The radish is a crunchy cruciferous vegetable that lends a tangy, spicy flavor to a variety of dishes. Radishes pair well with other veggies and can be enjoyed raw in salads or roasted in the oven.
Radishes are available in a few different varieties. Daikon radishes, the larger white type are most popular in India. Yet, most of us are familiar with the smaller variety that comes in deep pink, red, or purple hues. The bright red color of radishes signals the presence of potent antioxidants that have the power to prevent diseases like cancer.
What’s more, radishes can actually lower cholesterol and help you lose weight. Keep reading to find out how you can benefit from adding radishes to your meal plan.
Are Radishes Keto Friendly?
At just under 2 grams of carbs per 100-gram serving, radishes make the perfect addition to any strict low carb diet plan. Those following Keto can rest assured that eating radishes will not throw your body out of ketosis.
You can even bake your own seasoned radish chips at home as a great low carb alternative for potato chips. (I have included a great recipe for cheese and onion flavored radish chips later in this article).
How Many Carbs are in Radishes?
A 100 gram serving of radishes contains only 1.8 grams of net carbs. Radishes are so low in carbs, they’re perfect for strict low carb diets, like Keto. It is possible to eat a lot of radishes without consuming an excess of carbs.
How Many Calories are in Radishes?
A 1 cup serving (104 grams) of chopped radishes contains only 16 calories. Radishes are extremely low in calories. In fact, small pink radishes contain only about 1 calorie each.
Nutrition Facts
| Amount Per 100 grams of radishes | |
| Calories 16 | |
| Total Fat 0.1 grams | 0% |
| Saturated fat 0 grams | 0% |
| Polyunsaturated fat 0 grams | |
| Monounsaturated fat 0 grams | |
| Cholesterol 0 milligrams | 0% |
| Sodium 39 milligrams | 1% |
| Potassium 233 milligrams | 6% |
| Total Carbohydrate 3.4 grams | 1% |
| Dietary fiber 1.6 grams | 6% |
| Sugar 1.9 grams | |
| Protein 0.7 grams | 1% |
| Vitamin A | 0% | Vitamin C | 24% |
| Calcium | 2% | Iron | 1% |
| Vitamin D | 0% | Vitamin B-6 | 5% |
| Cobalamin | 0% | Magnesium | 2% |
Health Benefits
Overview
Red radishes are packed with nutrients like Vitamins E, A, C, B6, and K. They are also a good source of zinc, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, copper, calcium, iron and manganese.
Antioxidants to Prevent Disease
Radishes are also a good source of anthocyanins. These flavonoids not only give radishes their red color, but they also help promote the health of your heart.
These compounds fight free radicals to prevent the development of tumors and protect against various forms of cancer.
Their natural sulphur content also acts as an antioxidant and is associated with many health benefits, such as the prevention of hypothyroidism. The organic sulphur found in cruciferous veggies, like radishes also have anti-inflammatory properties.
Detoxifies the Blood
Radishes are an amazing detoxifier of the liver. They also help purify the blood and increase the supply of oxygen to the blood. In fact, radishes and radish leaves (greens) are even used as a natural treatment for jaundice.
Promotes Healthy Skin
The vitamin C in radishes, along with zinc and phosphorus can help improve the skin. Eating radishes and applying them topically to the skin can help prevent dryness, acne and even treat rashes. Their high content of water also provides hydration and moisture to the skin. You can even make your own natural face mask using pureed raw radishes.
Improves Hydration
Because of their high water content, radishes help keep your body hydrated. Proper hydration is vital to good health as it boosts energy and mood. Drinking enough water can be challenging, so it’s important to eat hydrating foods like radishes to help balance fluid levels and flush out toxins from the body. Fruits and veggies with high water content can also help prevent kidney infections.
Supports Healthy Digestion
Radishes are packed with roughage and fiber, so they’ll help keep your digestive system moving. Foods containing fiber also improve blood sugar response.
Lowers Blood Pressure
Radishes are quite high in potassium, which lowers blood pressure and supports the production of collagen necessary to keep blood vessels healthy. Radishes also help control damage to red blood cells and help increase oxygen supply to the blood.
Improves Metabolism and Strengthens the Immune System
A half-cup of radishes offers 15% of your daily intake of vitamin C. Vitamin C has been shown to boost immunity and regulate metabolism.
Side Effects
Radish is likely safe for most people when taken in moderate amounts. Taking large amounts of radish can irritate the digestive tract. Allergies to radishes are rare.
Individuals with thyroid problems should avoid eating radishes in excess as too many radishes could interfere with thyroid hormone production.
Radishes should be avoided by individuals with gallstones as they increase bile production.
Ways to Enjoy Radishes on Keto
Here are some great ideas to incorporate radishes into your low carb diet:
- Enjoy radishes raw in your salads.
- Pickle radishes in vinegar and pickling spice.
- Add thinly sliced radishes to your stir fry dishes.
- Roast whole radishes along with other low carb veggies.
- Throw diced radishes into your sauces, chilli or salsas to turn up the heat.
- Add radishes to chicken salad to make lettuce wraps.
- Slice and season radishes and bake them with a little oil to create low carb chips.
Keto Oven-Baked Radishes Chips
(Cheese & Onion Flavor)
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of radishes, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon onion salt or a few shakes of onion soup mix
- 2 tablespoons dehydrated grated Parmesan
Instructions:
- Thinly slice radishes or use a mandolin to keep slices thin and uniform.
- Blot radishes slices with paper towel to remove excess moisture.
- Place radishes slices in a large bowl and toss with oil and onion seasoning and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking process.
- Allow the chips to cool and then enjoy.
Related Questions:
Are Radishes Good for Weight Loss?
Radishes are low in calories and have a low glycemic index. They have a high content of water and a decent amount of fiber, which means they are very filling, especially when eaten raw. Increasing your intake of fiber has been shown to aid in weight loss. ‘
The vitamin C contained in radishes helps improve metabolism, the rate in which your body converts fat into usable energy.
Radishes also help you lower LDL cholesterol levels, which can be helpful for overweight individuals who tend to have high levels of unhealthy LDL cholesterol and lower levels of good (HDL) cholesterol.
Are Radishes Safe to Eat During Pregnancy?
Radishes are safe to eat during pregnancy in normal food amounts. Radishes contain folic acid which reduces the risk of birth defects of the spine and brain. Folates can be destroyed by cooking, so radishes are a great choice because they’re often eaten raw.
Are Radishes an Acidic Vegetable?
Radishes are an excellent remedy for heartburn because they contain a rich amount of mustard oils to help prevent heartburn. The mustard oils naturally found in radishes have the power to soothe the stomach and lower the production of stomach acid.
Why Do Radishes Taste Hot?
The tangy, peppery flavor of radishes is caused by glucosinolates and the enzyme myrosinase, which combine when chewed to form allyl isothiocyanates that convert into metabolites that impart a pungent, spicy, and slightly bitter taste.
Certain varieties of radishes are hotter than others. Radishes grown from crops that have been developed slowly are often hotter. Extra hot radishes are often picked late in the season.