Last Updated on February 7, 2019 by Marc Seward
What is Daikon?
If you keep up with superfoods and all their benefits, then chances are, you have heard of Daikon, or Chinese radish as it is sometimes referred to. Native to Southeast and East Asia, this snowy white radish (Raphanus sativus) contains giant, rapidly growing leaves with a long, white root attached to the vegetable.
Just like other cruciferous vegetables, daikon is loaded with nutrients, making it a common addition to Asian dishes, soups, salads, and rice dishes. Packed with nutrients yet low in calories, the nutritional value of this vegetable is what gives it its superfood status.
However, it is not just the vegetable itself that makes daikon such a powerful food, its seeds and root also provides numerous benefits. From migraine relief to respiratory health, daikon is a vegetable to add to your next grocery list.
Daikon Benefits
Daikon’s rich nutrient content, low calorie count, and numerous benefits make it a great addition to any healthy and balanced diet. Daikon is high in Potassium, Fiber and Vitamin C. If you are looking for a healthy way to detoxify your kidneys or improve your digestion, consider adding daikon to your next meal.
1) Improves Kidney Function
Taking daikon, whether it’s in its vegetable form or the extract form, makes a great diuretic. Daikon helps to detoxify the kidneys by increasing urine production, helping to clean out the kidneys and remove waste and toxins.
By improving the function of the kidneys, daikon also helps to filter out toxins from the liver, digestive tract, and sweat glands. Detoxifying the digestive tract improves the overall digestive process and helps to process food. Regularly consuming daikon also helps to clean out the blood.
2) Boosts Digestion
Blending daikon and consuming it as a juice is a great way to improve digestion. Daikon juice contains enzymes similar to those found in the digestive tract, which helps to break down, process, and utilizes food.
Daikon helps to improve the digestive process by helping to break down proteins, fats, and complex carbohydrates. Consuming daikon also helps to prevent constipation and improves absorption of nutrients in the gut.
3) Boosts Immune System
This nutrient-rich vegetable contains a high concentration of vitamin C, making it a valuable ally to your immune system. Daikon is also known to encourage the production of white blood cells, which encourages the healing of tissues and helps to repair damaged cells.
4) Prevents and Treats Migraines
Daikon improves blood circulation and dilates blood vessels, which helps to prevent and treat migraines. Migraines occur when the blood vessels in the brain constrict, restricting the flow of blood to the brain.
Daikon helps to open up the pathways and increase the blood flow. If you’re prone to migraines, try regularly consuming daikon as a preventive measure. Daikon can also be consumed at the first signs of a migraine as a means of treatment.
5) Powerful Anti-inflammatory
Daikon contains anti-inflammatory properties, which reduces inflammation throughout the body. By reducing inflammation throughout the body, daikon improves heart health, reduces the risk of arthritis, soothes achy muscles and joints, and helps to treat the painful symptoms of gout.
6) Improves Bone Health
Daikon is rich in calcium, which nourishes the bones and helps to prevent the development of osteoporosis. By boosting your intake of calcium and consistently consuming daikon, you help to prevent the loss of bone density and improving your overall skeletal health.
7) Respiratory Health
Daikon contains antiviral and antibacterial activity, which helps to serve as a decongestant in those suffering from cold or flu. Drinking daikon juice helps to clear up clogged airways, helping to remove excess mucous while the antiviral and antibacterial activity helps to fight illness.
8) Possible Cancer Prevention
Due to its high content of nutrients and antioxidants, daikon is a great way to help prevent the development of cancer. Some preliminary studies have found that daikon may especially be effective in preventing the onset of stomach cancer.
Some Considerations and Potential Side Effects
To benefit from daikon to it’s fullest extent, please consider the following:
- Consuming daikon is considered generally safe. However, women that are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid eating excess amounts of the vegetables. If you have any questions about the suitable amount of daikon to consume, consult your physician.
- It is best to eat daikon in moderation, as eating large amounts of any type of radish can result in digestive upset.
- When preparing daikon in your meal, be sure to leave the skin on to enjoy all of its nutritional benefits.
- Daikon does not keep for extended periods of time, so be sure to use it the same day as you purchase it. When preparing it, consume daikon within 20 minutes of preparing it.
- If you need to store the daikon, wrap them up separately in plastic wrap before placing in the refrigerator.
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