stir fries, or make candied ginger.

Available year-round, and it stores well in the refrigerator’s crisper for weeks. Keep in a plastic bag with the least amount of air possible. If the root has been cut or peeled, make sure to pat that area dry before sealing.