The title of this thread is a tad bit sensational. I can believe if the fact is, it helps to prevent diseases. I wonder how it compares to let's say garlic? I eat garlic like apples, and I don't even notice the smell. So if we can pick just one plant, what would it be?
Was visiting a cousin from Taiwan over the holidays. Told her about my stomach problems (bloating, constipation) and she recommended boiling water with ginger, adding some brown sugar or honey. Then drinking that as a tea. Then on the uber ride home from the airport, I was talking to the uber driver about this, who was middle eastern. He was like "oh yea, I get up at 4 or 5am every day...do 30 minutes of cardio...and drink ginger tea too." He said it helped him with depression, unlike the anti-depression pills his doctor had prescribed. Anecdotally...I find boiled ginger to have a very strong and immediate effect on me.
Ginger steeped in hot water with honey is a nice replacement for tea or coffee. Add extra ginger to provide more spice. I find that even adding fresh Rosemary to hot water and honey is also great. study conducted by the University of Maryland Medical Center. http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/rosemary-tea-good-for-10530.html