Radishes are known for their unique sharp flavor and lovely crunchiness. There are numerous ways of incorporating these humble edible root vegetables into your diet—radishes add a nice crunch to salads and their unique flavor goes well in almost any recipe. Super easy and delicious, roasted radishes with parsley and toasted sesame makes a great side dish. Also, by roasting the radishes, you get a milder flavor and more tender texture. However, the real worth of these hydrating tubers extends far beyond taste and flavor. Don’t asses the radish by its humble looks, radishes are extremely rich in both nutritional and health benefits—loaded with powerful antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that promote health—and may also benefit sufferers of Adrenal Fatigue.
Scientifically known as Raphanus sativus, radishes belong to the Brassicaceae family and come in a variety of sizes and colors. The leaves, pods, and flowers, including the seeds, are all extremely nutritious and edible. For centuries, radishes have been used in to prepare ancient Indian, Greek, and Arabic medicines. The medicinal properties and distinct sharp flavor of radishes can be attributed to the presence of bioactive compounds such as isothiocyanates, myrosinase, and glucosinolates.
These amazing edible root vegetables are also packed with calcium, magnesium, vitamin K, vitamin B6, niacin, folate and pantothenic acid, fiber, copper, zinc, sodium, manganese, and fiber. It’s interesting to note that just half a cup of radishes can provide 14 percent of your daily nutrient needs. They are also rich in anti-carcinogenic compounds such as bioflavonoids and indoles. The Daikon radish typically used in Japanese salads is famous for its excellent digestive properties and also contains the powerful anti-carcinogenic compound myrosinase.
Nutrient-rich radishes can help fight fatigue and as you may already be aware, frequently experiencing extreme fatigue along with anxiety, insomnia, low energy levels, difficulty waking up, constipation, low concentration levels, weight gain, and cravings for salty and fatty food could be signs of Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS). The condition is caused by an imbalance of cortisol levels in your body due to stress.
The NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) stress response system is your body’s natural stress-fighting mechanism and is an intricate network of six circuits and various organs functioning in close coordination. Your adrenal glands are a pair of walnut-shaped glands located above your kidneys and are a vital part of the NEM response system. During times of stress, the NEM system signals to your adrenal glands to secrete the anti-stress hormone cortisol to cope with that stress. However, if the stress persists, your adrenals can become overburdened and will no longer be able to produce adequate amounts of cortisol. This reduces your body’s stress-fighting capacity and can lead to Adrenal Fatigue.
Various health issues including obesity, high blood pressure, cancer, toxic overload, inflammation, and respiratory disorders are all considered stressors. Moreover, if your stress levels are excessive and your body’s stress-coping mechanism reaches capacity, this can lead to adrenal dysfunction and cortisol imbalances, which increase risk of developing chronic fatigue. Diet plays a key role in alleviating Adrenal Fatigue symptoms and since roasted radishes are packed full of nutrients, they can promote good health and improve many health-related issues, thus minimizing the stress on your body and reducing your risk of developing Adrenal Fatigue.
Nutrient-dense radishes offer immense health benefits. Therefore, you should consider incorporating these amazing vegetables into your diet.
Some of the tremendous benefits of radishes include:
Radishes are low in calories, high in fiber and water content so they keep you feeling full. Their low in glycemic index can boost your metabolism, help regulate bowel movements, and prevent constipation, thus reducing the symptoms of AFS. Further, snacking on radishes between meals can curb overeating.
Eating radishes can help you detoxify your body by helping to eliminate accumulated toxins from the liver, which can be significantly accelerate your Adrenal Fatigue recovery. Including radishes in your diet every day can ensure healthy liver function, so why not try boosting your liver function by eating roasted radishes for lunch. Animal studies have shown that radishes may help prevent liver damage. During the study, animals exposed to fatty-liver-inducing chemicals were also administered radish extract, which was shown to suppress the liver damaging enzymes and reduce inflammation.
The accumulation of toxins in your body can affect your immune system and overall health. Incorporating radishes in your diet is an easy and effective way of detoxing your body on a regular basis. In one animal study, mice were exposed to purified toxins and then fed Spanish black radishes. Compared to the control groups, detoxification enzymes were significantly increased in the mice fed radishes. In addition, mice had healthy bone marrow cell counts and up to 47 percent less toxins accumulated in their blood. Researchers believe that the vitamin C and glucosinolates found in radishes have protective detoxifying effects. Remarkably, as a potent detoxifier, the radish can help fight jaundice by eliminating excess bilirubin and other toxins from the blood.
The decongestant properties of radish may provide relief from various respiratory disorders such as asthma, sinusitis, and bronchitis. Those with respiratory problems should consider drinking fresh radish juice often.
A number of studies have revealed that radishes, including their leaves, have anti-inflammatory properties. Constant inflammation is a leading cause of various diseases including heart illness, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. Snacking on radishes can help your body fight inflammation and roasted radishes can make a great snack.
Radishes are rich in vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants—including bioflavonoids, indoles, and glucosinolates—that may help fight cancer by inhibiting cancerous cell growth. Along with radishes, make sure to include lots of cruciferous vegetables in your diet to further reduce your risk of cancer.
Radishes have a low glycemic index. They help regulate sugar absorption into the bloodstream thus preventing blood sugar spikes. Radishes enhance the production of the anti-diabetic hormone adiponectin that helps your body regulate glucose. In addition, animal studies have also shown that radishes may actually lower your blood glucose levels.
Radishes can easily be incorporated into almost any dish. The versatile vegetable can be made into juice, tea, or added to soups, salads, and curries. Roasted radishes with toasted sesame and parsley is an amazingly healthy side dish. When buying radishes, make sure they are fresh and firm with a smooth surface. Crisp green leaves indicate radishes are fresh. Also, like with any root vegetables, make sure to thoroughly wash them before use.
Radishes have a distinct sharp flavor, however, roasting them neutralizes the flavor of these healthy root vegetables turning them into a totally delicious addition to any dish. Tossing roasted radishes in olive oil, parsley, and sesame seeds can enhance their flavor and impart a tender crunch to your meal.
Sesame seeds have been used since ancient times for flavoring foods and are rich in essential nutrients, such as proteins, fats, and oil, making them one of the world’s healthiest superfoods. The healthy fats in sesame seeds nourish your adrenals and promote glowing skin, hair, and nails. Due to their rich nutty flavor, sesame seeds are often found in different worldwide cuisines.
The radish is a nutrient-packed root vegetable with tremendous health benefits. These edible tubers are full of calcium, magnesium, vitamin K, vitamin B6, niacin, folate and pantothenic acid, fiber, copper, zinc, sodium, manganese, and fiber. Radishes also possess medicinal properties due to a number of bioactive compounds such as isothiocyanates and glucosinolates.
Radishes have a unique sharp flavor and fit well in almost any dish. Roasted radishes are an amazingly easy way to incorporate them into your diet. Finally, the nutrient-rich vegetable can promote weight loss, fight Adrenal Fatigue, and help detoxify your liver and body. Eating radishes may also help combat certain respiratory disorders, inflammation, and cancer.
© Copyright 2019 Michael Lam, M.D. All Rights Reserved.
Radishes are extremely versatile and can easily be paired with almost any vegetable of your choice. Roasted radishes combined with an assortment of vegetables, such as carrots, beans, broccoli, beets, spinach, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin, make a hearty and nutritious low-calorie meal.
