The benefits and harm to the body, the healing properties of radish were known to ancient people. All types of root vegetables - black, white, green, red radish - were valued by different peoples. Thus, the Greeks considered this vegetable crop to be the main product on the table, and the ancient Egyptians believed that eating the vegetable brings strength and adds stamina. However, a modern person may be surprised by such an attitude. “What are the benefits of radishes?” – every second resident of the metropolis will grin. You will get the answer to this question by reading about methods of consumption, folk recipes and contraindications for including root vegetables in food.
Description of the vegetable and its variety
Mediterranean countries are considered the plant's homeland. This vegetable of the cabbage family can be oblong, oval, round in shape, its varieties also differ in the color of the root vegetable.
Radish comes in several types:
- black;
- white;
- green;
- red;
The root vegetable is eaten boiled or fried. Radish is also added to vegetable and meat dishes and soups. The beneficial properties of the vegetable make it possible to obtain excellent vitamin-rich salads even from young tops. The product has a bitter, pungent taste and a specific smell.
Unique composition of the vegetable
The benefits of radish have long been known. Due to the high content of valuable elements, it maintains health and improves immunity. The following substances accumulate in its underground part:
- essential oils;
- acids - nicotinic, ascorbic;
- phytoncides;
- amino acids;
- cellulose;
- vitamins B, E, C, PP;
- mineral compounds - sodium, iron, phosphorus, iodine, magnesium, potassium.
The benefit of radish for the body is that it has bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties. The garden product will easily replenish depleted reserves of vitamins in the winter and spring.
Beneficial features
Both the health benefits and harms of eating vegetables have been studied since ancient times. Eating root vegetables allows you to:
- improve appetite;
- strengthen the body's protective functions;
- get rid of colds faster;
- lower blood pressure;
- saturate the brain with oxygen;
- normalize the flow of bile;
- improve the functioning of the digestive tract;
- remove excess cholesterol;
- prevent constipation.
The low calorie content of the natural product allows it to be included in the diet during diets. The diuretic properties of the vegetable will help remove excess fluid from the body.
The benefit for men from consuming the culture is its positive effect on the genitourinary system and getting rid of prostate problems.
Undoubtedly, the root vegetable has a very beneficial effect on the human body. Therefore, it is worth learning more about the benefits of each type of radish.
Black radish: benefits and contraindications
The benefits of black radish are great. The root vegetable has a rich black color, has a specific taste and pleasant aroma.
This type of vegetable is considered the most useful, used in cosmetology and folk medicine, and used in cooking.
Radish juice (usually black) is used to cure painful urination, as a gargle for toothache, and for gynecological problems. Compresses are used to treat rheumatism, bruises and resorption of bruises.
However, if you experience discomfort in the stomach, increased acidity, enterocolitis, or individual intolerance to the product, you should know that black radish is not your product. In moderation, the root vegetable can be eaten for problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
Green radish: beneficial properties and harm
Green radish is not often found in markets and stores. The composition of this species is similar to black root vegetables, but the taste is softer and vaguely reminiscent. The plant has several varieties: green, Chinese, watermelon, Margelan radish.
This type of root vegetable performs the following functions:
- strengthens the immune system;
- cleanses the body of bile;
- due to the content of calcium and iron, it improves the condition of teeth and bones;
- suitable for weight loss;
- improves the functioning of the digestive system;
- normalizes blood sugar levels;
- relieves colds.
Green radish also improves appetite, improves vision, and helps with diseases of the nervous system. It helps remove harmful compounds, vegetable juice treats hair loss and baldness, compresses are used for radiculitis, gout and joint problems. When consumed regularly, Margelan radish reduces cholesterol levels.
Contraindications for including green root vegetables in the menu are the same as for the previous type. However, due to the lower content of phytoncides in certain diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, its use in food is acceptable, while black radish is contraindicated in such cases.
Which root vegetable is healthier?
After describing the varieties of vegetable crops, you can summarize and decide how each type of radish is different and useful.
- - pungent and bitter, but has the most valuable qualities. Suitable only for people without stomach problems.
- - best suited for salads. It boosts immunity, fights colds and destroys infections.
- - spicy, but practically not bitter. Can be consumed by almost all categories of people, except those who are obese.
Each type of valuable root has its own characteristics and valuable qualities.
The underground part of black radish is truly a unique resource for the body. The root vegetable has a general strengthening and immunostimulating effect; its consumption has a beneficial effect on the treatment of bronchitis, laryngitis, coughs, colds and problems of the upper respiratory tract. Also, radish with honey is famous for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect.
