Content
The benefits and harms of radishes for the body are very diverse. The root vegetable can have beneficial effects on your health, but to get the most out of it, you need to know everything about the properties of radishes.
Composition and nutritional value of radish
Unprepossessing in appearance and small in size, the root vegetable 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.
From the point of view of nutritional value, the root vegetable contains all the nutrients. The most carbohydrates in radishes are about 3.4 g. Proteins are present in the amount of 1.2 g, and fats occupy 0.1 g.
What vitamins are in radishes?
Contains radishes and vitamins essential for the human body. First of all, it is vitamin C; there is a lot of it in juicy root vegetables. Radishes also contain a full group of B vitamins, vitamins A, E, PP and D.
Radish calorie content
Radishes are a product with low nutritional value. The calorie content of fresh radish per 100 g is only 20 kcal, so you can eat it without any fear for your own slimness.
Glycemic index of radish
Radishes contain few natural sugars, so their glycemic index is only 15 units. Consumption of the product does not lead to sharp fluctuations in glucose levels, and the root vegetable does not pose a danger to people with high sugar levels.
What are the benefits of radishes for the human body?
The benefits of radishes for the human body are very great. If you eat the root vegetable in moderation, then radishes:
- improves appetite and helps 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, ARVI, sore throat and tonsillitis;
- will improve metabolism and launch active processes of cellular renewal, thereby helping to preserve youth and beauty;
- regulates the functioning of the nervous system, improves sleep and helps to concentrate well;
- will strengthen blood vessels and capillaries, make their walls more elastic, and therefore protect blood vessels and the heart from dangerous ailments;
- will remove accumulated toxins and waste from the body, and also help get rid of radionuclides and heavy metal salts;
- will have a diuretic and choleretic effect, eliminate swelling;
- improves the condition of gout and other joint diseases;
- eliminate symptoms of nausea;
- will have a mild analgesic effect during inflammatory processes.
Eating the root vegetable is useful if you are prone to excess weight; it helps maintain a healthy body weight.
What are the benefits of radishes for a woman’s body?
First of all, radishes are useful for women because they help prevent the development of cancer. Consuming it is useful for the prevention of breast cancer, especially in middle age, when the risk of the disease increases. Also, the root vegetable can improve the condition and restore strength during painful periods and during menopause.
Eating radishes is good for preserving youth and beauty. The root vegetable has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin - improves its elasticity, helps smooth out wrinkles, and eliminates swelling on the face. For self-care, the root vegetable is used both internally and externally.
Can pregnant women eat radishes?
While carrying a child, eating radishes is very useful; it helps maintain a normal balance of vitamins and microelements in the body. The presence of folic acid in the root vegetable becomes fundamentally important - this substance not only strengthens the health of the mother, but also helps to avoid pathologies in the fetus. If folic acid enters the body in sufficient quantities, the risk of congenital diseases in the child or complications during childbirth is reduced.
In addition, radishes during pregnancy help cope with swelling and constipation, strengthen the immune system and fight inflammation. But you need to consume the root vegetable in small quantities, since an excess of radishes is harmful.
Can a nursing mother have radishes?
Radishes during breastfeeding will be more harmful than beneficial. It is difficult for children to digest and will most likely lead to colic, gas and bloating in the child. Women should return root vegetables to their diet no earlier than six months after giving birth and in very small quantities.
What are the benefits of radishes for men?
Radishes are also beneficial for the male body. First of all, the root vegetable protects blood vessels and the heart - removes cholesterol, prevents the development of atherosclerosis, ischemia and other dangerous ailments.
Radishes are useful for treating diseases of the genitourinary system. Due to the increased content of ascorbic acid, the root vegetable helps 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?
Radishes can also be beneficial for children - the root vegetable strengthens the immune system and regulates digestive processes. But you can offer a vegetable to a child for the first time no earlier than 2 years old. The vegetable is difficult to digest for 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 your baby no more than a quarter of a small radish. If there is no negative reaction, the daily norm can gradually be increased to 40-50 g of vegetable per day, 2-3 times a week.
Benefits of radishes for the body
The beneficial properties of radishes are especially in demand for certain chronic ailments. If you use the root vegetable correctly, it will help improve your well-being and prevent exacerbations.
For gout
Radishes are beneficial due to the fact that they efficiently remove harmful substances from tissues and joints, including uric acid salts, which are deposited during gout.
In addition, the vitamins in radishes promote increased collagen production and strengthen cartilage tissue. It also helps prevent gout flare-ups.
For the cardiovascular system
Fresh radishes strengthen blood vessels, help lower blood pressure and also prevent the deposition of cholesterol plaques. Thanks to this, the root vegetable serves as a prevention of dangerous cardiovascular diseases - strokes and heart attacks. With regular consumption of the vegetable, the heart rate normalizes and blood circulation improves.
For respiratory diseases
Radishes contain a lot of vitamin C and antioxidants. Consuming the product is useful for both the prevention and treatment of colds. The root vegetable protects the body from viruses and infections, helps thin mucus, and helps get rid of bronchitis and sore throat faster.
For the gastrointestinal tract
Radishes have a powerful cleansing effect, which is primarily due to its benefits for the stomach and intestines. The root vegetable prevents the development of constipation, removes toxins from the body, and improves the digestibility of food.
