Radishes: Radish Facts and Nutrition

There are many radishes on the market: purple, white, etc, This little known vegetable has much to offer for people looking to have better healthy diets in their life.

What are Radishes?

Radishes are cruciferous vegetables (technically form the family of the Brassicae) just like your broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. However radishes are little known and used in culinary preparations perhaps for not knowing them and also because of its strong but nice flavor. There is a great variety of radishes: red, white, purple, small, big, etc.

Radishes are healthy vegetables

Radishes are a good source of vitamins and minerals. Calcium, iron, vitamin C, and thiamine are found in good quantities in radishes. They also contain little known minerals (but needed) such as molybdenum, which is essential for proper nervous system functioning.

Radishes are said to function as diuretics, thus, they can help the Urinary system to be in good shape. Also, radishes aid in digestion by stimulating secretion of digestive juices. Fiber amount is significant in radishes (as in all vegetables) and this fact may also help with the digestive system. A vast array of compounds contained by radishes may have antioxidant and anticarcinogenic properties.

Radishes varieties

The most available types of radishes are the purple and the daikon radishes. Purple radish is purple on the outside and has a white interior. This is easily found in the United States . The daikon radish is used frequently in Asian cuisine but is gaining momentum in the USA. Daikon radish is more mild than purple radish. The purple variety is more tangy.

There are other radish varieties such as the D'Avignon radish (pink, crunchy, and very spicy), the Spanish black radish (very hot), and the french breakfast radish.

Radishes are increasingly being recommended for weight loss regimes. They are rich if fiber which may control appetite and also adds variety to the often boring dieting menus.

The spicy, bright flavor of radishes are always welcomed, especially when dieting. These colorful and flavory vegetables are great to enhance your meals both from a nutrition and health point of view.

A great radish sandwich (Radish D'avignon Sandwich) can be found at the "A veggie venture" web site. On tips and ideas on how to eat radish and many radishes culinary preparations take a look at the ktichn web site.

Sources:

Homoeopathic Materia Medica of Graphical Drug Pictures. By A. Pulford. Editor B. Jain Publishers, 2002 ISBN 8170211174. page 126

Radish D'Avignon Sandwich : http://kitchen-parade-veggieventure.blogspot.com/2006/10/radish-davignon-sandwich.html

The ktchn web site: http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/recipe-roundup/how-to-eat-a-radish-tips-ideas-and-recipes-085762