How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Footnote: The information for this article was in part gathered from a 2019 study and survey of 24 students of Ayurveda who experimented with daikon. During the study, students ate daikon for 3 days and journaled the pharmacological effects. This study was sponsored by the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda, and specifically the Mastering Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition certification course.

When I first saw it, daikon reminded me of an alien. Daikon means 'fat root' in Japanese. But this fat root, resembling an albino carrot, has a feisty kick. Bite into daikon, and you'll be exhilarated by its fresh crisp and crunchiness. Daikon is known for its ability to break up stagnation and sluggishness. As a hot bitter, daikon is earthy and penetrating. It stimulates the body, while sharpening mental focus.

Daikon radishes are quite versatile, culinary speaking. This a good thing because it can take a while to eat your way through a monster radish that can grow as large as your arm, or even your leg. Although heavy to carry, daikon can lighten up any dish.

Daikon has been called the "radish with soul" because of its spirited peppery taste and heroic size. This bull in the china shop is straightforward and honest. It puts up a fight. It stimulates and energizes you. But if you're looking for something more tame, Daikon's sharp taste transitions to a milder sweetness upon cooking. A bitter aftertaste lingers, however. And, it is this bitter heat that is the magic of Daikon, and a sure sign of its kapha pacifying nature.

As daikon purges fluids from your body, it also stimulates digestion, and encourages healthy elimination. This record setting radish is a great addition to any cleanse. More recent studies suggest this monster root is the newest heart-healthy vegetable, helping to protect coronary blood vessels and prevent heart disease and stroke.

Cleanse Excess Water Weight

In Chinese medicine, daikon is said to have "bland" taste. This doesn't mean lack of taste. Rather, bland taste implies low calorie content. As a natural diuretic, daikon can help you shed excess water weight. It induces dryness. It flushes the kidneys, cleansing the blood and imparting a sense of lightness. It dries up feelings of lethargy, sluggishness and being "weighed down."

Together, the dry, light, and warm qualities of daikon are a fitting combination. It boosts sluggish metabolism and energizes your whole being.

Daikon are a rich source of insoluble fiber. This type of fiber is helpful for regulating elimination. By flushing the kidneys and bowels, Daikon rids the body of toxicity.

Lung Clearing and Nasal Decongestant

From chest tightness to walking pneumonia, daikon is a first choice root for all watery lung conditions. Heat and dryness often work in tandem, especially in the lungs. Next time you eat daikon, notice how the heat of daikon spreads from your mouth to a warm glow in your belly. From there, the warmth rises up to the chest as Daikon's heat begins to circulate in the blood. One client notes, "My chest was opening with warmth after eating Daikon." Another explains, "My mouth feels hot after chewing. The heat comes up through my sinuses."

Daikon's heat works to clear and open passageways in the lungs, helping to melt and break up and flush out phlegm and mucus. One student notes, "My cheeks feel warm and my nose is much more clear." Daikon induces clarity, like a clear blue sky expanding open over the dry desert. It opens nasal passages and gently dissolves mucus.