College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

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AYURVEDIC FOODS

Radish (raw) Benefits (According to Ayurveda)

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1. Ayurvedic Perspective

2. Biocharacteristics & Herbal Actions

3. Similar foods and herbs

4. Impact: On tongue, nerves, elimination, etc.

5. Indications / Benefits

6. Contraindications / Aggravates

7. Comments and reviews

How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Recipes with Radish (raw): Honey Mustard Radishes

This unassuming root vegetable packs more health benefits than you may suspect. By stimulating the flow of bile, radishes are a useful tool for fat digestion, decongesting the gall bladder, and cleansing of both the liver and the blood. They have also been used to break up gallstones and kidney stones.

In order to best utilize these benefits, radish juice is recommended. Drink in increasing doses from 1/2 to 2 cupfuls daily, continued over several weeks, then decreasing back down to 1/2 cup. Radishes are also low on the glycemic index and are a negative calorie food. This means you burn more calories digesting them than they contain.

Radishes and Blood Pressure

Radishes are high in potassium which is helps keep blood pressure at safe levels. Potassium lowers blood pressure because its effects are opposite of those of sodium. Salt, which is sodium based, increases water retention. Potassium, on the other hand, is a diuretic that flushes water from the body. The National Institute of Health DASH Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) recommends increasing potassium, calcium, and magnesium to keep blood pressure at healthy levels.

Raw radish strongly provokes Pitta in the digestive tract. It clears food stagnation and has a laxative effect due to its diuretic nature, all while having a cooling effect on the blood. Vata individuals be warned, radishes may be difficult to digest and create gas for your dosha.

Raw brassicas contain chemicals that can block thyroid function called goitrogens. These chemicals are easily inactivated by steaming or cooking.

About Radish (raw)

The word radish derives from the latin word for root, "radix." Domesticated in Europe in pre-Roman times, radishes are an edible root of the Brassicaceae family. They come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. They are inexpensive, grow quickly and are cultivated and eaten throughout the world. As a root, they store well over winter and are often pickled. In Oaxaca, Mexico citizens carve figures out of radishes on "Noche de Los Rabanos" (Night of the Radishes) as part of Christmas festivities, pictured below.

Cooking Radish (raw)

Use the crisp texture and vibrant color of radishes to make your salads and hors d'ouvres tasty and visually appealing. Radishes pair well with dill, as well. You may also grill them after marinating in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The pungent and peppery flavor of raw radishes can be toned down by cooking or pickling, as is common in Korea and other Asian countries. Radish leaves can be somewhat rough and abrasive. Other Brassicas such as arugula offer a softer yet still pungent leaf.

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Is Radish (raw) Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Radish (raw)' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

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AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

SERVING SIZE: 4 tbsp

SPECIES: Raphanus sativus

FAMILY: Brassicaceae

EAT IN: SPRING

Metabolic Nature of Radish (raw)

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

INCREASES Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas) Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic. Learn More	CLEAR ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama. LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR DIFFICULT ABOUT DIFFICULT BIOCHARACTERISTIC Difficult refers to anything that is difficult to digest, or takes a long time to digest. LEARN MORE ABOUT DIFFICULT HOT ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation. LEARN MORE ABOUT HOT LIQUEFIED ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs. LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUEFIED MOBILE ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity. LEARN MORE ABOUT MOBILE
TASTES The 6 Tastes Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below? Learn More	BITTER ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes, laxative, and drying. LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER PUNGENT ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper. LEARN MORE ABOUT PUNGENT
DOSHAS The Three Doshas / Body Types According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history. The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded. Learn More	PACIFIES AGGRAVATES
HAS THE FOLLOWING	Subtaste: Acrid ACRID Acrid taste is a combination of bitter and pungent tastes. Example include radish, turnip, and coffee. SEE ALL 'ACRID' FOODS / HERBS , Bland BLAND Bland means doesn't have much taste. In Chinese medicine, bland taste refers to afood without little macronutrients, such as cabbage, radish or bok choy. SEE ALL 'BLAND' FOODS / HERBS Moves Energy: Outward OUTWARD Outward-moving substances stimulate circulation, push heat towards the skin, or are stimulating. SEE ALL 'OUTWARD' FOODS / HERBS Affinity: Respiratory Health Family: Brassicaceae
HERBAL ACTIONS (see all)	Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Radish (raw) Experiences are Personal Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition. Bowel Health: General Laxative GENERAL-LAXATIVE Promotes a bowel movement. General laxative is an umbrella term that refers to several different types of laxatives. SEE ALL 'GENERAL-LAXATIVE' FOODS / HERBS Cleanse & Detox: Internal Detoxicant INTERNAL-DETOXICANT Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system. SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS Skin Care & Beauty: Diaphoretic DIAPHORETIC An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin. SEE ALL 'DIAPHORETIC' FOODS / HERBS Respiratory-Health: Flushes Sinuses FLUSHES-SINUSES An herb that relieves sinus congestion by flushing out mucus. SEE ALL 'FLUSHES-SINUSES' FOODS / HERBS , Expectorant EXPECTORANT Expectorants help you eliminate mucus from the lungs. These herbs often work by increasing the quantity of mucus, or thinning the mucus. Expectorants are indicated when phlegm congests the lower respiratory tract. SEE ALL 'EXPECTORANT' FOODS / HERBS , Mucolytic MUCOLYTIC An herb that breaks apart mucus, liquefying the mucus. SEE ALL 'MUCOLYTIC' FOODS / HERBS Immune System: Repairs Membrane REPAIRS-MEMBRANE Reduces inflammation and allergen reactivity by restoring epithelial barrier function. Repairs tight cell junction in leaky gut, interstitial cystitis, eczema, asthma, etc. SEE ALL 'REPAIRS-MEMBRANE' FOODS / HERBS Kidney & Urinary: Diuretic DIURETIC Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure. SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS , Lithagogue LITHAGOGUE An herb used to expel stones such as kidney stones or gallstones. SEE ALL 'LITHAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS Liver & Gallbladder: Cholagogue STRONG CHOLAGOGUE Cholagogues stimulate the production & release of bile from the liver & gallbladder. This refreshes and cleanses these organs, as well as increases bile in the small intestines. SEE ALL 'CHOLAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS Weight Loss: Hypolipidemic HYPOLIPIDEMIC Scrapes fats / cleanses blood vessels by 1) purging bile, 2) strengthening the liver's ability to metabolize fats, 3) by increasing uptake of cholesterol in the liver, and 4) by inhibiting fat cells. SEE ALL 'HYPOLIPIDEMIC' FOODS / HERBS , Lowers Blood Sugar LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR An herb that lowers blood sugar. SEE ALL 'LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR' FOODS / HERBS , Lowers Thyroid LOWERS-THYROID Reduces thyroid function. Useful for people with hyperthyroid. SEE ALL 'LOWERS-THYROID' FOODS / HERBS Constituents: Nitric Oxide STRONG NITRIC-OXIDE Improves circulation by dilating blood vessels. Protects blood vessels from damage. Improves athletic performance, libido, immunity, and brain health. SEE ALL 'NITRIC-OXIDE' FOODS / HERBS , Aromatase Inhibitor AROMATASE-INHIBITOR Blocks estrogen synthesis by inhibiting conversion of progesterone and testosterone into estrogen. SEE ALL 'AROMATASE-INHIBITOR' FOODS / HERBS , Polysaccharides, Salicylates SALICYLATES Salicylates relieve inflammation, are anti-cancer, and antidiabetic, but some are allergic to it. SEE ALL 'SALICYLATES' FOODS / HERBS , Sulfated Polysaccharides, Sulphur

