It’s a beautiful day to talk about the several health benefits of daikon.
Daikon is this vegetable’s Japanese name. Some other common names are Daikon Radish, White Radish, Winter Radish, Oriental Radish, Long White Radish, Japanese Radish, and Daikon Roots.
There are different varieties of radish but for this article, we’ll talk about daikon in general.
Here is a list of the health benefits of daikon.
1. Daikon Contains Vitamins And Minerals
There are a variety of vitamins and minerals that you can get from eating daikon.
This can help you with your daily nutritional needs.
It’s a source of vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, and C.
You’ll also get calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc.
It’s a good source of carbohydrates which contains some dietary fiber. Small amounts of protein are also in this vegetable.
2. May Help Support Respiratory Health
Some say that daikon has antibacterial and antiviral qualities that are excellent in preventing infections in your respiratory tracts.
This can help reduce or stop the production of mucus that can obstruct airways.
3. Daikon Has Anti-inflammatory Properties
There is some research that drinking daikon juice made from its roots and leaves have anti-inflammatory effects.
It can help in reducing inflammations from conditions like arthritis and gout.
It may also help with other diseases that are caused by chronic inflammations.
Most of these qualities are said to be derived from the antioxidants found in daikon.
4. May Help Manage Blood Pressure Levels
Daikon is a source of potassium.
And potassium helps relax your blood vessels for smoother blood flows.
It also counteracts the effects of excessive sodium which in turn constricts blood vessels.
This is why you shouldn’t eat salty foods if you’re hypertensive or having problems with high blood pressure levels.
If you prefer green leafy vegetables, you should check my article on the health benefits of spinach. Spinach can also help manage your blood pressure levels.
5. Daikon Is Good For Digestion
Daikon is considered to contain enzymes like amylase and esterase that are also found in a human’s digestive tract.
These enzymes help with the efficient digestion of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
6. Contributes To The Healthy Development Of Your Bones
Daikon is not excessively rich in calcium but it contains some amounts of minerals that are needed in the development and growth of your bones.
Regular consumption of daikon can go a long way in preventing bone-related diseases like osteoporosis.
7. Daikon Contains Antioxidants
A study (Antioxidative Effects Of Daikon Sprout (Raphanus Sativus L.) And Ginger (Zingiber Officinale Roscoe) In Rats) was conducted on animals showed that daikon has antioxidant effects.
Antioxidants in your body help with fighting free radicals that can cause oxidative damage to your organs which can lead to chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.
Adding daikon to your diet may help improve your overall health just because of its antioxidant-contents.
8. Supports The Production Of Red Blood Cells
Daikon is said to have copper and iron which are needed in the production of red blood cells.
Red blood cells carry the nutrients and oxygen to all parts of your body.
This can also contribute to the prevention of iron-deficient diseases like anemia.
9. Daikon Supports Detoxifying The Body
Daikon is known to be a natural diuretic.
This means that it helps promote the production and release of urine out of the body.
This can include removing toxins and water waste that are needed to cleanse your body.
The effects of these can also help in keeping your kidneys healthy and improve their functions.
And because it helps with detoxifying the body, it can reduce some of the stress of your liver from working.
10. May Help You Lose Weight
Some articles mention daikon to be low in calories and cholesterol which makes them a great addition to your diet if you’re trying to lose weight.
An animal study (Anti-Obesity Effects Of Daikon In Mice) showed daikon’s potential to fight obesity.
It has certain compounds that are mentioned in the study that give this root vegetable its anti-obesity effects.
11. Daikon May Improve Your Immune System
Like most foods that are good sources of vitamin C, daikon can contribute to boosting your immune system.
Researchers suggest that the daikon leaves contain the most vitamin C.
Vitamin C helps in stimulating the production of white blood cells. These are your body’s main soldiers against diseases.
It also helps with the healing and repairing of cells and tissues in your body.
12. Is Good For Your Skin
Some use daikon directly on the skin for improved skincare. Although some will also say that the effects are the same if you just eat them.
This is probably because of the antioxidants found in daikon.
Antioxidants have anti-aging effects on the skin like delaying or reducing dark spots and wrinkling of the skin.
Conclusion
These are just some of the several health benefits of daikon.
I like daikon but just for some dishes. I still can’t eat it when it’s prepared plainly as part of a salad.
But it’s great to know that it has anti-inflammatory properties that can be helpful with my arthritis condition. This is my favorite health benefit of daikon.
Which one is yours?
Please seek advice first from your doctor or health professional if you’re considering daikon for its health benefits. This is to be sure that it’s safe for you to consume it.
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Thank you!
Image Source: wikipedia.org