There are various kinds of radishes; summer and winter radishes as we may categorize them. Though not appealing to all, they do come with a lot of health benefits which are scientifically proven.
Radishes help detoxify our liver and stomach while cleansing the liver and stomach from various pigments. The leaves of black colored radishes are used to get rid of excess bilirubin pigments, hence they are used for an effective treatment against jaundice as well. One of the major constituents in the radishes is sulfur, which helps in maintaining the optimum thyroid level in the body and prevents the body from hypothyroidism.
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Health Benefits of Radishes Which You Must Know
1. Rich Source of Vitamin C
Radishes are rich sources of vitamin C which is responsible for maintenance of the immune system. It helps by dissolving fats into their simple degradable form. Also, vitamin C(1) is responsible for the formation of collagen proteins which do not allow any cholesterol to adhere to the walls of the arteries, thereby, preventing you from atherosclerosis.
[Read: Benefits of Arginine Foods]
2. Detoxifies
When affected with Jaundice, an accumulation of yellow pigment, called bilirubin takes place in the blood which causes poisoning. Radishes help in expulsion of these harmful pigments and clean the blood. It also removes the toxic dyes from liver and stomach as well.
3. Facilitates Water-Absorption
Radish intake helps the maintenance of water levels in the body and also facilitates the absorption of water. It also heals the piles’ symptoms.
4. High-Fiber Content
Radishes are good sources of fiber. Since fiber aids digestion, it should ideally be a part of your daily diet like salads, etc. As we now are aware, radishes help in water retention in the body and help in cleansing of stomach and liver.
5. Controls Blood Pressure
As they are a good source of potassium, radishes help in controlling blood pressure. If you are suffering from hypertension(2) or high blood pressure, radish intake will help you to control the blood flow and will have cooling effects on the body.
[Read: Foods for Lowering Blood Pressure]
6. Aids Metabolism
Metabolism of various bio-molecules such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, steroids, etc. can be done by using multiple metabolic pathways in the body. Radishes help in improving metabolism and help in fixing various gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, acidity, obesity, etc.
7. Rich Source of Nutrients
All the radishes are significant sources of different vitamins such as vitamins A, C, E, B6, and K. They are a rich source of antioxidants as well. Antioxidants such as Iron, Magnesium, Copper, and Phosphorous are known to keep every system in the body in a healthy condition.
8. Skin Booster
A glass of radish juice acts as a booster for your skin. It’s packed with Zinc, vitamin C and Phosphorous that are helpful in keeping away various skin ailments such as acne, skin dryness, pimples, and rashes. A radish juice, when applied on hair, will help in removal of dandruff, prevents hair loss and strengthens the roots.
9. Hydrates
Since it helps water absorption and induces a higher retention capacity, it makes sense to eat more radishes in summer. It will keep you hydrated and prevent you from getting a sunstroke as well.
10. Cures Kidney Disorders
Radishes are diuretic in nature. As we all know, the human excretory system helps in the removal of toxic and unwanted substances from the body by continually filtering the blood. Hence, the diuretic ability of radishes helps in maintaining the water levels in the body and removing toxic substances out of the body regularly.
[Also Read: Baking Soda to Dissolve Kidney Stones ]
Effective Ways to Consume Radish
- The raw form of radishes tastes better with the salty butter.
- Everyone loves pickle. A radish pickle, sweet or sour is always the best way to preserve a radish for a longer duration of time.
- Grilling them is another option, especially with the steak. Do not forget to use black pepper and melt some butter over it.
- If there is a problem eating a radish due to its little pungent smell, you can always make a nice sweet soup by adding different flavors to it.
- Use them in sandwiches. Bread can go with anything. Sandwich those small slices of radishes with various dips and sesame and flakes.
- Refrigerate the small chunks of radishes and use them in tacos. They will add a satisfying taste to tacos.
- Use radish to make homemade salsa. Also add jalapenos, cucumber, and peppers, etc.
How to Cook Radish?
Honey Dressing:
Ingredients:
Half cup each of shredded carrots, radish, red cabbage, and capsicum. One tablespoon of orange juice, two tablespoons of honey, one tablespoon of lemon juice, salts, etc.
Procedure:
- Combine all shredded carrots, reddish, red cabbage, and capsicum in the bowl and refrigerate it for 2-3 hours.
- Add the dressing of orange juice, honey, lemon juice, and salt just before serving.
Red and White Pickle:
Ingredients:
One cup radish (french cut), one cup each of chopped red radish, vinegar, sugar, black pepper, and salt.
Directions:
- Combine vinegar, sugars, black pepper, and salts in half a cup of water.
- Boil the mixture till the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Allow the mixture to cool down and then add white and red radish mixture into it.
- Bottle it and store at room temperature.
- Allow it to mature for five days.
Radish, Cucumber and Curd Dip:
Ingredients:
Half cup each of shredded cucumber and radish, a half cup each of curd and cream, finely chopped chilies and salt, etc.
Directions:
- Combine everything in the bowl and mix it well.
- Refrigerate for an hour.
- Serve with chilled capsicum or cucumber strips.
Major Side Effects Caused Due to Radish
As we discussed earlier that radishes have a diuretic property, as such, excessive consumption of radishes could lead to excretion of a large quantity of water and lead to dehydration. Excess use will also lead to a decrease in blood pressure, causing a condition known as hypotension.
There also exists chances of a decline in the blood sugar level which could lead to Hypoglycemia. Also, excessive iron in the body could lead to headache, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, etc.
Radishes belong to Brassicaceae family; initially cultivated in Europe during pre-roman times and now is consumed across the globe. Radishes are mostly consumed in the raw form, or the pickled way or the salads. They also help in the improvement of the skin and various skin ailments.
Radishes also help in fortifying the blood vessels and improve the immunity of the body. Although there are different side effects of consumption of significant quantity of radishes such as Hypoglycemia, Hypotension, and Dehydration, the deficiency and the excessive levels of any elements or compounds in the body will cause trouble in metabolic activities.
However, radishes are packed with powerful health benefits and should be included in our diet but proportionately!