The vegetable benefits the liver and gallbladder as it reduces the level of bilirubin in the blood and regulates the production of bile and enzymes. When eating a vegetable, the load on the liver is reduced, and the process of restoration of this organ begins.
For the genitourinary system
Fresh radishes are of great benefit for inflammation in the urinary tract, as they help fight infection. When consuming root vegetables, pain decreases and the condition quickly returns to normal. In addition, radishes remove excess fluid from the body, which also brings great benefits to the kidneys and bladder.
For immunity
Ascorbic acid in radishes, as well as the 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 cancer; cancer can also occur against the background of a weakened immune system.
For skin
Radishes contain zinc, phosphorus, vitamins B, A and E. All this makes the root vegetable very valuable for the skin; consuming radishes helps maintain the normal water-salt balance of the epidermis, making the skin smoother and more elastic. Radish in a regular diet helps to cope with acne and inflammation on the skin, and also promotes the healing of small wounds, burns and cuts.
When losing weight
Low-calorie radishes are included in many diets. The vegetable provides an effective aid in weight loss because it contains an increased amount of fiber - dietary fiber helps remove excess toxins from the body. The root vegetable also speeds up metabolism, due to which the accumulation of fat in the body is, in principle, reduced.
If you use radishes for weight loss at least twice a week and combine them with other healthy foods, you can lose up to 3 kg per month without harm to your health.
For diabetes
The fiber in radishes promotes the breakdown of carbohydrates, so when consuming the root vegetable, the level of glucose in the blood does not make sharp jumps. The root vegetable is rich in minerals and vitamins, promotes weight loss, stimulates digestion and prevents the development of constipation. In addition, radishes contain natural insulin, which is necessary for the normal functioning of the pancreas.
For all these reasons, the root vegetable is of great benefit for diabetes. It helps control not only sugar levels, but also body weight, and also protects the body from the development of dangerous complications.
What are the benefits of radish tops?
For treatment and cooking, not only the root vegetables themselves are used, but also radish leaves, or rather, its tops. There is no need to throw away the leaves; their vitamin composition is almost the same as that of root vegetables. Tops-based medicines help with:
- constipation;
- urolithiasis;
- colds;
- headaches;
- nervous disorders and memory problems;
- gout and radiculitis.
For joint ailments and migraines, fresh, clean radish leaves can be applied externally to sore spots as a compress. You can also use the tops internally.
Since not everyone will like to eat it in its pure form, usually the tops of the root vegetable are added to vegetable salads or smoothies, and decoctions and infusions are also made based on the leaves.
How to use radish leaves
The beneficial properties and contraindications of radish tops help with a wide range of diseases. There are many folk recipes that suggest using tops.
- Infusion to improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and against inflammation. To prepare the product, you need to wash 20 g of fresh plant tops, dry with paper towels and finely chop. The raw material is poured with a glass of hot water, left covered for about an hour, and then filtered through folded gauze. You need to drink the infusion three times a day, 50 ml, and this should be done on a full stomach.
- Compresses for migraines and joint pain. First you need to prepare a classic infusion using fresh tops of the plant. Then a piece of cloth or folded gauze is soaked in the infusion, squeezed out and applied to the sore spot. The top of the compress should be covered with polyethylene, secured with a bandage and covered with a warm scarf or scarf. You can keep this compress all night; the beneficial substances in the infusion from the tops will reduce inflammation and pain.
- Rinse for sore throat and bronchitis. An infusion of the tops is used to treat respiratory diseases. For example, you can gargle daily with a sore throat with the prepared infusion up to 5 times a day, the remedy will help cope with the infection and eliminate the inflammatory process. Taking the infusion orally will not hurt either - the remedy will help eliminate bronchitis and eliminate cough.
Fresh pulp from crushed leaves is recommended to be used to treat 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 seedlings
The benefits and harms of radishes for the human body are not limited to root vegetables. Vegetable seeds can be germinated, like almost any seed crop. Sprouts will contain particularly high amounts of fiber, iron, potassium and phosphorus, as well as vitamins C, A and B.
The benefits of radish sprouts are that the sprouts:
- stimulate peristalsis and help relieve constipation;
- reduce cholesterol levels and improve heart and brain function;
- speed up digestion and help with gastritis with reduced production of hydrochloric acid;
- have a powerful cleansing effect and are of great benefit for gout;
- promote the restoration of liver cells and protect the organ 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, sprouts are more likely to cause harm, as they can cause flatulence and diarrhea.
Restrictions and contraindications
The health benefits and harms of radishes depend on the presence of contraindications. It is not recommended to consume the root vegetable if:
- gastritis with increased production of gastric juice;
- acute pancreatitis and peptic ulcer;
- intestinal colitis;
- diseases of the thyroid gland;
- breastfeeding;
- tendency to heartburn.
Radishes should not be given to small children, and an absolute contraindication is the presence of an individual allergy to the root vegetable. The daily vegetable intake should not exceed 15 small radishes, and it is better to consume the product not every day, but three or twice a week.
Conclusion
The benefits and harms of radishes for the body depend on your personal health status and the norms of vegetable consumption. If there are no absolute contraindications to taking radishes, then in small quantities it will be very useful to include it in the diet; it will have a beneficial effect on almost all systems of the body.
