Health Benefits Of Radish Leaves
1. More Essential Vitamins And Minerals
Radish benefits our health, but its green parts contain more nutrients than the entire vegetable itself. They help provide a nutrient rich diet and also some important minerals like iron, calcium, folic acid, vitamin C and phosphorous that are essential for many bodily functions (1). Also, it contains vitamin A, which plays an important role in improving vision. Who Can Use It? Can be safely consumed by adults and children alike. How Often? Can be included in one’s daily diet in moderation. Caution No known side effects. However, over-consumption is better avoided.
2. High In Dietary Fibers
Radish leaves contain more roughage than radishes themselves. Fiber is known to help the digestive process and the additional roughage aids in the same. Fiber helps to keep you full for a longer time and reduces hunger pangs, which may help in weight loss. Radish leaves help keep uncomfortable conditions like constipation and a bloated stomach in check (2).
3. Increases Immunity And Reduces Fatigue
The high iron content of radish leaves makes it an ideal deterrent to fatigue. Radish leaves are high in minerals like Iron and phosphorous, which increase the body’s immunity. They also contain other essential minerals like vitamin C, vitamin A, thiamine, which help combat fatigue. Patients with anemia and low hemoglobin levels can benefit from ingesting radish leaves, as the iron present in the leaves will alleviate their medical conditions. (3)
4. Diuretic
Radish leaf juice is a natural diuretic. It helps dissolve stones and helps clear the urinary bladders. This property is also shared with radishes though, as they also exhibit diuretic properties. Radish leaves also demonstrate strong laxative properties that help ease constipation and a bloated stomach. (4)
5. Antiscorbutic
Radish leaves are antiscorbutic in characteristic. Put simply, they help prevent scurvy. It is hardly surprising to note as radish leaves do contain higher amounts of vitamin C than the roots and hence radish leaves exhibit stronger antiscorbutic properties than the roots. Note: Along with other leafy vegetables in your meal, consume radish leaves once a week. Leni, a food blogger, tried steaming radish leaves and served it with balsamic vinegar and radish slices. She gushes, “The deep sweet tang of the balsamic vinegar perfectly complimented the peppery taste of the radish greens! This simple and delicious dish was great both as a warm side dish and as a cold salad. I will never throw radish greens out again (i)!”
6. Treats Piles
Radish leaves have been proven to help treat painful conditions like piles. Owing to the antibacterial properties that they contain, radish leaves help decrease swelling as it has anti-inflammatory properties. Powdered dry radish leaves mixed with equal amount of sugar and a hint of water can be mixed to form a paste. This paste can either be eaten or topically applied to the inflammation. (5)
7. Treat Jaundice
Radish leaves help treat diseases like jaundice, where the body suffers from hyperbilirubinemia (yellowing of skin). Radish leaves have been found to be efficient in reversing this condition. The leaves must be crushed and the extract must be sieved through a porous cloth. Having half a liter of this juice daily for ten days helps cure jaundice. Many herbal medicine stores stock radish leaf juice for people who don’t have time to extract the juice themselves. (6)
8. Rheumatism
Rheumatism is probably one of the most painful diseases in the world. The knee joints swell up and cause all kinds of discomfort. The extract of radish leaves mixed with an equal amount of sugar and a hint of water can be used to make a paste. This paste can be topically applied to the knee joints. The regular use of this paste can help relieve the pain and decrease the swelling. (7)
9. Helps Prevent Diabetes
Radish leaves have many properties that help them reduce blood sugar levels. Thus, radish greens are some of the most important foods to be included in a diabetic’s plan for diabetes management. Radish leaves help prevent diabetes by decreasing the already high blood glucose levels.
10. Detoxifying Agent
Radish leaves contain a host of essential nutrients. These nutrients and the antimicrobial and antibacterial properties of radish leaves help in detoxification of the body by flushing out toxins (8). In addition, the presence of antioxidants such as anthocyanin, may help improve heart health and reduce risk of cardiovascular diseases (9). It also has vitamin C, which boosts collagen synthesis and maintains skin elasticity, which may help improve skin health (10). In order to enjoy the benefits of radish leaves, you need to learn how to incorporate them into your diet. The next section provides a recipe to help you get started.
Radish Leaves Recipe
Radish Leaves Stir-Fry
Radish leaves 2 tablespoons of cooking oil 2 garlic cloves, minced ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes Salt and pepper, to taste
- Thoroughly wash the radish leaves and chop them into bite-sized pieces. 2. In a large skillet, heat the cooking oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for a minute. 3. Add the chopped radish leaves and stir-fry for 3 to 5 minutes or until they start to wilt. 4. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. 5. Continue to stir-fry until the radish leaves completely wilt (for about 5 to 7 minutes). 6. Transfer it to a serving dish and enjoy with rice. Is radish leaves good for the kidneys? Radish leaves are said to possess diuretic properties, which may help reduce the risk of kidney stone formation. However, limited data is available in this regard. Are radish leaves toxic? No, not all kinds of radish leaves are toxic, and they are edible. Do radish leaves cause gas? Radish leaves do not cause gas. Their powder is rich in dietary fiber, which helps improve digestion (11). Can I eat radish leaves raw? Yes. Radish leaves have the most delicate flavor and can be eaten raw. Can you use radish leaves in a smoothie? Radish leaves are tender and mild and blend perfectly with apples and bananas. Hence, you can use radish leaves in a smoothie.
Illustration: Amazing Health Benefits Of Radish Leaves
Radish leaves are packed with nutrients and offer amazing health benefits. Learn how to incorporate them into your diet for a healthy boost in this video. Go, check it out!
