Radish: beneficial properties and contraindications, calorie and nutritional value

In antiquity, radish was considered a panacea for many diseases, and its value was measured in gold. The Egyptians considered this inconspicuous root vegetable sacred and necessarily included in the list of offerings to the gods. In ancient Russia, radish is a well-known product that was eaten for the sake of taste and benefit. What can help radish modern man, tell us next.

As part of the fresh radish there is a large part of the necessary elements for the human body. It contains proteins and amino acids, among which - irreplaceable. There are carbohydrates, represented by fiber and sugars, a small amount of fatty acids.

Vitamin composition is represented by ascorbic acid, retinol and tocopherol, in addition, the composition contains vitamins PP and group B. Potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium, and iodine are among the microelements contained in a large number of trace elements.

Taste features of root crops are largely dependent on the concentration of essential oils in them. Green radish to a lesser extent contains them, and therefore characterized by a more delicate flavor. Also in different varieties of radish there is a slight fluctuation in the vitamin and mineral composition.

In addition to root crops, fresh foliage is often used for medicinal purposes. This is not surprising, because in terms of the content of iron and vitamin C, it overtakes the flesh.

Radish refers to dietary vegetables, because it has a caloric content equal to 36 calories per 100 grams of fresh produce. The glycemic index of the root is also low and is equal to 15 units, which allows it to be eaten with diabetes mellitus, obesity, and also to build on the basis of a radish diet for weight loss.

There are several varieties of radish, the bitter of which is black, and the most delicate in taste is white, or daikon (this is a Chinese radish, and its Japanese counterpart is Loba radish). In addition, there is a green root and red (sometimes called pink) radish. In general, they have the same properties, so we describe the most important useful characteristics of the vegetable, highlighting for which variety they are inherent to a greater degree.

A high content of vitamins and microelements allows using radish as a product, stimulating the immune forces of the body. This, in turn, increases the body's resistance to the influence of negative environmental factors, colds and viral ailments.

However, it is important to remember that, along with vitamins and minerals, root vegetable with black skin and essential oils contains more than others. People with gastritis and ulcers black radish may be contraindicated.

Radish can be considered one of the champions in the content of amino acids among vegetables and fruits. Amino acids are involved in all biochemical processes of the body, are the basis for cells and tissues. Their deficiency leads to an imbalance of BJU in the body, which is fraught with a violation of metabolism, the emergence of a number of diseases.

Radish is rich in antioxidants, the function of which is performed by flavonoids, as well as vitamins C and E. This suggests the ability of vegetables to eliminate toxins and slow down the aging processes of cells. The latter fact, by the way, is manifested in the preservation of skin tone. The positive effect of the root crop on the skin is due to the presence of vitamins A and B in its composition. It is used in food and make cosmetic masks and infusions based on radish.

Positive effect of radish on the digestive organs.So, the contained essential oils (they are available in all types of vegetables, their greatest concentration - in the area of ​​the "tail") contribute to the awakening of appetite, stimulate the production of gastric juice. It is no coincidence that the vegetable is recommended for digestive disorders, low acidity, poor appetite. Fiber in the composition stimulates intestinal motility, helps to eliminate toxins and toxins. This allows you to speed up the metabolism, and also helps to reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

If we talk about varieties of radish and the peculiarities of their influence on the gastrointestinal organs, then the greatest amount of essential oils contains black radish (without fear it can be used only if there are no problems with the organs of the gastrointestinal tract), white radish is softer in taste, and Acuity and vitality - green. It contains almost no esters and phytoncides. However, the amount of vitamins and microelements in it decreases in comparison with other varieties.

Potassium and magnesium in the composition, as well as antioxidants and vitamin PP make radish useful for diseases of the heart and blood vessels, as well as a prophylactic agent. Root helps to strengthen the heart muscle, improves conductivity, normalizes the rhythm. Vitamin PP increases capillary permeability, and antioxidants make the vascular walls more elastic, relieve them of cholesterol plaques, and help reduce cholesterol levels.

The healing properties of the radish also extend to the improvement of atherosclerosis, varicose veins, after suffering heart attacks and strokes. Magnesium and potassium in black radish are so numerous that only 100 g of this product covers the body's daily need for these trace elements.

Rich in iron and vitamin C, which improves the absorption of trace elements, radish helps fight anemia by maintaining hemoglobin levels. To strengthen the cardiovascular system, black radish should be chosen, because it contains more potassium than others.

Due to the presence of sodium in the radish, it is possible to maintain the water-salt balance in the body, which is important for all organs and tissues. The same potassium and magnesium "work" exclusively in tandem with sodium. Sodium is essential for the production of gastric juice, enzymes of saliva and pancreas. Better than other excess water from the body brings daikon radish, in addition, it has a more pronounced antioxidant effect. Radish also possesses antibacterial and antiseptic properties due to the content of phytoncides.

