Ginger is the tuber, or underground stem, of the Zingiber plant. It has been used for thousands of years to treat nausea and stomach upset. It can also be used to aid digestion. Ginger is valued for its anti-inflammatory properties and it can help reduce pain and symptoms associated with arthritis. Adding ginger to freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices is a convenient way to take advantage of the many benefits this versatile root has to offer.

Juice the ginger. To extract the juice from ginger, you will ideally use a juicer. Use either a centrifugal juicer, which extracts juice by using a fast spinning motion, or a masticating juicer that masticates or "chews" the juice from produce. The amount of ginger root you use will depend on your individual taste. One inch of ginger root is more than adequate for most tastes.

Break the desired amount from a piece of ginger root, and with the side of a spoon or a vegetable peeler, scrape the skin off the piece you are going to use. Introduce the ginger into the feed chute of your juicer.

How to Peel & Grate Ginger Root

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Add fruit or vegetables to your juicer's feed tube. There are many fruits and vegetable juices that complement the strong flavor of ginger root. Limes, carrots, apples and cucumbers are popular choices.

According to "The Juice Lady," Cherie Calbom, M.S., ginger juiced with carrots, cucumber, beet, lemon, and apples makes a delicious and sustaining breakfast when blended with a small amount of avocado.

Use grated ginger and add to store-bought juice. Though store-bought juice does not have the vitamin or enzyme content that is contained in freshly squeezed juice, you can still add ginger to it. If you do not have access to a juicer, peel a piece of ginger and use a hand grater to grate it into a glass of juice.

Tips

Take ginger about half an hour before traveling to combat motion sickness. If there is no possibility of preparing ginger in a drink, chew 1/4 oz. of fresh ginger as a motion sickness remedy.

Warnings

Do not give ginger to children under the age of two. In children over two years of age, ginger may be given as a treatment for digestive problems, headaches or nausea.

Do not use ginger if you suffer from gallbladder disease.

If you are taking medication to thin the blood or aspirin, do not use ginger.

Before using ginger to treat or prevent ailments or illness, consult your doctor or nutritionist.