Top 12 Health Benefits Of Radish ( Mooli )

Radish is a popular ingredient of raw salads in all over Asia. “Mooli “is the Hindi name of radish and somewhere matches up to its pungent taste. Mooli may not be a favorite salad veggie of many, but the health benefits of radish will definitely attract a lot more fans in the club.  Like cabbage, Radish too has a unique liking among the Chinese for the substantial health benefits it provides.

This root vegetable comes in a lot of variety and forms in terms of season of cultivation, size and shapes, as well as colors. Radish could be black, white or purple in color. And round or elongated with varying thickness. But this does not affect the health benefits of radish. All the varieties of radish are equally beneficial and healthy.

One good part about radish plant is that all its parts are useful. You can use its seeds, leaves as well as its roots.

# Nutrition in Radish ( Mooli )

Before you read the health benefits of radish, it is important to know the nutrient content of radish. This will help in knowing the scientific reasons behind the various health benefits of radish.

Radish (Raphanus sativus), Fresh, raw,  Nutrition Value per 100 g,  (Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)

Radish has innumerable benefits on overall health, skin health and hair as well. Let us now see the top medical health benefits of Radish.

 Health benefits of Radish:-

1] Helps against Cancer –

Some researchers at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in India conducted a study and found out that Radish has an ability to kill cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. This study was later published in “Plant Foods For Human Nutrition “medical journal in the year 2010. It stated that the “Vitamin C, Isothiocyanates and Anthocyanins” found in radish roots kill cancer cells and helps in prevent the free radical damage to the cell DNA. Thus Radish is not only helpful for those suffering from cancer, but it also helps in prevention of cancer.

# how to use radish for cancer – To utilize this health benefit of radish you can eat radish or radish leaves. Both of these are beneficial. Radish can be incorporated in diet as raw salad, or can be cooked into vegetable form and used. Same with radish leaves.

2] Helps in Diabetes –

Radish belongs to the root vegetable family. i know it is hard to believe that helping against diabetes can be one of the health benefits of radish. Unlike other root vegetables, Radishes are low in carb and high on antioxidants and fiber. A study was conducted in Japan on diabetic rats. The researchers found out that radish sprouts had sugar lowering effects on the diabetic rats. However more evidence is needed to be able to recommend it for sugar level corrections in human. Another reason to consider radish in a diabetic diet is that, radish has low glycemic index and its intake does not increase sugar levels in the blood. Hence it can be considered by any diabetic or non diabetic person for inclusions in salad.

3] Improves Kidney Health –

This is one of the key health benefits of radish. Radishes are diuretic in nature and thus help in better elimination of toxins and wastes from kidney through urine. Radish increases the urine output and hence can be beneficial for patients suffering from kidney disorders or failures. The kidneys of a person suffering from chronic renal disorders are unable to filter toxins. These toxins accumulate in the kidney cells causing infiltration and several other severe symptoms. The blood gets toxicated with unwanted waste and dialysis becomes necessary. Radish helps in such cases by increasing the urinary output and eliminating the unwanted wastes from blood and urine.

Radish also reduces inflammation and burning micturition (burning sensation while passing urine) in those suffering from urinary tract infections.   Radish also helps in cases of renal stones and urethral stones by increasing the urinary output and thus helping in pushing these stones outside the body while passage of urine.

# How to use radish – you can grate radish and strain its juice through a muslin cloth or by simply pressing it with both hands. You can also add a little water and grind it in a mixer and strain the juice and use.

4] Regulating Blood pressure –

The journal of “Nutrition Research and Practice “published a study related to radish leaves and blood pressure. It stated that radish leaves substantial helped the hypertensive participants in lowering their blood pressure. The High potassium and low sodium levels of radish helps in maintain the sodium potassium balance in a hypertensive patient. Thus it controls the blood pressure from rising higher than normal levels. Radish may also help in cardiac conditions like arrhythmia.

