The health benefits of radish have a lot. Because Radishes are rich in antioxidants and minerals like calcium and potassium. Together, these nutrients help lower high blood pressure and reduce your risks for heart disease. Radish is also a good source of natural nitrates that improve blood flow. Here we are going to discuss the health benefits of radish.
Health Benefits of Radishes
Radishes have some healthful properties thanks to their fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidant content. For example, vitamin C is important in many physiological processes, including protein metabolism, wound healing, and immune system regulation.
May Lower Blood Sugar
Researchers have suggested that consuming radishes may be beneficial for people with diabetes because it slows sugar absorption and reduces the starch-induced post-meal glycemic load.
Provides Antioxidants
The antioxidant compounds in radishes may provide some of their anti-diabetic power. Anthocyanins help give radishes their bright range of colors, and research suggests that consuming more of them is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
In general, antioxidants are beneficial because they can help repair oxidative stress caused by free radicals in the body. This stress can contribute to inflammation, obesity, diabetes, and other conditions.
Reduces Risk of Chronic Disease
Like antioxidants, dietary fiber has many health benefits that have been identified by scientists. These include preventing and managing heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, and digestive diseases. Researchers are also looking at fiber’s ability to prevent infection and even improve mood and memory.
May Reduce Risk of Cancer
Radishes may not seem to have much in common with broccoli, but both are cruciferous vegetables. Research has shown some associations between a diet high in these nutritious veggies and a lowered risk of cancer. Specific to radishes, a study of radish extract found that it could inhibit the proliferation of certain cancer cells in a lab setting.
Prevents Gallstones
Like other cruciferous vegetables, radishes contain a compound called glucosinolate. It has antioxidant and anticancer properties and can decrease cholesterol levels in the liver. This, in turn, can prevent the formation of gallstones.
Saves those RBCs
Radish is known to control damage to our red blood cells, and in the process also increases oxygen supply to the blood.
High on Fiber
If you eat it as part of your daily salad intake, without going overboard of course, radish also provides your system with ample roughage and fibers, therefore improving your digestion. It also regulates bile production, safeguards your liver and the gall bladder, and is great for taking care of water retention.
Guards the Heart
Radishes are a good source of anthocyanins that keep our hearts functioning properly, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Plus they are high on vitamin C, folic acid, and flavonoids too.
Controls Blood Pressure
Radish also provides your body with potassium, which can help lower your blood pressure, and keep your blood flow in control, especially if you are known to suffer from hypertension. According to Ayurveda, radish is believed to have a cooling effect on the blood.
Improves Immunity
Given that radish has high vitamin C, it can protect you from a common cold and cough, and improve your basic immunity system. But you must consume it regularly. It also controls the development of harmful free radicals, inflammation, and early aging.
Fortifies Blood Vessels
Now, this is important – radish plays an important role in the generation of collagen, which in turn boosts our blood vessels and decreases our chances of getting atherosclerosis.
Metabolism-Friendly
This root vegetable is not only good for your digestive system, but it also helps to fix acidity, obesity, gastric problems, and nausea, among others.
Good for the Skin
If you drink radish juice every day, you’re giving your skin special boosters to stay healthy, and that’s mostly because of Vitamin C, zinc, and phosphorus. Plus it also keeps dryness, acne, pimples, and rashes at bay. Plus you can use radish paste to cleanse your face. And if you apply it to your hair, it helps to remove dandruff, prevent hair loss, and strengthens the root too.
Good for Hydration
If you tend to eat radish a little more in summer, it’s probably because it keeps the body hydrated because of its high water content.
116g Raw Radish Nutrition
- Calories: 19
- Fat: 0.1g
- Sodium: 45mg
- Carbohydrates: 3.9g
- Fiber: 1.9g
- Sugar: 2.2g
- Protein: 0.8g
Carbs
Radishes lack starch, which is an easily digestible form of carbohydrate that quickly breaks down into simple sugars. The carbs in radishes are half simple sugars (glucose and fructose) and half fiber.
The glycemic index of a food is an indicator of how much and how fast a food raises your blood sugar. As with most non-starchy vegetables, there is no scientific study of the glycemic index of radishes.
Fat
Radishes have just a tiny trace of fat.
Protein
Like most vegetables, radishes are not high in protein, although there is just under 1 gram in a cup of raw radish slices.
Vitamins and Minerals
Radishes are a good source of vitamin C with 17 milligrams per 1-cup serving. This amount is 23% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for women and 19% of the RDA for men and 19% of the daily value set by the FDA for food labels. Since the body can’t produce its own vitamin C, consuming it in the diet (or via supplements) is essential. Radishes also contain smaller amounts of folate and vitamin B6 and the minerals potassium, manganese, and calcium.
Radish Side Effects
Radish is generally safe to consume. However, a large amount of radish can irritate the digestive tract and cause flatulence and cramps. Some people who might be allergic to radish can have hives or more serious events after its consumption.
Excess consumption of radish may lead to hypotension and hypoglycemia. As radish is a cruciferous vegetable, people with thyroid problems must limit the intake of radishes as it contains goitrogenic substances and may interfere with thyroid hormone production.
FAQ
Is it OK to eat radish everyday?
They're generally safe to eat, but don't go overboard if you have thyroid problems. Excessive amounts may interfere with thyroid hormone production. A study on rats found that chronic radish consumption increased the weight of the thyroid gland and decreased thyroid hormone levels.
How many radishes should you eat a day?
There are countless reasons for which radishes represent a food to add to our diet, but one of the most appreciated is its ability of improving the immune system. A half radishes cup per day, added to the salad or to eat as snack, can guarantee a daily assimilation of vitamin C equal to 15%.
Are radishes good for kidneys?
Radishes are crunchy vegetables that make a healthy addition to a renal diet. This is because they are very low in potassium and phosphorus but high in many other important nutrients.
Is radish good for skin?
The vitamin C in radishes, along with zinc and phosphorus can help you fight skin dryness, acne and rashes. The high water content in radishes (and other fruits and vegetables) also helps hydrate the skin. To create a natural cleanser or mask for your face, use smashed raw radishes.
