THE HUMBLE “BUT POWERFUL” RADISH
My family has owned and operated a chain of natural food
stores for many years. Unlike most small
mom and pop health food stores we always gave great importance and priority to
our fresh produce departments. My theory
was this; if your produce looks tired and stale…the rest of your store will
look the same. However the opposite is
also true; if your produce department looks creative and fresh…the rest of your
store will also mirror that image. The
one produce item I always looked for in a well stocked rack of produce greens
was bunches of radishes. These round,
bundles of brightly colored orbs always made the produce section visually pop. What many of us don’t realize is that the
humble radish is not only tasty but it is actually a nutritional dynamo.
Mention of the cruciferous radish fist appears in European
litterateur just prior to the Roman conquests.
Radishes are very easy to grow in a variety of soils and climates and
therefore have been a favorite of gardeners for centuries. The radish’s unique combination of
crunchiness and mild spice has made it a year round favorite for those trying
to spice up a stew, stir fry or salad. These
days we are probably more likely to find a pile of radishes left on the raw
veggie tray sitting next to the ranch dipping dressing. All of the other veggies have been picked
through and devoured but there sits the poor, misunderstood pile of
radishes. As a food consuming society
we seem to have forgotten the power of the radish. Here are ten reasons to start eating your
radishes:
1. HIGH NUTRIENT, LOW
CALORIE
Radishes bulbs are naturally high in vitamin C, B vitamins, have
no fat and extremely low calorie content. Ironically the highest vitamin C and
antioxidant content can be found in the leaves and stems. These first need to be thoroughly cleaned and
juiced to extract the nutrients.
2. ANTI VIRAL PROPERTIES
With relatively high levels of naturally occurring
nutrients, eating your radishes can boost your body’s immune response to ward
off certain viral infections.
3. NATURAL THROAT
LOZENGE
The radishes pungent taste and natural spice can break up
excess mucus within our throats and esophagus.
This is especially helpful for those suffering with chronic allergies
and sinus infections.
4. METABOLIC COOLING
Many Far Eastern food beliefs center on a certain foods
ability to disperse internal heat. The
radish’s pungent spiciness is a perfect example of a foods internal “heat”
causing our own bodies to become cooler.
5. DIGESTIVE AID
Having no fat, natural fiber and internal moisture (water),
the radish is an ideal food to push other foods through our digestive track.
6. ANTI-CANCER
The radish, being in the same cruciferous food group as
broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts etc. has high naturally occurring levels of
known and proven anti-cancer micro-nutrients.
7. HELPS KIDNEY
FUNCTION
The radish is a known diuretic. That is, your body’s stored fluid waste is
more efficiently flushed through the kidney.
This in turn causes you to urinate more frequently flushing the waste
out of the kidney.
8. ANTI INFLAMMATORY
Radishes have very specific set of bioflavonoids (anthocyanins)
which have been shown to (among other things) decrease disease causing
inflammation throughout our bodies.
9. HELPS GALLBLADDER
AND LIVER
Radishes have been shown to rid the body of excess bilirubin
from the blood. Those of us who like to
take the occasional (alcohol) nip would do good to balance it off with a few
radishes.
10. FIGHTS LEUCODERMA
& VITILIGO
This is a disorder which causes skin pigment to
lighten. Due to its relatively high
antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties, radishes have been used for this
skin therapy.
Adding juiced radishes to your morning or afternoon veggie
juice pick-me-up is another way to enjoy their benefits. Radish sprouts carry similar nutrient
properties and benefits as the full grown radish. So, go ahead.
Buy a fresh bunch of radishes and sink your teeth into their succulent
and spicy meat. Enjoy and stay healthy.
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