Q. Are there any health benefits to eating gingerbread cookies?

A. The aromas of Christmas spices, such as ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, evoke pleasant feelings. Some health benefits have been attributed to these spices, all of which are often used in gingerbread cookies.

In the 11th century, the crusaders returning from war in the Middle East brought back spices that would eventually become the ingredients for gingerbread cookies. These spices were originally used as medicine, preservatives and to mask the taste of spoiled food. Spices were a rare and valuable commodity. Acquiring them was one of the goals of global exploration and eventually led to the discovery of America.

Since Europeans could only obtain these spices through trade, they were expensive. The first gingerbreads were created by Catholic monks for special religious celebrations. Gingerbread was not baked in the homes of common people due to cost. It was only available to wealthy families.

Gradually the ingredients became more common and prices dropped. The first gingerbread men were thought to be created by the court of Queen Elizabeth I, who liked to impress important visitors with gingerbread likenesses of themselves.

According to "The Christmas Cook" by William Woys Weaver, "Gingerbread cookies were a favorite Christmas pastry in early America due to the fact that the ingredients were cheap and easy to make, and that a small batch would yield a large amount of cookies. Gingerbread dough would also stand up to both brick oven and stove-top baking."

When it comes to health benefits, ginger root can be infused into a tea to prevent or treat nausea associated with morning sickness and motion sickness. For many centuries warm ginger-ale was used to relieve stomach upset.

Cloves and clove oil have been used by the Chinese for centuries to promote fresh breath and oral health. Clove oil can also be used as a dental pain reliever.

Cinnamon helps lower blood sugar in some diabetics. It also has antibacterial properties.

Nutmeg was used by the Arabs as early as 600 A.D. for digestive orders. It also contains antioxidant substances.

It is doubtful that the health benefits of eating fresh ginger and other Christmas spices will be gained by munching on gingerbread cookies. Even so, enjoy your holiday and burn off a few calories as you "run, run as fast as you can," trying to catch the gingerbread man.

Amy Tousman is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator with Nutrition Unlimited in Kailua. Send your questions to: Prescriptions, Island Life, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com; or fax 535-8170. This column is not intended to provide medical advice.