Ashu’s Curiosity
Ashu loves to eat radishes in multiple ways, such as salad and soup, especially during winter. Ashu’s mother has always preferred radish as a salad rather than other fruits and vegetables.
But this time when Ashu’s mother visited to buy groceries, she bought black radishes to use rather than white coloured radishes.
For Ashu and his family, black radish is a new delicacy and they have never seen a radish with black colour.
Now, Ashu needs to know about the health benefits of black radish, its uses, nutritional content, and the side effects of eating this new delicacy. The only platform where he can find information is Know Ur Diet, let us see what he finds:
What is Black Radish?
Most of us are familiar with the white radish most commonly available throughout India during winter. But, black radish in recent years become popular in Indian markets due to its higher nutritional content and rich in antioxidants.
Black radish belongs to the family of Brassicaceae plants whose root is edible and eaten as a vegetable in various cuisines. Unlike white radish which is cylindrical in shape, black is spherical as well as cylindrical in shape. It has a sharp and spicy taste. It can be eaten in both raw and cooked manners.
Fun Fact of Black Radish
Black radish was first cultivated in the Eastern Mediterranean region, especially in Syria. From there it spread to other regions and it was even considered sacred in Ancient Egypt. There are also drawings of the radish in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs.
Black radishes are also consumed heavily throughout Europe where it is called “Black Spanish radish” & in India, it is called “Kaali Mooli”.
Black Radish Nutrition Value
Here is the list of nutrients available in the black radish:
| Nutrients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Water | 91.40 g |
| Energy | 29.20 kcal |
| Fibers | 1.2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 5.52 g |
| Protein | 0.94 g |
| Calcium | 39 mg |
| Iron | 0.23 mg |
| Magnesium | 10 mg |
| Phosphorus | 32 mg |
| Potassium | 300 mg |
| Sodium | 23 mg |
| Zinc | 0.15 mg |
Source: www.aprifel.com
Health Benefits of Black Radish
For many centuries, black radishes have been used in making traditional medicines as well because of their healing and antibacterial properties. Let us discuss some of the major health benefits of black radish that you can enjoy by adding it to your diet:
Cures Cold & Cough
One of the reasons, black radishes are considered an ingredient in traditional medicines is because of their antimicrobial properties. These properties make it a food that can combat the growth of viral infections in the throat and chest areas.
Moreover, the anti-inflammatory properties of black radishes can help in lowering the inflammation in the respiratory tract and ease the mucosal passage.
Lowers Bad Cholesterol
For a healthy heart you need to tackle the problem of bad cholesterol and black radish is a good option for this. The compounds and minerals in black radishes can help in reducing bad cholesterols such as LDL by promoting HDL in your blood circulation.
Boosts Immunity
Antioxidants and vitamins in Black radishes can strengthen the immune system. Human body cells are vulnerable to the attack of free radicals that can enter the body through unhealthy eating and pollution. A strong immune system nullifies the damage of these radicals.
Vitamins C & B in black radishes are vital to boost immunity, especially during winters when low temperature is a perfect time for viral infections.
Prevents from Gastric Problems
Eating black radish is also helpful to lower the risk of gastric problems. There is proof that regular consumption of black radishes can give you relief from digestive issues like bloating and indigestion.
Fibers in these radishes can promote the growth of gut bacteria which are essential for the proper absorption of vitamins and minerals in the blood.
Prevents Kidney Stones
Kidneys play a vital role in detoxifying the human body by eliminating the toxins from the blood vessels. Antioxidants in black radishes can help in the ease of removal of these toxins and salt from the kidneys and gall bladder.
Studies have shown that black radish has diuretic properties that can ease the movement of urination and help in the removal of stone dust.
Uses of Black Radish
Due to its health benefits, black radish has multiple culinary and medicinal uses. Let us discuss some of them:
1. In Salad- You can eat black radishes in raw form by adding them to a salad. It can be a good companion with other fruits and vegetables that you regularly eat.
2. In Curry- If you are a curry lover then you have the option of adding black radish to curry as well. It can be added to curry in a similar way that you add white radish to curry.
3. In Ayurvedic medicines- Due to antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, black radishes are used to prepare traditional medicines to cure minor health conditions.
Side Effects of Black Radish
No doubt that Black radishes are rich in nutrients and provide you with numerous health benefits. But there are certain health risks as well if you are over-consuming them:
Digestive Problems
Black radish is a good cure against digestive issues but at the same time, eating too much of it can upset your normal digestion process. Also, the spicy taste of the black radish may not be preferred by those who do not like the flavour.
Allergic Reactions
There are rare cases where people have experienced allergic reactions from black radishes. But if your family has a history of allergic reactions from root vegetables then you should be cautious. Some of the allergic symptoms are itching, redness and even congestion in throat.
Thyroid conditions
Due to its Goitrogenic effect, experts suggest that people having thyroid conditions should avoid eating black radishes. These goitrogen compounds can disrupt the production of thyroid hormones by nullifying the effects of iodine.
FAQs Related to Black Radish
There are certain questions in the minds of consumers and we have tried to answer them:
Q.1 How Black Radish benefits for Skin?
Yes, there are main benefits of black radish for the skin. We have mentioned earlier black radishes have detoxifying effects that remove the toxins from the skin cells. Rich in vitamins and minerals like Vitamin B, zinc and phosphorus, these compounds are helpful in eliminating blood impurities.
Moreover, Vitamin C in black radishes is responsible for the production of collagen, a compound that is associated with keeping skin youthful and smooth.
Q.2 How Black Radish benefits Hair?
Along with skin black radish is also helpful in maintaining healthy hair. The antioxidants and compounds in black radishes can significantly lower hair fall. It can stimulate the blood circulation in the scalp and hair follicles.
Not only with nutrients, hair products and hair masks made from black radish are also beneficial for treating excessive dryness or oiliness of the scalp.
Q.3 How Black Radish is good for the liver?
The liver is a vital organ that is essential for producing bile juices required for smooth digestion. Minerals in black radish like Vitamin B & C with calcium and magnesium. These minerals maintain the healthy production of bile juice.
Also, certain studies have claimed that black radish is effective in lowering the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver which is a major cause of liver cancer.
Conclusion
Along with white radish, Ashu has decided that he will include black radish in his diet. This is because of the multiple health benefits of black radish, Ashu and his family can avoid minor illnesses during winter.
Rich in nutrients and antioxidants black radishes can help you in boosting immunity, preventing chronic diseases and spend a healthy life. But it should be consumed in moderate quantities because too much eating can have health risks.
Ashu has different options for recipes that can be prepared with black radishes. They can be taken as salad, curry and chutney as well.
