Radish microgreens aren't the most popular of the varieties that Dani Greens offers. In fact, they are my least popular variety I grow, other than that they are used in Crunchy Micro Mix, to accent the Pea and Sunflower Shoots, giving a spicy zing to the mix. The taste of radish can be something that's either preferred or despised, because of the peppery flavor of the radish microgreen.
But there are some pretty remarkable reasons why the radish shoot should be among the most preferred by microgreens enthusiasts.
Radishes are cool weather root vegetables from the family Brassicaceae, that are widely known for their hardiness and their ability to be easily cultivated in various climates. The radish was domesticated in Asia and can still be found in some places there growing wild. Radishes have been used for centuries in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat various conditions such as fever, sore throat, bile disorders, and inflammation.
In the 1980's, remains of radishes were found in 2,000 year old Roman pharmaceuticals, since radishes were used historically by various cultures for their bountiful medicinal benefits.
In Ancient Egypt, radish seeds were pressed for their oil. Ancient Egyptians are believed to have been paid in part with radishes. Ancient Greek texts say that the Greeks praised the radish so highly that they fashioned gold replicas of the radish and used them as an offering to the god Apollo. In Rome, the radish was used for its medicinalbproperties, to alleviate stomach and intestinal issues.
In Unani, Greek Arab, and Indian folk medicine, the radish is used to treat jaundice, gallstones, and liver disease.
Radish has been used medicinally for loss of appetite, pain and swelling of the mouth and throat, tendency towards infections, inflammation or excessive mucus of the respiratory tract, bronchitis, fever, colds, and cough.
Like the broccoli shoot, the radish shoot contains the compound sulforaphane, a sulfur rich phytochemical that can potentially reduce the risk for cancer, by inactivating carcinogens, to protect the DNA.
Because they contain sulforaphane as well as anthocyanins, radishes are a heart healthy food option. These valuable compounds have powerful antioxidant action, that reduces inflammatory damage caused by oxidative stress, which plays a large role in the development of heart disease.
Radish shoots contain the anti-fungal compound (RsAFP2) that can be especially helpful when fighting candida, which many people struggle to overcome due to candida overgrowth both inside and outside of the body.
Radishes contain other antioxidants like catechin, pyrogallol, vanillic acid, and phenolic compounds that fight free radicals in your body. Free radical compounds have been linked with many diseases, including cancer.
Radishes are rich in vitamin C, which protects your cells from damage and helps boost your immune system. And who couldn't use a good immune system protectant?
Radishes are further, a great source of fiber, which is important for digestive health and preventing constipation. When our digestive system is not functioning properly, it can lead to all sorts of other health problems, including an unhealthy gut microbiome and an overload of toxins, that the body is unable to effectively remove. Forget yucky powders and choking down huge horse pills! Microgreens in general, are a great source of dietary fiber, and will definitely aid any tummy troubles you might be battling.
Radishes are high in potassium, which can help lower your blood pressure. They support the generation of collagen, which helps keep blood vessels healthy, connective tissues strong, and can lead to a radiant complexion.
So, there you have it! Without getting too much into scientific definitions and deep dives into hard-to-pronounce words and complex bodily functions, the radish shoot is simply remarkable!
I'd encourage you, if this is of further interest to you, to do some more research on the topic and learn about the remarkable radish and its benefits beyond what I mentioned here briefly. You might be remarkably surprised by what you find!
Yes, radish can be an acquired taste all by itself, but I've enjoyed radish shoots on turkey sandwiches and the experience is simply delightful.
The soft, peppery radish shoot can complimentary to a variety of other culinary dishes as well.
Dani Greens'Radish Shoots may not be the most popular, but there's a good reason not to shrug them off, especially if you're eating microgreens specifically for their health benefits.
Dani Greens offers Radish Shoots at 2.5 ounces. They are grown in organic soil, from organic seeds,and are freshly harvested before delivery to preserve their freshness.
You can order Dani Greens Radish Shoots here https://danigreens.com/products/radish-shoots. Or, if you want to start put your radish journey a bit more modestly, try the popular Crunchy Micro Mix https://danigreens.com/products/crunchy-micro-mix
Place your order today, and you can have freshly harvested,organic radish shoots at your front door in no time!
Dani at Dani Greens💚