Radish Liver Cleanse Diet
Your body's primary cleansing system, the liver, constantly burns fats and keeps your blood purified. This vital organ produces bile for healthy digestion and disposes of toxins from processed foods, medicines, alcoholic beverages and environmental pollutants. Maintaining a healthy liver ensures overall good health. Consult your doctor before trying a liver detox diet.
Significance
Radishes cleanse the liver, prevent constipation and provide a remedy for kidney stones, according to herbalist Brigitte Mars, author of "Rawsome! Maximizing Health, Energy, and Culinary Delight With the Raw Foods Diet." European naturopaths recommend a long black radish, known as the winter variety, to cleanse the liver and gall bladder, Mars says.
Function
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Sulfur-based chemicals in radishes help increase the flow of bile, assisting the liver and improving digestion. Radishes contain diastase, an enzyme that aids digestion of starches. A Japanese folk remedy uses daikon radish and carrot juice to reduce hardened fat deposits, Mars says.
Cleansing With Radish Juice
A cocktail for cleansing the liver and gall bladder and relieving sinus congestion is recommended by Rethinkingcancer.org 1. Mix equal amounts of cucumber juice, radish juice and green pepper juice. Apple juice may be added to improve the taste.
Radish Cocktail
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Raw food advocate Ingrid Weithers-Barati created the Radical Radish Cocktail with juices of radish, fennel, cucumber, celery and orange, published on Rawepicurean.net 23. The recipe contains 1/2 bunch of radishes with green tops, 1 small fennel with stalks, 6 stalks of celery with leaves, 1 large cucumber, and 2 or 3 fresh oranges. Run all ingredients through a juicer and enjoy.
Considerations
Radishes have a warming, stimulating effect, according to Mars. If you experience inflammation such as gastritis, ulcers or excess digestive heat, she recommends minimizing the use of radishes in your diet. Always consult with your doctor regarding changes in your dietary habits.
Related Articles
References
- Rethinkingcancer.org: Radish: Therapeutic Value
- Healthy.net: Raw Food Materia Medica - Radish
- Rawepicurean.net: Radical Radish Cocktail
- Radishes, raw. FoodData Central. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Published April 1, 2019.
- Banihani SA. Radish (Raphanus sativus) and diabetes. Nutrients. 2017;9(9):1014. doi:10.3390/nu9091014
- Vitamin C: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Updated February 27, 2020.
- Wallace TC. Anthocyanins in cardiovascular disease. Adv Nutr. 2011;2(1):1-7. doi:10.3945/an.110.000042
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- Cruciferous Vegetables and Cancer Prevention. National Cancer Institute. Updated June 7, 2012.
- Beevi SS, Mangamoori LN, Subathra M, Edula JR. Hexane extract of Raphanus sativus L. roots inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in human cancer cells by modulating genes related to apoptotic pathway. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2010;65(3):200-9. doi:10.1007/s11130-010-0178-0
- Castro-Torres IG, De la O-Arciniega M, Gallegos-Estudillo J, Naranjo-Rodríguez EB, Domínguez-Ortíz MÁ. Raphanus sativus L. var niger as a source of phytochemicals for the prevention of cholesterol gallstones. Phytother Res. 2014;28(2):167-71. doi:10.1002/ptr.4964
- Lee YH, Lee JH, Kang HR, Ha JH, Lee BH, Kim SH. A case of anaphylaxis induced by contact with young radish (Raphanus sativus L). Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2015;7(1):95-7. doi:10.4168/aair.2015.7.1.95
- Atkinson FS, Foster-Powell K, Brand-Miller JC. International Tables of Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load Values: 2008. Diabetes Care. 2008;31(12):2281-2283. doi:10.2337/dc08-1239.
Writer Bio
Ann Marina is author of "Preserve Your Brain" and has been writing/educating on natural health topics for 30 years. A certified brain fitness and yoga instructor, she holds a Bachelor of Science in speech and language from West Virginia University.