Surprising Benefits and Nutrition Facts of Eating Radish

Radish
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The radish isn’t just another ordinary vegetable to eat to get in your recommended daily servings. It has a glorious history and legacy, to say the least. The radish is an edible root vegetable belonging to the Brassicaceae family, with the scientific name Raphanus sativus. Radishes have a gratifying peppery, crunchy taste to them and come in various shapes, sizes, and colors.

While some experts trace the origin of radishes to China, some scientists claim they were first grown in southeast Asia as it’s the only known region where truly wild forms of radish have been discovered. Nonetheless, the radish later spread to India, central China, and central Asia as well.

According to historical Egyptian records, radishes were cultivated as far back as 2,700 B.C. In Rome, citizens used a honey, vinegar, and salt paste to preserve the radish, while the Greeks valued radishes so much that they made replicas of it in solid gold.

The radish plant expanded its reach throughout Europe and landed in England in the mid-16th century. The radish had reached Massachusetts by 1629, and then spread slowly but steadily across North America.

In the United States, the typical red and round, golf ball-sized radish has a shiny, white interior. Other varieties include the daikon (a long, white root) and winter radish.

There are many potential radish health benefits as it contains cancer-fighting agents like vitamins, folic acid, and anthocyanins. The vitamins present in radishes may also help in treating skin disorders. When eaten in moderation, radishes can improve the functioning of the liver and gallbladder as well.

Radish Nutritional Facts

Serving size: 1 cup slices (116 g)

Nutrient Amount Daily Value
Calories 18.6 1.00%
Total Carbohydrate 4.0 g 1.00%
Dietary Fiber 1.9 g 7.00%
Sugars 2.2 g
Total Fat 0.1 g 0.00%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1 g
Protein 0.8 g 2.00%
Vitamin A 8.1 IU 0.00%
Vitamin C 17.2 mg 29.00%
Vitamin K 1.5 mcg 2.00%
Niacin 0.3 mg 1.00%
Folate 29.0 mcg 7.00%
Choline 7.5 mg
Calcium 29.0 mg 3.00%
Magnesium 11.6 mg 3.00%
Phosphorus 23.2 mg 2.00%
Potassium 270 mg 8.00%
Manganese 0.1 mg 4.00%

 

Radishes have no saturated fat or cholesterol content, which is good for your heart. They also contain small amounts of calcium, magnesium, manganese, and potassium—all essential minerals that your body needs but cannot produce. They’re especially rich in vitamin C and also contain a little bit of protein. While most of the calories in the vegetable come from carbohydrates, they’re in the form of fiber.

Potential Health Benefits of Radish

1. Helps in Digestion

Eating about one cup of radishes every day will help you meet your daily recommended fiber intake, as each half cup gives you one gram of fiber. Fiber adds bulk to your fecal waste, helping it move more quickly through your intestines. It may also help manage your cholesterol levels and keep your weight in check.

According to a 2008 study published in AGRIS, when rats were fed a high-cholesterol diet, radish leaves provided fiber that helped improve their gastrointestinal functions. It’s thought that the fiber helped stimulate bile production.

Other studies have suggested that radish juice has a protective effect on gastric tissues by strengthening the intestinal barrier. This could help shield your digestive organs from the harmful pathogens and chemical substances that sometimes trigger stomach ulcers.

2. Manages Diabetes

A study out of the University of Allahabad in India reportedly showed that diabetic patients have a lot to gain by consuming radish. It appears the radish roots have hypoglycemic and anti-diabetic properties while having few or no side effects. Consuming radishes may also balance your blood glucose levels.

3. Improves Your Immune System

Just a half cup of radishes per day (perhaps spread over your favorite salad) gives you nearly 15% of your required daily intake of vitamin C. Many cells in your immune system rely on the vitamin for support in fighting off illnesses ranging from the common cold to more serious chronic diseases.

Vitamin C is crucial to cellular metabolism, including converting your fat into usable energy. It’s also necessary for biosynthesis of collagen, a protein that provides your blood vessel walls with structure, thereby reducing the chances of atherosclerosis and heart diseases.

4. Treats Urinary Disorders

Radish juice can act as a diuretic, boosting urine production and flushing out the kidneys. The radish’s anti-inflammatory properties can help relieve the burning sensation you may sometimes feel while urinating. The increased urine output can help ward off infections of the urinary tract, including the kidneys and bladder.

5. Cancer Prevention

The radish is a member of the powerhouse group of cruciferous vegetables, which have been shown to have cancer-fighting properties. According to diet and nutrition experts, radishes are rich sources of isothiocyanates, compounds that help cleanse your body of carcinogenic substances and prevent tumor development.

In 2010, Plant Foods for Human Nutrition published a study reporting that the isothiocyanates in radish root extract prompted apoptosis, or cell death, in certain cancer cell lines.

6. Helps Proper Functioning of the Respiratory System

Radishes can relieve congestion in your respiratory tract, which includes the nose, windpipe, throat, and lungs. Allergies, sinus infections, colds, and flu often irritate these parts of your system. The root vegetables also act as disinfectants and contain antioxidant vitamins that can help block respiratory infections as well.

Radishes may also soothe sore throats, and clear excess mucus from the airways.

7. Protects against Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis develops when the cartilage between the joints and the underlying bone break down over time. Radishes have both vitamin C and calcium to help prevent or delay this condition. As we noted earlier, vitamin C helps form collagen, which strengthens the cartilage in your body. As an antioxidant, the vitamin also fights against free radical damage that can target cartilage. The calcium in radishes supports the formation and strengthening of your bones.