There are various recipes for preparing a folk remedy for cough based on a bitter vegetable. Here are two of the most popular ones.
- Cut off the top of the root vegetable, cut out the middle. Add honey to the resulting void and cover with the cut part for 24 hours. During this time, radish with honey will give medicinal juice, which should be taken 1 tsp. at night, in advanced cases it is allowed to increase up to three doses.
- Peel the vegetable, cut into small pieces and pour in about 100-120 ml of honey. Let it brew for at least two hours in a warm place. Then the radish with honey is squeezed out. It is recommended to drink the resulting juice in the same way as with the first preparation method.
The parallel use of black radish is effective for a speedy recovery in the form of a compress on the chest. To do this, you need to grate the root vegetable, wrap it in thick cloth and apply it for 15 minutes.
It has long been known that ordinary radish juice for men, women and even children can be a real salvation for health problems. This is a natural remedy for many ailments:
- colds;
- cough;
- tracheitis, lung diseases, bronchitis;
- ulcers, purulent wounds, abscesses, eczema.
Adherents of traditional medicine promise that natural medicine will help cope with respiratory problems. It is useful for the human body: it removes mucus and improves the expectoration process.
For skin diseases, compresses and lotions made from garden products relieve the inflammatory process from damaged areas and speed up the healing process. The pronounced bactericidal properties of the plant allow it to be used as an antiseptic and to treat problem areas of the skin.
Radish juice also has the ability to normalize metabolism, treat atherosclerosis, and improve digestion.
General contraindications for use
Even if you are fascinated by the beneficial properties, you should not discount the contraindications. The root vegetable affects the mucous membranes, therefore, it is prohibited for consumption by people with the following health problems:
- heart disease;
- gastritis (with high acidity of gastric juice);
- increased stomach acidity;
- recent heart attack;
- liver diseases;
- stomach and duodenal ulcers;
- glomerulonephritis.
In most cases, the benefits of radish for the body are beyond doubt, but women should absolutely not eat it during pregnancy. The valuable root vegetable contains substances that increase uterine blood flow, which can lead to termination of pregnancy.
Young mothers during lactation can introduce the product into their diet with caution in very limited quantities: it can cause colic in the baby. But when consumed in moderation, the root vegetable will increase breast milk production.
Radish juice is strictly contraindicated for children under 3 years of age. The compounds it contains irritate the mucous membranes, and therefore are of critical importance when entering the gastrointestinal tract.
If you have an individual intolerance to the product, you should also avoid including this vegetable in your diet. Excessive consumption of root vegetables can lead to digestive upset.
The main thing that lovers of healthy eating should remember is that both health benefits and harm should be taken into account when introducing each new product into the diet. Undoubtedly, radish can relieve various ailments and saturate the body with vitamins and beneficial compounds during the difficult winter-spring period. However, it is very important to remember possible contraindications.
Red radish, probably one of the most controversial representatives of this type of vegetable. Numerous disputes are caused by differences of opinion, for example, some scientists say that the red radish is a hybrid that arose from crossing radishes and radishes. Other experts believe that this is an ordinary radish that has simply grown to a large size. So far, scientists have not been able to reach a consensus.
Red radish has fairly large fruits, which weigh about 300 g. The root vegetables have a round or cylindrical shape. Behind the thin red skin is white dense pulp, which is also very juicy. In addition, at the moment hybrids have been bred in which, on the contrary, the peel is white and the flesh is red (see photo).
Red radish has a less pungent taste compared to, for example, the black version of this vegetable.
Beneficial features
Red radish has many beneficial properties. Thus, it has the ability to have a positive effect on digestion, since this vegetable contains a lot of coarse fiber. Root vegetables improve appetite, and they also have the ability to remove toxins and harmful substances from the body. Thus, this vegetable is an excellent prevention of constipation. Since red radish has strong antibacterial properties, it helps cope with various intestinal diseases.
Regular consumption of this vegetable helps remove excess fluid from the body, thereby preventing the occurrence of edema.
Considering the low calorie content of red radish, it is recommended to use it during weight loss.
Use in cooking
Useful red radish in cooking most often used fresh. It serves as the basis for a variety of summer and winter salads. In addition, chopped root vegetables can be used in various dishes, both vegetable and meat.
Thanks to the use of red radish, other foods are digested much faster.
Root vegetables give the final dish an incredible taste and spicy aroma. In some countries, red radish can be cooked, e.g. it can be boiled, stewed and fried.
Benefits of red radish and treatment
The benefits of red radish are due to the rich composition of vitamins and microelements. They make it possible to use this vegetable in folk medicine.
