[jb: Found on the Web ... Am no medical doctor, and don't pretend to be competent enough to give any medical (or, for that matter, gastronomical) advice, but I love chewing on radishes -- they're cheap! ... and far tastier than gum.]

12 Unsuspected Benefits of Radishes for Which they Should [jb - be] Eaten More Regularly, fruttattiva.com; note: no sources cited in the article

image from article

The scientific name of the radish is Raphanus Sativus [jb - see also, for a far more serious treatment of radishes, Wikipedia, which notes: "Radishes can be useful as companion plants for many other crops, probably because their pungent odour deters such insect pests as aphids, cucumber beetles, tomato hornworms, squash bugs, and ants.].

This little and strange tuber belongs to the Brassicaceae family. Its shape is so peculiar that it’s usually used as decoration.

Its splash of color in a good salad has something magic for sure from a chromatic point of view. 

However, there’s something more we can’t probably even imagine.

Radishes hide great benefits for our health, they’re rich of relevant nutrients such as potassium in the first place: 1 kilo of these little tubers contains about 233 mg, compared to 0,1g of fat. Furthermore, as well as potatoes, they’re water-abundant, suffice it to say that, always in 1 kilo of product, its quantity is equal to 95,27 g. 

Radish: here’s the healthy benefits 

Radish benefits in treatment and prevention of some disorders are really a lot and unsuspected. Here’s a list to follow: 

Radishes are excellent allies of liver and stomach

Radishes are a real panacea for liver and stomach health. 

These also act as a powerful detoxifying, since it purifies the blood by killing toxins and wastes our organism gathers in time.

They’re extremely useful for jaundice treatment because they remove the bilirubin and maintain its production by keeping it at high and at state level. 

Radishes also reduce red blood cell distribution which occurs in people who suffer from jaundice by increasing fresh oxygen supply to the blood. 

Black radishes are no doubt preferred in the jaundice treatment and, in particular, should be consumed especially their leaves. 

Here’s a reason for which it would be preferable buying fresh radishes with leaves, rather than the ones already cleaned and sold in supermarkets in plastic bags.

Radishes are beneficial in the treatment of urinary disorders 

By nature the radish is highly diuretic, which it means that is able to increase significantly urine production. 

The juice obtained by this precious vegetable also heals inflammations and burning sensations you can feel both during digestion and during urination by inhibiting at the same time infections of the kidneys and the immunity system, contributing in this way the treatment of several urinary conditions aggravated by the surplus toxins in the system.

Radishes are perfect to facilitate weight loss 

Radish satiates, though it has few calories, no fat and low-carbohydrates content. 

This feature is essentially due to its not be entirely negligible amount of water in it, so that they are a great diet option for those who want to lose weight. 

Furthermore, these tubers are rich of fibers and have a low glycemic index, which it means an increase of regular intestinal movements, by increasing at the same time the metabolism efficacy in each body process in which it is involved. 

Radishes contribute to the cardiovascular improvement

Radish represents an important source of anthocyanins and flavonoids, which is subject to several medical studies and have been positively linked to the decrease of some cardiovascular diseases onset.

Its peculiar vivid color is due to these two elements. 

Here’s another reason for which we should add even more radishes in our diet. 

Radishes are a good help in cancer prevention 

Radishes boast deserving detoxifying properties. They’re extremely rich of vitamin C, folic acid and anthocyanins, considered helpful for the treatment of several types of cancer and, in particular colon cancer, kidney cancer, intestinal cancer, stomach cancer and mouth cancer.

Radishes have plenty of antioxidants and flavonoids, strong allies in the fight against cancer cells reproduction. 

Radishes are coadjutant in the best digestion process

Radishes are fibers-rich which significantly increase the mass of intestinal movements. 

It follows that its regular consumption of large amount during meals or out of meals helps to alleviate constipation symptoms. Radishes are known for the stimulation of bile production, a crucial element for a good digestion.

Radishes are helpful to reduce blood pressure 

Radish boasts a remarkable potassium amount, a mineral which contributes to guarantee a wide health-benefits spectrum. 

We know very well how this precious mineral runs out, especially in summertime, because of a perspiration increase, here’s a reason for which these small tubers should always be on our tables in the hottest months. 

Medicine confirmed a link between the proper occurrence of potassium and the blood pressure reduction: when this mineral interacts with vascular beds it can loosen blood vessels and so increase the blood flow.