Radish has antibacterial, cough and immunostimulating action. This allows you to use it for the treatment of acute respiratory infections and SARS. Proved the effectiveness of the root in the fight against rhinitis, diseases of the upper respiratory tract. To enhance the benefits of vegetables and partially offset the aggressive essential oils of radish allows the combination with honey.

Mixed radish juice with honey is a natural remedy that traditional medicine recommends for treating colds, sore throat and cough of various origins (except for allergic), used for instillation in the nose with rhinitis, used for the treatment of sinusitis. Thanks to the vitamins and minerals in the composition of the root crop will contribute to restoring the strength of the patient, accelerate recovery. Due to the natural composition, it is suitable for the treatment of children, pregnant and lactating women.

With the help of the juice from the root crop, small stones and sand in the kidneys are treated, as the vegetable shows a strong diuretic effect. Of course, this can be done with the permission of the attending physician. As a rule, treatment is carried out in 2 stages.First, the patient undergoes a course of juice treatment, and then the remaining cake after that, which is mixed with honey.

The healing properties of radish are reduced to using it to combat digestive problems, in particular, with low acidity of gastric juice, decrease intestinal motility. It helps to get rid of constipation.

Black radish juice, as well as compositions based on it, are used to clean the blood vessels, reduce blood sugar, combat hypertension. It is used for anemia, heart rhythm disturbances.

Black radish juice is used as an external compound for the treatment of joints (rheumatism, gout), to eliminate their stiffness due to the deposition of salts. Strengthen the effect of the juice called alcohol medical or quality vodka and sea salt. The resulting mixture is moistened with a napkin and a compress on the affected areas.

Externally, radish is also used to treat burns, nonhealing wounds, abscesses. To do this, use finely grated root without a skin or a compress soaked in radish juice that is applied to the damaged area. Such a procedure accelerates skin regeneration, has an antibacterial effect.

Root juice also struggles with excessive greasiness of the skin, regulating the work of the sebaceous glands, has an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect, therefore, is effective for the care of oily problem skin prone to acne.

Men root helps to cope with hangover. To do this, the morning after the holiday, eat a salad with radish. For women, radish is useful in the ability to manage the menstrual cycle.

Due to the high content of essential oils and phytoncides, radish and juice from it can damage the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines, increase the acidity of the gastric juice. In this regard, the root should be abandoned in the acute phase of gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, as well as with pancreatitis. If these diseases have acquired a chronic form, then in the period of remission, less vigorous root varieties should be selected and the amount of eaten vegetable should be reduced.

In diseases of the liver and kidneys, pancreas, radish is also not recommended. It should be carefully taken after recent heart attacks and strokes, serious heart and vascular diseases. Radish can slightly increase blood viscosity. For a healthy person, this does not affect the state of health, but with thrombosis and a tendency to thrombophlebitis, radish may be contraindicated, since it aggravates the course of the disease.

Pregnancy and lactation are not direct contraindications to the consumption of radish, however, during this period, you should follow certain recommendations “in relation to” with the radish. More details will be given below in the relevant sections of the article.

In the last months of carrying a fetus from radish is better to refuse, because it contains substances that can provoke uterine bleeding.

Individual intolerance to the product and children's age up to 3 years - a reason to refuse to use radish.

If it is used for medicinal purposes and is combined with other products (for example, honey), you should first make sure that they are not allergic.

With a tendency to flatulence, radish may also be contraindicated, since it causes increased gas formation. Reduce it will allow the combination of root and dill.

It is not recommended to eat radish on an empty stomach, especially before breakfast. All characteristics regarding the benefits of root vegetables are valid for young vegetables. The old not only lose some of the useful elements, but also lose their palatability.

If you have purchased a root vegetable with tops, prune it immediately, coming home. This will preserve the vitamins in the pulp and prevent them from going to the foliage. It is important to thoroughly wash the radish, at the end of washing it is recommended to pour boiling water over it. This will avoid infection when it is consumed.

Radish contains fat-soluble vitamins, the absorption of which is possible only with fats. In this regard, the most useful to do from the root vegetables salads, which are filled with vegetable oil. The correct recipes also allow the use of natural yogurt, sour cream (fat content is better to choose no more than 10%), homemade mayonnaise.

It is important to observe moderation when eating radish. In the absence of contraindications per day it is permissible to eat 200 g of black or green radish. If white is used, then this amount can be increased to 300-350 g. In a word, one small root vegetable will be extremely beneficial.

Radish can be a useful product when carrying a fetus. It contains folic acid, which is necessary for the formation of the neural tube, spinal cord and brain in the fetus. Zinc in the root is essential for the central nervous system, and also ensures the normal functioning of the child’s brain. In addition, the root crop contains potassium and phosphorus, which are necessary for the formation and development of the baby’s skeleton, the rudiments of the teeth.