Some doctors recommend using the juice of such root vegetables for anemia. If you mix it with honey, you get an excellent remedy to get rid of colds. If you combine radish juice and vodka, the resulting composition can be used to treat radiculitis, rheumatism, and this infusion will also help get rid of pain in the joints.
Due to the fact that red radish has an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect on the body, it is recommended to include it in their diet for people who are being treated for diseases of the gallbladder, liver and kidneys.
Harm of red radish and contraindications
Red radish can be harmful to pregnant women, since the essential oils contained in root vegetables have the ability to accumulate, which can cause uterine tone, which in turn can lead to miscarriage or premature birth. Women who are breastfeeding should avoid eating this vegetable, as the root vegetable can provoke the development of allergic reactions in the child. It is strictly contraindicated to eat red radish if you have heart disease, as well as ulcers, gastritis and enterocolitis.
There is no consensus about the origin of red radish. Some believe that this is a type of radish, others believe that it is a radish. And some suggest that it is a hybrid of radish and radish. Red radish looks like a large radish, but tastes more like a radish.
The root vegetable gets its name from its red skin; the flesh is white; it can be eaten raw or added to dishes, such as salads.
Useful properties and applications
Red radish has a complex positive effect on the human immune system. Red radish also has antiviral properties. Helps with gastrointestinal diseases, but is contraindicated for some of them. Due to the diuretic and choleretic properties of radish, people with liver and kidney diseases are not advised to consume it.
Coarse radish fibers have a slight irritating effect on the walls of the stomach, as a result of which absorption and muscle function are stimulated. For constipation, this has a beneficial effect. To prevent atherosclerosis and the accumulation of cholesterol plaques in blood vessels, it is recommended to drink red radish juice. If you have various types of edema, it is also recommended to eat this root vegetable more often. Potassium in radish helps remove excess salts and water from the body.
The abundant amount of B vitamins in this vegetable increases its value. They help improve the condition of skin, nails, hair and teeth.
Antioxidants improve metabolism and have a rejuvenating effect.
Contraindications
Even medications have side effects and contraindications. Red radish also has warnings for use. They mainly concern pregnant and breastfeeding women. The oils that make up the root vegetable, when accumulated in the body, tend to tone the uterus.
This can lead to premature birth or miscarriage. There is a risk of the baby developing allergies in the womb or during lactation. For gastritis, stomach ulcers and exacerbation of inflammatory processes in the intestines, it is recommended to stop eating root vegetables. In case of exacerbation of cardiovascular diseases, you should not consume vegetables in large quantities.
Folk recipes
As mentioned earlier, red radish is good for helping the immune system during the winter. On the Internet you can find many recipes and user reviews about the use of radish in the treatment of respiratory diseases. Here is the most summarized and generalized recipe found on the Internet and heard from grandmothers.
Cut off the top of the radish and take out the pulp; it is better and more convenient to do this with a teaspoon. You need to remove enough pulp to make room for 15-20 ml. We put a couple of tablespoons of honey into this “barrel” and close it with a cut “lid”. Leave in a dark place for about 12 hours. You should get a mass of honey and radish juice. Take the tincture after meals, children take a teaspoon, adults take a tablespoon. The product is suitable not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of colds and other respiratory diseases.
Features of cultivation and storage
There are two ways to grow radishes, differing from each other only in the time of planting. This is not a capricious, cold-resistant plant that does not require special soil or care. The first planting begins from late April to mid-May.
If you consider that the ripening time for red radish is 9-11 weeks, then it will ripen by autumn. Radishes planted during this period are called winter radishes. Residents of the middle zone can plant seeds in greenhouses and transplant seedlings into open ground when a favorable time comes. The second stage of planting is the end of June and the beginning of July. Radishes planted during this period remain in the beds for the winter and will only ripen next year - and are called spring radishes.
Root vegetables love water, so if possible, you need to water the beds as often as possible, then large and juicy root vegetables will grow.
It is important to detect and destroy pests in time; they usually hide on the tops of the tops. You can prevent pest attacks by treating plants with a mixture of ash and lime.
How to plant?
Before planting radishes, you need to soak the seeds in advance. Then you need to loosen and level the ground. Then we make grooves as deep as the phalanx of the finger, and separated from each other by 30-35 cm.
We dig in the seeds by filling the furrows and water them. There is no need to overdo it with the amount of water - the soil should not turn into dirt and clay. This will lead to the formation of a crust on the soil and it will be difficult for seedlings to break through it.
