The Health Benefits of the Daikon Radish

The Health Benefits of the Daikon Radish

Daikon is a special type of radish that primarily grows in the East and South East Asia. Characterized by its white, long root and large leaves, it is commonly diced and added to soups, rice, curries, salads and condiments. Technically, it is a cruciferous vegetable that has nutrition in its roots as well as leaves. Its juice is also available as a healthy drink. High in nutrients and low in calories, it is a healthy food used by people for generations. Read this oneHOWTO article to know about the health benefits of the daikon radish.

Helpful in managing weight

The Daikon radish is quite filling, and is able to satiate hunger for hours, without loading you up with calories. A single 338 gms root of daikon radish contains merely 60 calories, due to which it becomes a healthy food helpful in managing weight. Low in cholesterol and fat, it is dense in nutrients, and can be a great addition to an efficient weight loss diet.

Helpful in managing type 2 diabetes

The GI or glycemic index is given to a food item, based on its potential to increase your blood sugar levels. Food with a high glycemic index like white bread and white rice tend to break down very quickly and easily, thus cause your insulin and blood sugar levels to spike after eating. After spiking, the blood sugar levels drop drastically, due to which you tend to get sugar cravings. Daikon radish absorbs slowly into your bloodstream, due to which it does not cause any sugar cravings, sugar crashes or mood swings. Therefore, daikon radish is a suitable food that can help you in managing your blood sugar and insulin levels, making it one of the best foods for diabetics.

Helpful in maintaining healthy blood pressure levels

Low in sodium and high in potassium, daikon radish is extremely helpful in reducing blood pressure levels. One root of daikon radish contains 767mg of potassium and merely 70mg of sodium. When it interacts with your arterial supply of the vascular beds, it relaxes your blood vessels and increases your blood flow. That is why, daikon radish is directly correlated to reduce blood pressure.

Aids digestive system health

The daikon radish is rich in fiber, due to which your bowel movements become regular and any symptoms of constipation are alleviated. It is abundant in human digestive enzymes which are helpful in processing oil, proteins, carbohydrates and fat in your body, thus aiding your digestive system.

Improves respiratory health

Raw daikon radish juice is known to help dissolve phlegm and mucus, due to which it helps in maintaining a healthy respiratory system. It can combat viral and bacterial infections, due to which it becomes an effective food to fight against respiratory diseases like flu, asthma and bronchitis.

Reduces cancer risk

Being an excellent source of vitamin C, it works like an antioxidant and helps in removing toxins from the body. By detoxifying your body, it destroys free radicals and prevents your healthy cells from becoming cancerous cells. It contains antioxidant phenolic compounds that are helpful in reducing risk of certain types of cancer, particularly in the stomach. It also contains nitrosamine, which is a specific compound that prevents development of a number of substances that are responsible for causing cancer.

Improves nervous system health

Daikon radish contains folate that is crucial for the regulation of certain amino acids in your nervous system. Deficiency of folate can lead to a number of neurodegenerative diseases, like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Folate is also helpful in formation of neural tube and red blood cells in the prenatal babies. Take a look at how to cook daikon radish in order to take advantage of its many benefits.

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to The Health Benefits of the Daikon Radish, we recommend you visit our Healthy living category.