Are Radishes Good for You?

Are radishes good for you? The answer is Yes! Packed with a host of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, radishes are a root vegetable. You can eat them raw as a part of a salad or cook them in various forms. Depending on the variety you buy, you can expect that the taste will be sweet, juicy, and somewhat pungent. Look for the white, purple, red, or black kinds of radishes and make them a part of your daily diet. And, avail of their awesome taste and health benefits.

Are Radishes Good for You? Take a Look at these Positives

Promote Good Digestion

The interesting quality of radishes is that they work well for both constipation and diarrhea. Thanks to their rich fiber content, they facilitate regular bowel movements that also help relieve symptoms of piles. In addition, eating radishes can stimulate the release of bile that helps efficient digestion of the food you eat. They also have a cooling effect, and can soothe inflammation of the intestines.

Assists in Weight Loss and Controlling Diabetes

If you’re looking to lose weight, adding radishes to your diet has many benefits. The vegetable has a high fiber and water content that can fill you up without running up calories. Further, radishes contain a low amount of digestible carbohydrates and are low on the glycemic index. Not only can they raise metabolism levels by promoting good digestion, but eating this vegetable help you keep your blood sugar levels in check. If you’re expecting a busy day when you may not have the time to eat, add it to your breakfast. Radishes can regulate the amount of sugar in your blood so you can avoid sudden highs and lows.

Improves Heart Health

Researchers connect the compound anthocyanins that are a kind of flavonoids with a healthy cardiovascular system. Anthocyanins also have various other health benefits like fighting cancer and acting as anti-inflammatory agents. So, if you’re wondering, are radishes good for you, know that by consuming them regularly, you can get a healthy dose of these compounds. You’ll also find that eating this vegetable helps you control high blood pressure. That’s because radishes contain potassium that can help the smooth movement of blood through the arteries by widening them. This action lowers the stress on your heart and strengthens it.

Hydrates Your Body and Skin, Heals Disorders

The high water content along with zinc, phosphorus, vitamins C and B complex in radishes help to keep your body and skin hydrated. The water also soothes and cools you in summers by washing away accumulated toxins. While eating the vegetable can nourish your skin, you can also grate it and apply as a face pack for glowing skin. Radishes have antibacterial properties so you can use them to clear away skin issues like leucoderma, rashes, and dryness. Apply the juice on insect bites and you can get quick relief from the discomfort and swelling.

Some Additional Benefits

In case you’re still doubtful, are radishes good for you, here are a host of additional benefits you might want to know about:

• The diuretic nature of radishes keeps your kidneys healthy by preventing possible infections and flushing away toxins.
• The folic acid, vitamin C, and anthocyanins in radishes can fight off cancers of the intestines, stomach, colon, and mouth. The vegetable can also prevent the growth of cancer cells.
• The vitamin C in radishes can boost the immune system by developing antioxidants and white blood cells that fight infections.
• By removing excess bilirubin and contributing enzymes like esterase, amylase, diastase, and myrosinase, radishes can promote the health of your liver and gallbladder.
• The anti-congestion properties of radishes can clear the respiratory system from colds, allergens, and infections of the nose, windpipe, throat, and lungs.

Aside from the many health benefits of radishes, you can also enjoy their crispy texture and sweet or pungent taste.