10 Proven Health Benefits of Radishes

10 – Radishes for healthy skin

The high sulfur content of radishes helps to build and maintain healthy skin, and is also useful for treating acne. Radishes are also quite high in vitamin C, which helps promote the health of the skin and slow aging. Collagen is a protein in the body that’s essential for skin health, and vitamin C stimulates collagen synthesis. Vitamin C also helps to neutralize oxidative stress and protect the skin from UV radiation. ¹✅ JOURNAL REFERENCE
DOI: 10.3390/nu9080866

Nutrients in radishes

All varieties of radishes as well as their leaves are very low in calories and rich in vitamin C. The radish greens have almost 6 x the vitamin C of the root and a superb source of calcium as well. Red Globe radishes are an excellent source of the trace mineral molybdenum and are also a great source of potassium and folic acid. The Daikon radish is also an excellent source of potassium and copper. A 100 gram serving of radish provides only 16 calories as fiber and carbohydrate.

Where do radishes come from?

The modern radish is believed to have originated from southern Asia and might be descended from the wild radish of the eastern Mediterranean. Radishes were grown in Egypt during the rule of the Pharaohs, were mentioned by the Chinese philosopher Confucius, and in ancient Greece they were served as vegetable sacrifices to the gods on golden platters.

The very first cultivars of the radish were black, long, and tapering. In 1547, the radish appeared in Britain, and in 1598 the historian Gerard recorded 4 varieties being grown, including white radishes. In the 1700s, red radishes were developed and were soon imported to the New World.

Nowadays, Mexican artists carve the long white radishes which grow in Oaxaca into intricate sculptures for La Noche de los Rabanos, a yearly celebration which commemorates the introduction of the radish by the Spaniards. The radishes of this region typically grow to the size of yams and, because of the rocky soil, are twisted and gnarled. Local artists carve them into scenes from Aztec legends, history the and Bible. Cash prizes are awarded to the best ones, and a fireworks display ends the event.

The predominant radish in Asia, the daikon, which is often pickled and eaten after the rice portion of the meal, is considered the number one pickled vegetable in Japan. Another Japanese radish variety, the Sakurajima radish, which comes from the peninsula of the same name in southern Japan, is characterized by immense radishes, like daikon, which can reach a weight of up to 100 pounds!

The Asian Mougri radish is cultivated not for its root but for its edible seed pods, which can apparently grow to over 3 feet in length.

In the US, radishes are grown in practically all states, with the largest crops originating from California and Florida.