Foods with a Similar Nature to Radish (raw)

Spanish Black Radish

Spanish Black Radish has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Expectorant, Internal-detoxicant, Mucolytic, Diaphoretic, Flushes-sinuses, Lithagogue, Repairs-membrane, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic, Lowers-thyroid

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Horseradish

Horseradish has these Actions in Common

Diaphoretic, Flushes-sinuses, Lowers-thyroid, Diuretic, General-laxative, Mucolytic, Cholagogue, Expectorant, Lithagogue, Repairs-membrane

LEARN MORE

Wasabi

Wasabi has these Actions in Common

Expectorant, Lithagogue, Repairs-membrane, Diaphoretic, Flushes-sinuses, Lowers-thyroid, Diuretic, General-laxative, Mucolytic, Cholagogue

LEARN MORE

Garlic (raw)

Garlic (raw) has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, General-laxative, Mucolytic, Cholagogue, Expectorant, Hypolipidemic, Repairs-membrane, Diaphoretic, Flushes-sinuses, Internal-detoxicant

LEARN MORE

Garlic

Garlic has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Expectorant, Mucolytic, Diaphoretic, General-laxative, Repairs-membrane, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant

LEARN MORE

Burdock Root (Gobo)

Burdock Root (Gobo) has these Actions in Common

General-laxative, Lowers-blood-sugar, Diaphoretic, Hypolipidemic, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Cholagogue

LEARN MORE

Dandelion Leaves

Dandelion Leaves has these Actions in Common

Lithagogue, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, General-laxative

LEARN MORE

Daikon Radish

Daikon Radish has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Expectorant, Mucolytic, Diaphoretic, Flushes-sinuses, Diuretic, General-laxative

LEARN MORE

Fenugreek

Fenugreek has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Cholagogue, Expectorant, Lowers-blood-sugar, Diaphoretic, Hypolipidemic

LEARN MORE

Mustard Greens

Mustard Greens has these Actions in Common

Hypolipidemic, Lowers-thyroid, Cholagogue, Internal-detoxicant, General-laxative, Lowers-blood-sugar

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Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Radish (raw)

Bhumyamalaki

Bhumyamalaki has these Actions in Common

Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant, Lithagogue, Cholagogue, Diuretic, General-laxative

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Triphala Guggulu

Triphala Guggulu has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, General-laxative, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant, Lowers-blood-sugar

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Dandelion Root

Dandelion Root has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant, Lowers-blood-sugar

LEARN MORE

Epsom Salt Bath

Epsom Salt Bath has these Actions in Common

Flushes-sinuses, Internal-detoxicant, Mucolytic, Diaphoretic, Expectorant

LEARN MORE

Hyssop Powder

Hyssop Powder has these Actions in Common

Expectorant, Internal-detoxicant, Mucolytic, Diaphoretic, Diuretic

LEARN MORE

Manjistha

Manjistha has these Actions in Common

Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant, Lithagogue

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Neem Leaf

Neem Leaf has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant, Lowers-blood-sugar

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Goldenseal

Goldenseal has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Mucolytic, Cholagogue, Diuretic, General-laxative

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Punarnava

Punarnava has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant, Lowers-blood-sugar

LEARN MORE

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Expectorant, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant

LEARN MORE

Patola

Patola has these Actions in Common

Lowers-blood-sugar, General-laxative, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant

LEARN MORE

Impact of Radish (raw)

In each clinical research trial below, students from the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda ate the selected food for 3 days and reported the pharmacological effects. See other clinical research trials for diet & herbs at Joyful Belly.