However, not every type of radish is allowed during pregnancy. Black, or, as it is also called, Spanish contains special essential oils that can provoke uterine hypertonus. From its consumption to women in the "interesting position" is better to give up. However, this restriction applies only to raw radish. When exposed to heat (stewing, steaming, baking), these esters volatilize. True, along with them, and most of the other vitamins.

The fact is that it contains much less essential oils, and the content of vitamins and minerals remains the same as in black radish.

Another acceptable option is white radish, or daikon. It contains many vitamins, but the amount of folic acid in it is slightly lower than in other types.

In the absence of contraindications, pregnant women can eat up to 150-200 g of white radish (slightly less green) 2-3 times a week. In the last months of pregnancy, it is advisable to avoid large amounts of fiber, since this can provoke uterine contractions. In this regard, the daily dosage should be reduced to 80-100 g. If the fibers seem too coarse, it is best to bake the vegetable.

It is not recommended to include black and green radish in the diet of a nursing mother. This is due to the fact that they provoke fermentation processes in the body and can cause colic and abdominal pain in the child, impaired stool. In addition, due to the large amount of essential oils, mother's milk becomes bitter, so the baby can stop using it.

But white radish with HB in small quantities may be useful for mother and baby. Here it is necessary to focus exclusively on the reaction of their organisms in response to the introduction of the root in the diet of the mother. A vitamin-rich root vegetable will strengthen the mother's body and help her to get stronger faster after childbirth. Vitamins of group B and iron will help to increase hemoglobin, which decreases sharply after childbirth in the process of natural blood loss. Calcium and phosphorus are useful for strengthening the bones and teeth of the mother, necessary for the formation of the skeleton of the baby.

Consumption of radish will allow mother to quickly return to the form after delivery. During this period, the woman's diet may be oversaturated with carbohydrates and proteins, and the consumption of fiber must be reduced.Radish will help prevent slowing metabolism, reduce the risk of developing a feeling of heaviness in the stomach, remove excess moisture from the body.

Include radish in the diet should not be earlier than when the baby is 3-4 months old. It should start with a small amount of root - literally one wedge. If the child does not show negative changes in health, then after a week, you can increase the number of radishes to 2-3 segments.

It is better to include it in the composition of carrot salad, to consume with carbohydrates. With increased flatulence in the mother or baby, you can try to bake the root vegetable. For the treatment of anemia during lactation, 1 part of radish juice can be mixed with the same amount of beetroot and two parts of carrot juice.

Low calorie and glycemic index (GI) allow you to use radish with type 2 diabetes. As you know, with this disease, the body's defenses are reduced, the metabolism is disturbed and obesity is often developed. Regular and correct use of radish allows to partially level these manifestations of sugar disease.

An approved product for use in diabetes mellitus makes radish not only a low glycemic index (about 15 units when 40 units are allowed for diabetics), but also the presence of coarse dietary fibers in the composition. Getting into the intestines, they slow down the process of absorption of sugar in the blood, which actually reduces the rate of its entry into the body.

Finally, vitamin H and sulfur in the composition of the root helps to balance the amount of sugar in the blood, and thus reduce the body's need for insulin, thereby unloading the pancreas. Thanks to the diuretic effect of the vegetable, it is possible to get rid of the edemas that usually occur in the early stages of the disease.

In the absence of contraindications, diabetics can eat up to 200 g of black or green radish per day. It is enough to include it in your diet 2-3 times a week. It is important to remember that the smaller the product is cut, the higher its GI, so you should not grind the root crop or chop it too small. The pieces should remain large enough.

The most useful for weight loss can be considered green and white radish. The first contains a large amount of a substance called choline, which is responsible for metabolic processes in the body. But we have already said that metabolic imbalance is one of the causes of the problem of excess weight.

If we talk about white radish, then daikon has a minimum energy value of only 21 kcal / 100 g of fresh product.

All types of radish excrete toxins from the body, and thanks to coarse fibers they clean the intestines, improve its motility. This, in turn, triggers metabolic processes, contributes to weight loss.

For slimming, radish can be included in the daily diet, while adhering to the principles of proper nutrition, reducing daily calories and adding motor activity. In addition, there are fasting days on radish, with a lot of positive feedback - in 3 days of such a diet you can lose 2-4 kg. However, we must not forget that today more and more nutritionists and physicians consider such weight loss not only harmful, but also dangerous to health.

Anyway, diet on radish does not involve eating only this vegetable. It is combined in salads with carrots, apples, zucchini, cucumbers, greens.Be sure to include in the diet lean meat or fish, it is important to remember about the need for slow carbohydrates in the body (in the first place, it is porridge).

The radish salad with a mixture of honey, olive oil and lemon juice has a cleansing and tonic effect. For spice, you can put in it a little citrus peel.

Lemon and honey in this case enhance the effect of radish, ginger and cinnamon have a similar effect. The daily dosage when consuming radish for weight loss should not exceed 200-300 g.

The benefits of radish are described in the next video.