Adding a regular quantity of radishes in our diet allows the reduction of blood pressure by stimulating the correct blood circulation. 

Radishes are a good help in controlling the diabetes 

Since the dawn of time it is well known how radishes boast a low glycemic index, which means that eating a radish doesn’t affect sugar levels in the blood. 

These vegetables also help regulating the sugar assimilation in the blood, which means that who suffers from diabetes can eat them with no problems or fears. 

Radishes stimulate skin beauty 

Vitamin C, phosphor, zinc and some vitamin B components occurring in the radishes are good for the skin. This is now widely scientifically acknowledged. 

The admirable water amount in dishes contributes in maintaining healthy humidity levels of the skin. The raw crumbled radish is a good face-cleaner and, thanks to its disinfectant properties, also helps reducing skin disorders such as dry skin, cutaneous eruptions and wrinkles, thanks to its high amount of antioxidants and flavonoids.

Ra[d] sishes are a good help against fever

A good natural remedy to reduce fever is drinking a radish juice. You surely heard about a lot of procedures and tricks to reduce fever when you have the flu, but, really, a good radishes juice can guarantee a straight relief without side effects.

This reduces the body temperature and alleviate the fever inflammations.

Since it acts as good disinfectant, the radish counteracts with efficacy even inflammation caused by fever. 

Radishes are kidneys allies 

As an excellent diuretic, detergent and disinfectant, the radish helps in treating several kidney disorders, by washing away toxins gathered in kidneys and blood.

The disinfectant properties of this tuber also protect kidneys from any infections.

Radishes are catalysts of the natural immune system response 

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%. Gradually increasing the daily dose of vitamin C can transmit the best our immune system efficiency, so that doctors and experts even think that they could substitute many OTC antioxidant supplements that are nowadays more often used to fight against diseases as infections, flus and also ordinary colds.

Radishes are liver and gallbladder-friendly 

Radishes are particularly useful to regulate liver and gallbladder functions. They regulate the production and the flow of extra bile and bilirubin in the blood. A regular radishes consumption preserves liver and gallbladder from infections and ulcers: this is not only a worthy function, but also a peculiar and rare one, since there’s a few foods able to preserve both these fragile organs. 

Alternative uses of radishes: how to enhance this precious vegetable 

Not everyone knows that you really can eat everything of radishes.

Thanks to its “spicy” taste, the leaves are the ideal addition to the salad.

They match in particular with figs and sweeter fruits creating a pleasant contrast of tastes that is gluttonous from an organoleptic point of view and leaves a pleasant and strong retro-taste in your mouth.

Radish leaves are wrongly considered a waste to throw away already being harvested; they’re also very good dried or used to make calming and relaxing infusions.

By acting on the nervous system they’re capable of have an anxiolytic and antispasmodic function that is extremely useful for those who are going through a tumultuous period, characterized by family or work pressures, high stress levels or who has some difficulties in falling asleep. 

But that’ not all: radishes shouldn’t be used only in the ordinary way, split in the green salad as usual. 

Here’s some original and gluttonous recipe to surprise our tablemates.

Radishes, shrimps and cucumber salad: colorful, gluttonous, refreshing and then particularly suitable in the hottest summer days, this salad is an assault on the senses and colors so different each other.

An unparalleled and original combination that determines the success at table!

For its preparation you only need to boil the shrimps for few minutes, cut cucumbers into slices and season the salad with salt, oil and balsamic vinegar. 

A great idea to use radishes is to prepare a “fattoush”, a Lebanese dish made of bread and vegetables cutting into pieces radishes, lettuce, parsley and mint leaves. 

Cut the bread in cubes aside, fried or warmed in the oven according to tastes to obtain some croutons to add to the salad. In conclusion, a drizzle extra virgin olive oil, salt and lemon and our salad will be ready to be served with all the goodness of these healthy and natural ingredients.

Some final suggestion [sic]… 

Far too often packaged radishes or picked-up in small plastic bags without the leaves are sold in supermarkets.

Well, pay close attention because sometimes this packaging is conceived to hide off products of several days ago. Radish leaves are a clear freshness sign, so, if possible, buy the ones dirty.

For those who want to produce radishes in their own garden they should remember that the planting season is the one included between the start of increasing temperatures and July.

Don’t ever leave the soil too dry, so, regularly irrigate a bit the plants. Good sowing to everyone and, above all, a good harvest!

image from Wikipedia