Radish, popularly known as mooli in Pakistan, has long been used in households for curries or as filling for parathas.
The vegetable is packed with nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants that not only add years to your life but also help you fight diseases, such as cancer and asthma. As compiled from fullcircle.com, thehealthsite.com, med-health.net and organicfacts.net, here are reasons why you should include radish in your diet.
Fights jaundice
Radish is beneficial for the liver and the stomach. It’s also a detoxifying agent, which means it purifies blood and fights against inflammation. It is useful in treating jaundice as it helps removing bilirubin, a waste product, and also keeps a check on its production. It also checks destruction of red blood cells, which takes place during jaundice by increasing the supply of fresh oxygen in the blood. Radish leaves are also useful in treatment of jaundice.
Reduces skin disorders
Radish comprises Vitamin C, phosphorus and zinc, which are essential for healthy skin. The water content in radish helps in maintaining the moisture level of the skin. Radish pulp also serves as a good cleanser, so you can use it externally as well. Due to its disinfectant properties, it also helps cure skin-related problems, such as eczema, dry skin, rashes and cracks on feet.
Prevents kidney disorders
Being a cleanser and anti-inflammatory agent, radish helps cure multiple kidney disorders. Its diurectic nature promotes the washing out of toxins accumulated in the kidneys. Its cleansing properties de-contaminate kidneys and lessen the accumulation of toxins in the blood, thereby decreasing the toxin concentration in the organs. Radish is also an antiseptic, so it protects the kidneys from infections caused by pollutants too.
Keeps blood pressure in check
Radish is a good source of potassium, which has been connected to reducing blood pressure. When it interacts with the arterial supply of vascular beds, it can relax the blood vessels, increasing blood flow throughout the body. It stabilises blood pressure by widening the flow of the blood instead of forcing it through narrow, constricted channels.
Protects against cancer
Studies performed by the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore suggest that radish protects against cancers of the lungs and alimentary tract. It reduces the risk of these cancers by preventing the formation of carcinogens in your body. It blocks cancer-causing substances from reaching or reacting with sensitive body tissue, and by inhibiting the modification of healthy cells to malignant ones. The chemo preventive potential of radish is partly due to its glucosinolates content. A study in Italy has shown that the vegetable demonstrated anti-cancer activity in three human colon carcinoma cell lines, preventing the growth of cancer cells.
Asthma
Radish is an anti-congestive, meaning that it decreases congestion of the respiratory system, including irritation of the nose, throat, windpipe and lungs. It is a great body disinfectant and loaded with vitamins, which further protect the respiratory system from infections. If you’re prone to constant cough and cold, especially with the rapidly changing weather in Pakistan during winter season, it might be a good idea to include radish in your diet.
Compiled By: Umnia Shahid
Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2014.
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