You can surely include daikon in your diet as it has a number of beneficial effects on our body. It helps to prevent cancer, makes your immune system stronger, lowers inflammation, improves digestion and also helps to remove the harmful toxins from your body. In addition to all these benefits, it also helps to strengthen bones, helps you to lose wealth and also takes care of your respiratory health.
Daikon
Daikon (Raphanus sativus ) is a mild flavoured winter radish which can be recognized by fast-growing leaves and a long, white napiform root. It is a white root vegetable that looks like a carrot and is widely used in Japanese and Chinese cuisines. In Asian cuisine, daikon is often eaten with meaty dishes and it aids in digestion and breakdown of oil, fatty animal proteins and dairy. Daikon has a white pigment called anthoxanthin and helps to lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
Nutritional Value of Daikon
Daikon is rich in nutrients and has a host of health benefits and so is often referred to as super food. It has large quantities of enzymes that help to digest fat and starch. It also contains high levels of Vitamin C, phosphorus and potassium. In addition to these, other nutrients like Vitamin A, E, B6, magnesium, iron, calcium and fiber can also be found in daikon.
Nutritional facts Per 100 Grams
18
Calories
21 mg
Sodium
233 mg
Potassium
3 g
Total Carbohydrate
1 g
Protein
Vitamins and Minerals
2%%
Calcium
24 %
Vitamin C
1 %
Iron
4 %
Vitamin B-6
6 %
Magnesium
Health Benefits of Daikon
Mentioned below are the best health benefits of consuming this root vegetable daikon. It helps in cleaning or detoxify the liver and stomach and good for purifying blood. Diakon contains potassium which controls blood pressure and a high amount of vitamin C. Read out all benefits you can get by eating this nutritious vegetable. We also discuss the side effects of consuming daikon in various health conditions and get cultivation details of this root vegetable.
Helps to deal with respiratory problems
Daikon juice has antibacterial and antiviral activities and helps you to deal with various respiratory problems. Excess phlegm and mucus in your respiratory tracts trap bacteria and cause various problems. Daikon juice helps to eliminate the excess phlegm and, in this process, eliminates the harmful bacteria and thereby helps to keep your respiratory system healthy.
Daikon helps to deal with cancer
Daikon contains certain anti-oxidant phenolic compounds that help to prevent or fight various types of cancer, particularly those pertaining to the stomach. This is primarily due to the presence of nitrosamine which prevents the growth of various substances that may cause cancer.
Benefits of daikon for digestion
Amylase and esterase are digestive enzymes that can be found in daikon juice. It helps to break up complex carbohydrates, proteins and fats into simpler compounds that can be easily digested by our body. This helps you to retain the essential nutrients of any food that you eat and also facilitates the smooth movement of faecal matter.
Helps to detoxify your body
Daikon has diuretic properties and so it facilitates the excretion of urine. This process helps to flush out all the harmful toxins from the body and thus keeps the kidneys clean. Thus, all unhealthy substances are eliminated from your body easily.
Daikon good for boosting immunity system
Daikon has high concentration of Vitamin C and it helps to boost body immunity. It helps to produce white blood cells which are essential for the healing and repairing of cells and tissues in the body. So a generous helping of daikon juice will surely give your immunity the much-needed boost.
Daikin has anti-inflammatory properties
Anti-inflammatory compounds which are found in abundance in daikon juice and also in the roots and leaves of the daikon plant help to curtail inflammation throughout the body. This has a number of good effects for your body which include keeping your heart in good health, reducing the risk of developing arthritis, treating gout and also daikin helps to reduce discomfort and pain from injuries and muscle strains.
Good for your bones
Daikon, like other cruciferous vegetables, is a good source of calcium. Calcium is essential for bones and helps to prevent osteoporosis and other ailments that plague our bones when we start getting old.
Incorporating daikin in your diet will surely slow down the aging effect on your bones and help you to lead a normal and healthy life.
Benefits of daikon for weight loss
Daikin has very low content of calories and cholesterol. On the other hand, it is rich in dietary fiber and other nutrients which are beneficial for our body. The digestive enzymes that it contains help us to digest food better.
The dietary fiber present in weight loss adds bulk to stool and facilitates its easy excretion. Thus, daikin intake fills you up without bothering your body weight too much.
Daikon good for your skin
Consumption of daikin is good for your skin. Daikin has anti-oxidant properties that help us to fight the disease-causing free radicals in our body. Consumption of daikin in moderate quantities help us to prevent wrinkles, increase the glow of our skin, reduce the appearance of blemishes and dark spots and also regulate the circulation of blood to the skin.
Uses of Daikon
Loaded with nutrients, daikon and daikon juice has a lot of medicinal and nutritional uses. It helps to alleviate respiratory issues, keeps your digestive system in good health, keeps your body healthy by facilitating detoxification and also helps to fight certain strains of cancer.
In addition to these, intake of daikon helps to strengthen your immunity system, fights inflammation, promotes the good health of your bones and skin and finally helps you to lose weight
Side-Effects & Allergies of Daikon
Being an edible vegetable, daikon is presumed to be relatively safe but it has a few side-effects too. The side-effects that one may experience after consuming daikon are mainly related to dermatitis and asthma.
Daikon is also considered harmful for those suffering from gallstones. The compound in daikin that has been found to prevent or fight cancer also has an effect on the functioning of the thyroid gland. Pregnant and breast-feeding women are also advised to refrain from consuming this vegetable.
Moreover, people on vasodilators, including people who consume anti-migraine medication and blood pressure drugs should be careful in consuming this vegetable as it itself has the same property.
Cultivation of Daikon
Daikon is a root vegetable that was originally cultivated in the Mediterranean and later was brought to China in around 500 B.C. The word ‘daikon’ comes from two Japanese words ‘dai’ meaning large and ‘kon’ meaning root.
It is cultivated widely across South-East Asia or continental Asia. The nutrient content of daikon roots is well appreciated and it is commonly pickled and eaten as a vegetable in China, Japan and other Asian countries.
Daikon is cultivated in almost the same manner as other varieties of radish are cultivated but it requires more space and time to mature.
Constant sunlight, regular water and temperature below 80 degrees Fahrenheit are essential for the cultivation of the plant. Daikon is best grown in areas where warm season crops like squash, tomatoes and peppers grow.
