Ginger can kill ovarian cancer cells while the compound that makes peppers hot can shrink pancreatic tumors, researchers told a conference. Their studies add to a growing body of evidence that at least some popular spices might slow or prevent the growth of cancer.

Dr. Rebecca Liu, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, and colleagues tested ginger powder dissolved in solution by putting it on ovarian cancer cell cultures.  It killed the ovarian cancer cells in two different ways. First, through a self-destruction process called apoptosis and second, through the process of autophagy in which cancer cells digest themselves, the researchers told a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.  

Ovarian cancer kills 16,000 out of the 22,000 U.S. women who are diagnosed with it every year, according to the American Cancer Society. Ginger has been shown to help control inflammation, which can contribute to the development of ovarian cancer cells.  

“In multiple ovarian cancer cell lines, we found that ginger-induced cell death at a similar or better rate than the platinum-based chemotherapy drugs typically used to treat ovarian cancer,” said Dr. Jennifer Rhode, who helped work on the study.  

Ginger Mint Dressing made with the Wholefood Farmacy’s Heart of Gold is a great way to add ginger to your daily meal plan.  

Heart of Gold Ginger Mint Dressing:

 ½ cup freshly grated ginger
1 ½ cups Heart of Gold
1 ½ cups fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
1 cup finely chopped fresh mint  

Combine ingredients and blend for 30 seconds in a blender.  Add more mint or your favorite spices to taste. Great on salads, great for tossing with steamed veggies or drizzling over fresh veggies!