Contents
The benefits and harms of radishes for the body are very diverse. The root vegetable can have a beneficial effect on health, but to get the maximum benefit from it, you need to know everything about the properties of the radish.
Composition and nutritional value of radish
Inconspicuous in appearance and small in size, the root crop has a very rich chemical composition. It contains:
- potassium and manganese;
- iron, fluorine and sodium;
- monosaccharides and disaccharides;
- ash and starch;
- chromium and lithium;
- nickel, calcium, iodine, cobalt, phosphorus;
- organic acids;
- alimentary fiber;
- zinc.
In terms of nutritional value, the composition of the root crop contains all the nutrients. Most of all, carbohydrates in radish are about 3,4 g. Proteins are represented in the amount of 1,2 g, and fats occupy 0,1 g.
What vitamins are in radishes
Contains radish and the most important vitamins for the human body. First of all, it is vitamin C, there is a lot of it in juicy root crops. Also in the radish there is a complete group of vitamins B, vitamins A, E, PP and D.
radish calories
Radish is a low nutritional food. The calorie content of fresh radish per 100 g is only 20 kcal, so you can use it without any fear for your own harmony.
Glycemic index of radish
Radishes are low in natural sugars, so their glycemic index is only 15. The use of the product does not lead to sharp fluctuations in glucose levels, and the root crop is not dangerous for people with high sugar.
What is useful radish for the human body
The benefits of radish for the human body are very high. If you use the root crop in moderation, then the radish:
- improve appetite and help restore strength after illness;
- will protect the body from viruses and colds due to the high content of vitamin C and will serve as a prevention of influenza, SARS, tonsillitis and tonsillitis;
- will improve metabolism and start active processes of cellular renewal, due to which it will help to preserve youth and beauty;
- regulate the work of the nervous system, improve sleep and help good concentration;
- strengthens blood vessels and capillaries, makes their walls more elastic, which means it protects blood vessels and the heart from dangerous ailments;
- will remove accumulated toxins and slags from the body, and will also help get rid of radionuclides and salts of heavy metals;
- will have a diuretic and choleretic effect, eliminate swelling;
- improve the condition with gout and other diseases of the joints;
- eliminate the symptoms of nausea;
- will have a mild analgesic effect in inflammatory processes.
Eating the root vegetable is useful for people with a tendency to be overweight, it helps maintain a healthy body weight.
What is useful radish for a woman’s body
First of all, radish for women is useful in that it helps prevent the development of oncology. It is useful to use it for the prevention of breast cancer, especially in middle age, when the risk of the disease increases. Also, the root crop is able to improve the condition and restore strength during painful periods and during menopause.
Eating radish is useful for preserving youth and beauty. The root crop has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin – it improves its elasticity, helps smooth out wrinkles, and eliminates swelling on the face. For self-care, the root crop is used both internally and externally.
Is it possible for pregnant radishes
During the bearing of a child, eating radishes is very useful, it helps to maintain a normal balance of vitamins and trace elements in the body. The presence of folic acid in the composition of the root crop becomes fundamentally important – this substance not only improves the health of the mother, but also helps to avoid pathologies in the fetus. If folic acid enters the body in sufficient quantities, then the risk of congenital diseases in the child or complications during childbirth is reduced.
In addition, radish during pregnancy helps to cope with swelling and constipation, strengthens the immune system and fights inflammation. But you need to use the root crop in small quantities, since an excess of radish is harmful.
Is it possible for a nursing mother to have radishes
Radishes during breastfeeding will be more harmful than useful. It is difficult for a child’s body to digest and is likely to lead to colic, gas and bloating in a child. Women should return the root crop to the diet no earlier than six months after childbirth and in very small quantities.
What is useful radish for men
For the male body, radish also benefits. First of all, the root crop protects blood vessels and the heart – removes cholesterol, prevents the development of atherosclerosis, ischemia and other dangerous ailments.
Radishes are useful for diseases of the genitourinary system. Due to the high content of ascorbic acid, the root helps to relieve inflammation and pain. Radish has a beneficial effect on potency and helps maintain healthy sexual activity.
At what age can radishes be given to children
For children, radishes can also be beneficial – the root crop strengthens the immune system and regulates digestive processes. But for the first time you can offer a vegetable to a child not earlier than 2 years. The vegetable is difficult to digest with a sensitive stomach and can irritate the baby’s intestines. In addition, young children often do not like the bitter taste of root vegetables.
For the first time, you can offer the baby no more than a quarter of a small radish. If there is no negative reaction, gradually the daily norm can be increased to 40-50 g of vegetable per day with a frequency of 2-3 times a week.
Benefits of radish for the body
The beneficial properties of radishes are becoming especially in demand for certain chronic ailments. If you use the root crop correctly, it will help improve well-being and prevent exacerbations.
Gout
Radish benefits due to the fact that it qualitatively removes harmful substances from tissues and joints, including uric acid salts, which are deposited in gout.
In addition, the vitamins in radish contribute to enhanced collagen production and cartilage strengthening. It also helps prevent gout flare-ups.
For the cardiovascular system
Fresh radish strengthens blood vessels, helps lower blood pressure and also prevents the deposition of cholesterol plaques. Thanks to this, the root crop serves as a prevention of dangerous cardiovascular ailments – strokes and heart attacks. With regular use of the vegetable, the heart rate normalizes and blood circulation improves.
For respiratory diseases
Radishes are high in vitamin C and antioxidants. It is useful to use the product both for the prevention and treatment of colds. The root crop protects the body from viruses and infections, promotes liquefaction of sputum, helps to quickly get rid of bronchitis and sore throats.
For the gastrointestinal tract
Radish has a powerful cleansing effect, primarily due to its benefits for the stomach and intestines. The root crop prevents the development of constipation, removes toxins from the body, improves the digestibility of food.
