Radishes offer many health and nutritional benefits: part 1
Radish is a root vegetable with countless health benefits. It is known botanically and scientifically as "Raphanus Sativus" and oval, round or elongated in shape which can grow in the range of 1 inch to 2 feet long. This widely used root vegetable belongs to the family of Brassica. In China, it along with cabbage and soybean curd (tofu) is believed as healthy food. A popular Chinese proverb goes like this, "Eating pungent radish and drinking hot tea, let the starved doctors beg on their knees."
There are 2 types of radishes namely the spring and winter types, spring radishes are usually mild in flavor compare to winter radishes which have stronger and more pungent flavor.
Radish is one of the important ingredients in most of the salads, due to its properties of pro-digestive. It is a low calorie vegetable with no traces of cholesterol and fat, but abundant with various vitamins and minerals which ranging from Vitamin C, Vitamin B and K. Radishes provide high content of dietary fiber and complex carbohydrates as well as minerals such as Phosphorus, Zinc, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium and iron. Radish is a nutrients rich root vegetable which demonstrates significant health benefits promoting our overall body health as well as against numerous ailments as listed below:
Jaundice: Radish is very good for the liver and the stomach and it is a very good detoxifier too, that is, it purifies blood. It is miraculously useful in jaundice as it helps removing bilirubin and also checks its production. It also checks destruction of red blood cells during jaundice by increasing supply of fresh oxygen in the blood. The black radish is more preferred in jaundice. The leaves of radish are also very useful in treatment of jaundice.
Piles: Radish is very rich in roughage, i.e. indigestible carbohydrates. This facilitates digestion, retains water, cures constipation (one of the main causes for piles) and thus gives relief in piles. Being a very good detoxifier, it helps heal up piles fast. Its juice also soothes the digestive and excretory system and this also relieves piles.
Urinary Disorders: Radishes are diurectic in nature, i.e. increase production of urine. Juice of radish also cures inflammation and burning feeling during urinating. It also cleans the kidneys and inhibits infections in kidneys and urinary system. Thus it helps a great deal in curing urinary disorders.
Weight Loss: Radishes are very filling, i.e. fills your stomach and satisfies your hunger easily without giving you many calories, as they are low in digestible carbohydrates, high in roughage and contain a lot of water. It is a very good dietary option for those determined to lose weight.
Cancer: Being a very good detoxifier and rich in vitamin-C, folic and anthocyanins, radish helps cure many types of cancer, particularly those of colon, kidney, intestines, stomach and oral cancer.
Sources:
a2zhealthyrecipe.com
organicfacts.net
Other links:
Leek, an Excellent Dietary Food