When the radish sprouts, it is necessary to thin out the seedlings, otherwise they will interfere with each other, and the root crops will be small. At the first thinning, the distance between the seedlings should be approximately 2 cm, over time, when the seedlings grow and begin to crowd together, we thin out again, with a margin of 6 cm. As a result, we should get a distance of 12 cm for the ripening fruits.
When to collect?
If you see that the harvest is ripe, do not rush to remove it from the beds. Early harvested fruits are poorly stored and wither. In addition, nature is the best storage; you can keep the radish in the garden until frost, but remove it before then.
You need to dig in dry weather, dig carefully, trying not to damage the fruit - a damaged root crop is more susceptible to disease. When cutting off the tops, you need to leave a root of about 2 cm. Before storing root vegetables, first dry them in a cool place protected from the sun.
After drying, select healthy, medium-sized fruits. Large overripe and small root vegetables are best eaten first. The best place for storage is a basement or cellar. If you don't have it, you can also use the balcony. To do this, you need wooden boxes and sand - we stack the radishes in rows, sprinkling sand between them.
There is an option to store radishes in a plastic bag, the principle is the same. This is all possible only if the temperature on the balcony does not drop below zero, otherwise the root vegetables will freeze.
Few people know how useful radish is, mistaking it for a useless vegetable that has no place in the diet of a modern person. This position is fundamentally wrong. In terms of its beneficial properties, this seemingly ordinary fruit is ahead of many popular products.
Types of radish
The benefits of radish for the human body are enormous. It’s not for nothing that our ancestors valued it so much. The garden plant was added to everyday dishes, used for various diseases, and even used as a body care product. There are several types of radish. Each is used differently:
- Black radish is the healthiest, although it is very bitter. To eat the root vegetable in large quantities, you need to know how to cook it. However, when treating, small doses of fresh vegetables are sufficient. The black variety is excellent for sore throats and colds. In addition, the juice of the plant effectively fights bacteria, so it is used to heal wounds, abrasions and various external ulcers. However, it is better not to use this remedy for people with gastrointestinal problems.
- Green radish has a completely opposite taste. It is also called summer for its early germination. It is less useful than the black variety, but it has no contraindications. If there is no individual intolerance, then it can be eaten in any form. Eating green vegetables perfectly strengthens the body as a whole.
- White radish helps with colds, and the phytoncides in its composition increase the body's protective properties. Although it is quite bitter, it is usually added to salads. Dressing with mayonnaise or vegetable oil reduces the bitterness of the vegetable.
- Red radish is a valuable product for normalizing the digestive system. Due to the presence of a large amount of coarse dietary fiber, the plant cleanses the body of toxins, improves food absorption and relieves intestinal problems.
- The Japanese radish Redmit has taken root well in Russian conditions. Today it is no longer considered an exotic product. A vegetable whose middle is colored pink is not only beautiful, but also healthy. The Japanese root vegetable is simply a storehouse of vitamins. In addition, the vegetable cleanses the intestines and is even able to dissolve sand and small stones in the gall bladder and kidneys.
Medicinal properties
Any radish is rich in vitamins, especially a lot of ascorbic acid and vitamins B and C. It contains a large amount of fiber and organic acids, phytoncides and essential oils. In addition, when it is eaten, the human body receives such important substances as calcium, potassium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, etc. Radish contains more of these microelements than many other vegetables.
The beneficial properties of the root vegetable have long been used in folk medicine. The fresh vegetable has an effective anti-inflammatory and expectorant effect, so it is used to treat coughs and other colds. Radish is indispensable for the body in the off-season. The vitamins contained in the vegetable improve the body's defenses and increase resistance to various infections. The root vegetable has the ability to preserve the necessary nutrients all year round, so in the spring, during the period of vitamin deficiency, consuming the vegetable will replenish the vitamin deficiency. The black variety is effective even against diseases such as pneumonia and bronchitis.
Since ancient times, the beneficial plant has been mixed with honey, resulting in a unique healing mixture. To do this, the plant was grated or chopped and the juice was squeezed out. Approximately 100 g of honey was added to one glass of juice to remove the bitterness from the resulting medicine. A similar recipe is still relevant today. Some people make it even simpler: take half the core out of the radish and pour honey into it, let the product brew a little, and then take a teaspoon as a medicine several times a day. The only contraindication is an allergy to bee products.
The beneficial properties of the plant are indispensable for the normal functioning of the digestive system. The only exceptions are black varieties. Substances in the vegetable suppress the development of pathogenic bacteria, remove waste and toxins, and stimulate fat metabolism, which is useful for overweight people and those who want to lose weight. When you eat radish in salads and other dishes, your appetite increases and the production of gastric juice, which is necessary for the normal absorption of food, increases.
