Why You Should Add Radishes to Your Diet
By Brandi Swieter
Vegetables are among the top of the list of foods people should be consuming every day. Many people stick with leafy greens for salads and carrots for an easy dipping snack, but plenty of other options are out there. Radishes, for example, make a great addition to salads and meals alike, and can even be enjoyed as a stand-alone snack. The round red veggie offers plenty of advantages to those who consume it regularly.
Low in Calories
Radishes are extremely low in calories. A full cup contains just 18 calories in total. Add just one medium radish to a salad and only one calorie is added. Add five, and it’s five extra calories in the meal. Without much fat in the vegetable either, radishes make an excellent snack, side, or meal addition.
Cancer-Fighting Capabilities
Due to the Vitamin C and antioxidants found in radishes, the vegetable has cancer-fighting capabilities that make it worthwhile to eat often. Radishes fall under the category of cruciferous vegetables along with broccoli and cabbage. These vegetables each have cancer-fighting agents within them that help to fight off free radicals and terminate toxic cells. Their compounds break down into isothiocyanates after being mixed with water. They prevent tumors from growing.
Detoxify the Liver
Just as radishes help to remove toxic cells that cause cancer, they can also work to detoxify the liver. Eliminating toxic waste within the body and purifying the bloodstream helps to treat jaundice. Anyone with yellowing skin or eyes should consume more radishes to fight off the infection.
Reduce Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease that does damage to the heart can be deadly. Reducing chances for developing this type of disease is in everyone’s best interest, and eating more radishes is just one way to do that. Radishes contain anthocyanins that have anti-inflammatory properties. Eat some regularly to improve blood flow to the heart.
Rich in Fiber
Due to the high amount of fiber found in radishes, people who eat them regularly will notice an improvement in digestion. The production of bile that radishes improves also helps to protect the gallbladder and liver. People will notice a reduction in constipation symptoms and should have limited symptoms of stomach troubles.
Enjoy radishes more often to reap the benefits. The small snack can be eaten raw or cooked to bring out some of the sweet flavor it has locked inside. Eat it plain or add some seasoning for an even more tasty treat.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Kingwood, Tex.