If your mother ever gave you ginger ale for an upset stomach, she was on the right track. While most of us think this is an "old wives tale", a recent medical study from the University of Rochester Medical Center supports this recommendation.

More than 600 cancer patients had about a teaspoon of ginger added to their standard anti-nausea medication during chemotherapy with convincing results. Nausea was further reduced, by up to 40%, by adding the ginger.  While the mechanism is not well defined, it seems to have an anti-inflammatory response in the intestinal tract.

But don't count on ginger ale or packaged ginger tea alone, as some of these products only contain ginger flavoring, and not ginger root (containing the active ingredients). You'll need about a teaspoon of ginger (powdered) to match the study dose.

Try brewing a cup of your own "ginger tea" by adding a teaspoon of powdered ginger to a cup of hot water and flavoring with a little sugar, honey or low-calories sweetener. You might also try dried ginger, available as "chips" or in plump disks and chews, but the amount of ginger in these can vary widely.

What other food "old wives tales" do you believe in ? Post a note, and I'll check into them!