The minerals in the plant are an excellent preventive measure for cardiovascular diseases. Vitamin C strengthens the walls of blood vessels and increases their elasticity, promotes the complete absorption of iron into the blood. Also, when eating vegetables, cholesterol levels decrease. Lotions and compresses from the juice of the plant with the addition of honey, salt and alcohol are used to treat rheumatism, gout, radiculitis and other diseases. And vegetable juice is also an excellent diuretic.
Contraindications
However, there are not only benefits from eating radish, and this plant can also cause harm. The main thing is to observe moderation, because if the root vegetable is consumed too often, its effect on the body will be reversed. An adult should not eat more than 100-130 g of the plant per week; the child dose is no more than 50 g. In addition, the vegetable is introduced into the diet gradually, otherwise digestive problems and indigestion cannot be avoided.
Garden root vegetables can both cure stomach diseases and aggravate them. For gastritis, ulcers and other ailments associated with the gastrointestinal tract, the plant is taken with caution. And it is best to consult with your doctor. For gout, kidney disease, and even after a stroke, only external use of radish in the form of compresses and various rubbings is possible.
The substances contained in the plant accelerate the blood, so the vegetable should not be eaten during pregnancy, so as not to provoke bleeding. During breastfeeding, it is also better to avoid eating radish, despite the fact that it enhances lactation. However, this vegetable is too heavy for a baby and can cause colic in a newborn. If the baby does not experience pain or an allergic reaction, then the mother can drink a little vegetable juice, as it will only make the milk healthier.
The use of the plant is also contraindicated for small children under 3 years of age. This is too aggressive a product for a child's delicate stomach. After 3 years, the vegetable is introduced into the diet gradually. It is imperative to monitor the baby’s body’s reaction to a new product.
Calorie content: 20 kcal.
Energy value of the product Red radish:
Proteins: 1.2 g.
Fat: 0.1 g.
Carbohydrates: 3.4 g.
Red radish is probably one of the most controversial representatives of this type of vegetable.
Characteristics of red radish
This is due to differences in opinions, for example, some scientists say that the red radish is a hybrid that arose from crossing radishes and radishes. Other experts believe that this is an ordinary radish that has simply grown to a large size. So far, scientists have not been able to reach a consensus.
Red radish has fairly large fruits, which weigh about 300 g. The root vegetables have a round or cylindrical shape. Behind the thin red skin is white dense pulp, which is also very juicy. In addition, at the moment hybrids have been bred, in which, on the contrary, the peel is white and the flesh is red. Red radish has a less pungent taste compared to, for example, the black version.
Beneficial features
Red radish has the ability to have a positive effect on digestion, since this vegetable contains a lot of coarse fiber. Root vegetables improve appetite, and they also have the ability to remove toxins and harmful substances from the body. Thus, this vegetable is an excellent prevention of constipation.
Since red radish has strong antibacterial properties, it helps cope with various intestinal diseases. Regular consumption of this vegetable helps remove excess fluid from the body, thereby preventing the occurrence of edema. Considering the low calorie content of red radish, it is recommended to use it during weight loss.
Use in cooking
Using red radish in cookingRed radish is most often used fresh. It serves as the basis for a variety of summer and winter salads. In addition, chopped root vegetables can be used in various dishes, both vegetable and meat. Thanks to the use of red radish, other foods are digested much faster.
Root vegetables give the final dish an incredible taste and spicy aroma. In some countries, red radish is subject to heat treatment, for example, it can be boiled, stewed and fried.
Benefits of red radish and treatment
The benefits of red radish are due to the rich composition of vitamins and microelements. All this makes it possible to use this vegetable in folk medicine.
Beneficial properties of red radish
Some doctors recommend using the juice of these root vegetables for anemia. If you mix it with honey, you get an excellent remedy to get rid of colds. If you combine radish juice and vodka, the resulting composition can be used to treat radiculitis, rheumatism, and this infusion will also help get rid of pain in the joints.
Due to the fact that red radish has an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect on the body, it is recommended to include it in their diet for people who are being treated for diseases of the gallbladder, liver and kidneys.
Harm of red radish and contraindications
Red radish can be harmful to pregnant women, since the essential oils contained in root vegetables have the ability to accumulate, which can cause uterine tone, which in turn can lead to the loss of a child or premature birth. Women who are breastfeeding should avoid eating this vegetable, as this can provoke the development of allergic reactions in the child. You should not eat red radish if you have heart disease, as well as ulcers, gastritis and enterocolitis.