The vegetable benefits the liver and gallbladder by lowering bilirubin levels in the blood and regulating bile and enzyme production. When eating a vegetable, the load on the liver decreases, and the process of restoration of this organ starts.
For the genitourinary system
Fresh radishes are of great benefit for inflammation in the urinary tract, as they help fight infection. When using root crops, pain decreases, the condition quickly returns to normal. In addition, radishes remove excess fluids from the body, which also brings great benefits to the kidneys and bladder.
For immunity
Ascorbic acid in the composition of radish, as well as anthocyanins present in the vegetable, help strengthen immune resistance. This helps not only to avoid seasonal colds and viruses, but also to protect yourself from the development of oncology, cancer can also occur against the background of a weakened immune system.
For the skin
Radishes contain zinc, phosphorus, vitamins B, A and E. All this makes the root crop very valuable for the skin, the use of radishes helps maintain the normal water-salt balance of the epidermis, makes the skin smoother and more elastic. Radish in a constant diet allows you to cope with acne and inflammation on the skin, and also promotes the healing of minor wounds, burns and cuts.
When losing weight
Low-calorie radishes are part of many diets. The vegetable provides effective help in losing weight, because it contains an increased amount of fiber – dietary fiber helps to remove excess toxins from the body. Also, the root crop speeds up the metabolism, due to which the accumulation of fat in the body, in principle, is reduced.
If you use radish for weight loss at least twice a week and combine it with other useful healthy foods, you can lose up to 3 kg per month without harm to health.
With diabetes
The fiber in the composition of radish promotes the breakdown of carbohydrates, so when eating a root vegetable, the level of glucose in the blood does not make sharp jumps. The root crop is rich in minerals and vitamins, promotes weight loss, stimulates digestion and prevents the development of constipation. In addition, radish contains natural insulin, which is necessary for the normal functioning of the pancreas.
For all these reasons, the root crop in diabetes is of great benefit. It helps to control not only the level of sugar, but also body weight, and also protects the body from the development of dangerous complications.
What is useful radish tops
For treatment and in cooking, not only the root crops themselves are used, but also the leaves of the radish, or rather, its tops. It is not necessary to throw away the leaves, their vitamin composition is almost the same as that of root crops. Tops-based medicines help with:
- constipation;
- urolithiasis;
- colds;
- headaches;
- nervous disorders and memory problems;
- gout and sciatica.
With joint ailments and migraines, fresh clean radish leaves can be applied externally to sore spots, like a compress. You can also use the tops inside.
Since not everyone will like to eat it in its pure form, usually the tops of the root crop are added to vegetable salads or smoothie cocktails, and decoctions and infusions based on the leaves are also made.
How to use radish leaves
Useful properties and contraindications of radish tops help with a wide range of diseases. There are many folk recipes suggesting the use of tops.
- Infusion to improve the functioning of the digestive tract and against inflammation. To prepare the product, you need to rinse 20 g of fresh tops of the plant, dry with paper towels and finely chop. The raw material is poured into a glass of hot water, left closed for about an hour, and then filtered through folded gauze. You need to drink the infusion three times a day, 50 ml each, and this should be done on a full stomach.
- Compresses for migraine and joint pain. First you need to prepare a classic infusion on fresh tops of the plant. Then, a piece of cloth or folded gauze is moistened in the infusion, squeezed and applied to the sore spot. From above, the compress must be closed with polyethylene, secured with a bandage and covered with a warm scarf or scarf. You can keep such a compress all night, the beneficial substances in the composition of the infusion from the tops will reduce inflammation and pain.
- Rinsing with angina and bronchitis. Infusion on tops is used to treat respiratory diseases. For example, you can gargle daily with a sore throat with a prepared infusion up to 5 times a day, the remedy will help to cope with the infection and eliminate the inflammatory process. The intake of infusion inside will not hurt either – the remedy will help to eliminate bronchitis and eliminate coughing.
Fresh gruel from crushed leaves is recommended for the treatment of cuts and healing burns. It is also beneficial for insect bites, as it relieves itching, swelling and speeds up healing.
The benefits and harms of radish seed sprouts
The benefits and harms of radishes for the human body are not limited to root crops. Vegetable seeds can be germinated, like almost any seed crop. Sprouts will contain especially high amounts of fiber, iron, potassium and phosphorus, as well as vitamins C, A and B.
The benefits of radish sprouts are that sprouts:
- stimulate peristalsis and help relieve constipation;
- reduce cholesterol levels and improve the functioning of the heart and brain;
- accelerate digestion and help with gastritis with reduced production of hydrochloric acid;
- have a powerful cleansing effect and are of great benefit in gout;
- contribute to the restoration of liver cells and protect the body from the development of hepatitis and cirrhosis.
Radish sprouts can be eaten with sandwiches or as part of salads. However, you need to remember to be careful – in excess quantities, the sprouts will rather bring harm, as they can provoke flatulence and diarrhea.
Limitations and contraindications
The health benefits and harms of radish depend on the presence of contraindications. It is not recommended to use the root vegetable when:
- gastritis with increased production of gastric juice;
- acute pancreatitis and peptic ulcer;
- intestinal colitis;
- thyroid diseases;
- breastfeeding;
- heartburn.
It is impossible to give radishes to small children, and the presence of an individual allergy to the root crop is also an absolute contraindication. The daily norm of a vegetable should not exceed 15 small radishes, and it is better to use the product not every day, but three or twice a week.
Conclusion
The benefits and harms of radishes for the body depend on the personal state of health and on the norms of eating vegetables. If there are no absolute contraindications to taking radish, then in small quantities it will be very useful to include it in the diet, it will have a beneficial effect on almost all body systems.
