White radish - useful properties and contraindications

Everyone knows that any vegetable is a storehouse of nutrients. Radish, as an obvious representative of root crops, is also no exception. It is widely used in cooking and traditional medicine. Moreover, in countries with temperate climates, it is white radish that is more common. How is it useful and how should you use this vegetable so as not to harm yourself?

Plant Overview

Radish is a genus of herbaceous plants from the Cabbage family. Not all representatives of this kind are suitable as a food product. In countries with a temperate climate, white and red radishes are more often used. There are also such species of this plant, whose roots are very narrow, it is not at all possible to use them as a vegetable. In total, there are about 10 species of radish.

It is believed that white radish is not a natural species of plants of this genus. She appeared when crossing Radish Polevoy and Radish Sowing. These species grow as wild crops in Europe and America. White radish is currently cultivated on all continents. At the same time, its root is used in food, and not the plant itself. This vegetable has its own subspecies, which grows in Japan - oblong daikon radish.

Useful properties of this root crop were discovered before our era. Even then, slaves were fed with this product so that they remained able-bodied longer. And in some countries, radish was considered the food of the Gods. So, in ancient Greece, only Apollo himself could eat this vegetable. What is fraught with this mysterious root crop?

Composition

Like any plant, radish contains a large number of different vitamins and minerals necessary for the normal functioning of the human body. In addition, it has another indisputable advantage - like other representatives of Cabbage, the radish has a very low calorie content. That is why those who want to lose weight are recommended to use salads with this type of plant.

100 g of radish contains about 20 kcal. Other species have a bit more. In addition, it has almost zero fat content. But there are a lot of carbohydrates and protein in it. The former are almost 3 times larger than the latter. However, it should be understood that these are not fast carbohydrates that can lead to obesity, but the so-called “healthy carbohydrates”. Radish is rich in fiber, which is not absorbed by humans at all, but helps the gastrointestinal tract.

Of the vitamins in the radish, most of all are nicotinic acid (PP), some representatives of B vitamins (folic and pantothenic acids, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine), as well as ascorbic acid (C) and fat-soluble vitamins. The latter include retinol (A) and tocopherol (E). All these substances contribute to the acceleration of biochemical processes in the body.

In terms of minerals, white radish breaks records for the content of calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and phosphorus. It is thanks to them that this root crop is very useful for older people. In their body, a deficiency of any of these microelements can cause severe diseases of the heart and musculoskeletal system.

Beneficial features

Thanks to all of the above regulatory substances, radish is one of the most useful products for the body. Its positive properties are as follows:

1. Improving digestion. Radish contains coarse fiber, which the human body is not able to digest. This fiber is necessary for saprophytic bacteria of the intestine, which in return produce vitamins of group B.In addition, fiber irritates the intestines and fights against atonic constipation.
2. Metabolism acceleration. The same vitamins are involved in the biochemical conversion of nutrients into energy. The more B vitamins, the faster these reactions occur. Moreover, such substances are no longer deposited as fat.
3. Strengthening immunity. Thanks to the vitamins C and E contained in the radish, this root crop is able to protect against many diseases, ranging from influenza to tumorous tumors.
4. Vision improvement. Vitamin A is a precursor to the substance that is necessary for the proper functioning of the visual analyzer. With a deficiency of this vitamin, twilight vision worsens, which is popularly called "night blindness."
5. Maintain the functioning of the heart muscle. For the heart to work, three trace elements are needed: calcium, magnesium and potassium. All of them are contained in large quantities in white radish. The use of this root crop prevents the development of cardiac pathology.
6. Bone strengthening. In order that osteoporosis does not develop and the bones always remain strong, calcium and phosphorus in the correct proportions are necessary. The white radish has both elements, which makes it an indispensable product in the fight against osteoporosis and pathological fractures.
7. Improving the condition of the skin. Radish contains a large amount of antioxidants. With their help, the body removes various toxins, which contribute to aging and deterioration of the appearance of the skin. Radish for cosmetic purposes can be used both externally and ingested.

Thus, we can say that white is rare - a very useful plant that can be eaten at any age. Its composition allows lovers of radish to live to a very old age without the so-called "diseases of civilization." However, you can not use radish for everyone and not always.

Harm and contraindications

In addition, with caution, it is necessary to use radish for patients with hyperacid gastritis. This root crop is able to increase the acidity of the stomach. In patients with peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum in the stage of exacerbation of radish, it is completely contraindicated. But for patients with diabetes, radish can be consumed without restriction.

Thus, we can conclude that eating radish can protect the body from many diseases. It really helps to combat the signs of old age, both external and internal. However, white radish can affect the body and negatively. First of all, this is manifested by diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. That is why this root vegetable should be consumed in moderation.

Video: the benefits of white radish