# How to use Radish in Blood pressure– To utilize this health benefit of radish, You can wash and chop the radish leaves, and then soft cook it in a pan and eat like a vegetable prep. You can also use radish and radish leaves in chopped form in a raw salad. You can use a little rock salt if the radish is too peppery.

5] Helps in Jaundice –

Radish leaves are used as perfect home remedy for jaundice. Radish leaves extract helps in supply more oxygen to the body and thus helps in removing the yellow hue from the skin of a jaundice patient. Radish is a good detoxifier and helps in elimination of excess bilirubin from the blood. The enzymes and nutrients in radish have an ability to protect gallbladder and liver from various infections and helps in recovering the cell function in case if these organs are already affected.

# How to use Radish in Jaundice – You can extract juice from radish leaves by grinding it in a mixer and adding a little water to it. Or you can also soft cook these leaves and use as a vegetable with chapatti.

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6] Fights Constipation – Mooli or radish has high water and fiber content. Radish plays a dual role in treating constipation. It fibre not only helps in creating bulk and eliminating the waste by pushing it towards anus , but its high water content helps in easy movement and digestive juice secretion too. This adds up to health benefits of radish and makes it a super food for consumption for people of all age group.

How to use radish in constipation – you can have radish as raw vegetable or add it up to your dals too. Here is the recipe of dal mooli / Radish dal 

7] Helps in chest congestion, cough and cold: –

The antioxidants of radish help in improving overall immunity in a person. This helps in keeping you away from general infections like common cold. The Astringent taste of radish helps in clearing chest congestion by clearing the mucus. Radish also helps in cold by reducing the length or period of this infection and helps to heal faster.

# How to use radish in colds – radish can be used in any form, raw or cooked.

8] Radish helps in weight loss:-

You may be wondering how radish can benefit in losing weight. But it is true. Radish are very low in calories as well provide with a lot of fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. Radish can be included as a part of your salad or mid time snacking option. While a person is on a weight loss spree, a lot of toxins are produced in the body when fat cells are burned. The high water content in radish helps in increasing urination. This will also help in better weight loss and removal of these accumulated toxins in the body.

How to use radish for weight loss – You can incorporate radish in your salads or as juice.

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Here are a few articles on weight loss that can really help –

Burning fat for Weight loss

How to lose weight effectively

1200 calorie Indian diet plan for weight loss

9] Radish is helpful in Asthma: –

This is one of the most useful health benefit of radish. Radish has anti congestive properties and helps in clearing the respiratory tracts from mucus. It also helps in clearing sinus. It helps in keeping the respiratory tracts clear of allergies and infections by protecting the inner lining of this organ.

10] Radish helps in piles:-

Radish has a good water and fiber content. This helps in formation of soft stools. This is especially helpful in piles, gastric issues and constipation. However in case of acute bleeding piles, it is best to avoid radish.

11] Radish improves skin health –

This is one of the lesser known health benefit of radish . Radish helps in improving skin health through various ways. The high water content of radish helps in hydrating the skin cells and leaves it looking fresh and healthy. The anti – oxidants in radish helps in removing free radicals and toxins from the skin and thus helps in removing scars and blemishes from the deepest layer of skin. Radish has a mild bleaching effect on skin. You can apply grated or crushed radish on facial skin. It can also be used for pedicure or manicure. Increasing your radish intake will help in getting a clean, clear and fresher looking skin.

Here are a few good reads on skin care

Benefits of Multani mitti on skin

How to tone skin naturally

How to take care of sensitive skin

Face packs from your kitchen shelf

12] Radish helps in slowing the skin aging:-

Radish provides skin and cells with a lot of water and leaves the cells hydrated. It is a proven fact that dry skin ages faster in comparison to healthy and hydrated skin.

How to use radish for anti aging – Eating raw radish helps. Grating or crushing raw radish and then applying it on face will help. You can also use radish juice for washing your face.

After reading the above mentioned health benefits of Radish, i am sure a lot of you would have started considering radish for your next meal.

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