8. Helps in Treating Jaundice

The diuretic potential of radishes may help detoxify your body by stimulating liver function. A healthy liver purifies the blood and removes toxins and waste from the body. According to some research, radishes may help treat jaundice by stabilizing the levels of bilirubin in the blood. They might also boost oxygen levels in the blood, lessening the damage to red blood cells that sometimes results from jaundice.

Is Radish Keto-Friendly?

A keto diet is high in fat but very low in carbs, and that’s where radishes come in! Radishes are low-carb vegetables, and even though the keto diet guidelines tell you to avoid root veggies, the radish is a shining exception. They don’t have the starch that most root vegetables have, like the potato, for instance.

In fact, it takes 10 medium-sized radishes to get even a single gram of carbohydrates. So radishes fit in smoothly with your keto diet and are definitely keto-friendly.

While most are used to eating the roots raw, you can get creative and also steam, roast, or fry radishes. Some of the peppery spice is lost when the radishes are cooked, but you can make up for it by seasoning them with a combination of herbs or spices.

Keto-Style Roasted Radishes

Ingredients:

1 tbsp beef tallow, organic and grass-fed
Coarse sea salt
Pepper, freshly ground
2 tbsp fresh chives, diced
1 tbsp fresh herbs, diced
1 bunch of radishes, stems removed and cut in quarters

Directions:

  • Put the grass-fed tallow in a pan and melt over medium heat.
  • Add the cut radishes, sea salt, and ground pepper. Allow it to cook for seven to eight minutes.
  • Add in the fresh chives and cook for another two minutes. Then add the fresh herbs and cook for one minute.
  • You can serve the dish hot, or allow it to cool and then refrigerate until chilled.

Ways to Use Radish

Radish Salads

Try dicing up a radish and cucumber and tossing them in a dressing containing olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Make sure you marinate the salad in your refrigerator for some time before serving it.

Soup or Stew

Use radishes instead of your usual potatoes when making slow-cooked soups or stews.

Poached

You can pan-fry in butter, boil, or steam halved or quartered radishes over low heat until they become tender. Serve immediately or use them instead of potatoes in your potato salad.

Salsa

Thanks to their spicy flavor, radishes are ideal for making salsa at home. Toss minced radishes with green and red peppers, cucumbers, and shallots. Add some cilantro, jalapeños, and lime juice and let it sit for an hour so that the flavors mix.

Roasted

Trim and cut the radishes into halves. Toss them with some olive oil and salt. Then roast them in a hot oven at a temperature of about 450 degrees F for 45 minutes. They should become crisp and golden, just like roasted baby potatoes.

Fried

If you love hash browns for breakfast, use shredded radishes in place of the potatoes. Saute them with butter, vegetable oil, or animal fat and seasonings.

Delicious Radish Recipes

Here are some more tasty radish recipes for you to try:

Radish Chips with Cinnamon Sugar

Ingredients:

12 radishes
1-2 tbsp cinnamon-sugar mix
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tbsp honey

Directions:

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Slice the radishes approximately one-quarter-inch thick, place them in a microwave-safe dish, and heat for 30 seconds. This will soften them up a bit. Drain and transfer them to a large bowl.
  • Pour in the cinnamon sugar, olive oil, and honey. Toss well to coat the radishes completely. Spread them out evenly on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
  • Bake in the oven for 15 minutes at 350 degrees F. Remove the sheet from the oven and reduce the temperature to 225 degrees F. Then flip the radishes over and cook for another 20 minutes. Remove the shrunken, crispy chips from the oven and serve on a plate.

Pan-Roasted Radishes

Ingredients:

avocado oil
1/2 tablespoon butter
2 whole sprigs fresh thyme
1 garlic clove (smashed)
1/8 teaspoon coarse salt
3 bunches red radishes, halved lengthwise

Directions:

  • Heat a large frying pan on medium-high heat. Lightly coat with avocado oil. Add the radishes. Brown for about one minute, stirring with a wooden spoon.
  • Once the radishes appear toasted in some areas and a little charred in others, lower the heat to medium-low or low. This ensures the radishes will sweat and not roast.
  • Stir again. Watch as the radishes slowly collapse and become tender. Cook for about six minutes while stirring occasionally.
  • Next, add the butter, thyme sprigs, and the smashed garlic clove to the pan. Bring the heat to medium-high. Stir for about a minute to toast the garlic. Season with salt. You can serve them hot.

The Last Word on Radishes

The radish is a keto-friendly root vegetable that belongs to the Brassicaceae family. It’s been cultivated for millennia and has held a place of pride in many civilizations around the world.

Radishes offer many potential health benefits, such as aiding in digestion, managing diabetes, improving the immune system, treating urinary disorders, preventing cancer, promoting proper function of the respiratory system, fighting against osteoarthritis, and treating jaundice.

The unique veggies are very versatile and can be used to make salads, stews, soups, and salsa. They can be fried, poached, or roasted as well. You can use radishes to prepare mouth-watering dishes such as radish chips with cinnamon sugar and keto-friendly pan-roasted radishes. You can use radishes in place of potatoes in pretty much any dish you want.

There is a lot of goodness in the radish. These days, they are available all over the world, so you can buy them easily. Be the smartest cook on the block by using the radish to make all the delicious, low-carb dishes you’ve always dreamed of.

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