Last Updated on April 26, 2021 by Dr Sharon Baisil MD
Diabetes is a commonly occurring disease in today’s world. It is increasing day by day and has affected numerous people all around. It is a chronic metabolic disorder that needs to be paid attention to and reversed for one’s best health maintenance.
We help you with everyday tips and varied information about several diabetic confusions that may arise. We help you control and beat diabetes with the right techniques and best methods at your convenience.
Today, we will be looking at one such topic and find out all about it. We will be discussing – Radish and its effects on diabetic individuals. We will cover …
- Can a diabetic patient eat radish?
- Is radish high in sugar?
- Is it safe to eat raw radishes in diabetes?
- Health benefits of radish
- What are the side effects of radish?
- Nutrition information of radish
We are sure you will have a lot to take away from today’s discussion. So without any more delay, let us begin with answering these questions and finding great health choices.
Here we go!
Can a diabetic patient eat radish?
Well, it may be a debate when it comes to concluding if radishes are safe for diabetic patients or not. But clearly answering – they have been observed and proved to be very safe for diabetic patients indeed.
To be very clear about it – diabetic patients can eat radish without worrying about causing any harm to the blood sugar levels.
The major confusion that may arise in your mind while including this veggie in your diet may be that it is a tuber. Tubers are often not recommended for patients with diabetes. Diabetes is a condition of imbalanced blood sugar levels.
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Tubers are said to be very high in starch and thus can contribute to rises in the body’s sugar content. But, despite belonging to the tuber family, the radish is a healthy tuber.
Radish has also been tested and proven to be beneficial for diabetic patients in a variety of ways. We will discuss the various goodness of radish on health as we move further in this article.
It is a low calories vegetable that can be included in the diet in its raw form. The raw variety of radish included in veggie salads can be very beneficial to health in several ways.
Radish has several anti-diabetic qualities as well. It does not lead to insulin or blood sugar level disturbances. You can include adequate amounts of radish in your diabetic diets without having to worry about blood sugar complications.
It is among the healthy tubers and can be used as a replacement for other unhealthy or starch-rich tubers. It provides the body with numerous vitamins and minerals without causing high spikes in the calories or number of carbs.
It also has many phytochemicals that are important nutrients for the body’s increased immunity and well-being. Radish leaves and juices are also said to be very helpful in treating health problems and improving the body’s immunity power.
In addition to that, a small serving of radish can also enrich the body with a lot of fiber. The fiber in the body is usually important for diabetic blood sugar level management.
The presence of fiber assists in slowing the pace of digestion, which further leads to a controlled blood glucose development in the body. Thus, the availability of fiber in food is necessary for diabetics and can be obtained from radishes.
Let us get to know about its profile a little more.
Is Radish high in sugar?
Well, we already clarified that diabetic patients could eat radish without worrying about blood sugar complications. Hence, it is proved that the quantity of sugar found in radish is not high beyond normal ranges.
Therefore, no, radish is not high in sugar. Sugar in the food is directly related to the number of carbohydrates in it. The carbohydrates found in radish are very low.
A half-cup quantity of radish, which is around one healthy serving size, has only about 2 grams of carbohydrate.
This ensures that the blood sugar levels will not be affected by the presence of carbs in radish. It will cause no diabetic severity. Rather, the goodness of other nutrients in this vegetable may lead to better management and even control of the diabetic situation.
We will also discuss the nutritional profile of this vegetable separately to learn about it in detail.
It is a very healthy and safe choice for all and especially for diabetic patients.
Let us have a look at the glycemic index of radish.
What is the Glycemic Index of radish?
As we already discussed, radishes are low in sugar and calories; thus, it is obvious that they are safe for diabetics. But let us confirm this by glancing at its Glycemic Index.
The glycemic index is an effective indicator in identifying safe foods for diabetic patients. It makes use of a scale ranked from 0 to 100, where food is ranked according to its carbohydrate content.
Once the rank is numerically derived, the food is categorized under one of the three glycemic index categories:
| Sl. No. | Glycemic Index categories | Glycemic Index ranges |
| 1. | Low Glycemic Index (safe for diabetics) | 0 to 55 |
| 2. | Medium Glycemic Index (safe if taken in controlled quantities) | 55 to 69 |
| 3. | High Glycemic Index (unsafe for diabetics) | From 70 and above |
Let us see what the glycemic index of radish is. The GI of radish falls under a very low and safe GI range. The GI of radish is only 32.
This indicates that radishes are safe and good for diabetic consumption.
Is it safe to eat raw radishes in diabetes?
Well, absolutely! You can include raw radishes in your diabetic food schedules. Raw forms of veggies are often better than cooking them. You can have them in salads, in healthy sandwiches, soups, etc.
Eating raw radish in salads can help you avail of its best benefits. Cooking it in dishes can often nullify its effects on health. Moreover, cooking is a method that hampers the calorie and carb content and GI of foods.
Hence, it is one of the best choices to include raw radish in your diabetic diets. It can supply you with more fiber, too, when consumed raw.
15 Health benefits of eating Radish
As we discussed until now, radish is a recommended veggie to add to your daily diets. So now, let us get started with knowing what the many benefits of eating radish are:
- For diabetics, radish is an excellent addition as it does not lead to any blood glucose rises, and it helps stabilize the blood glucose levels.
- The fiber in radish suffices your appetite and reduces unnecessary cravings. It is a great snack or meal option for diabetes.
- The fiber in radish also helps in regulating a healthy digestive system. It is good for preventing constipation, indigestion, intestinal infections, and other issues.
- Radishes are also known to be good for managing healthy blood pressure in the body. It can reduce the severing of blood pressure problems in diabetics.
- The flavonoids found in radish fight the free radicals and help in protecting the body from harm.
- Its daily consumption is great for eliminating the risks of developing urinary tract infections.
- This vegetable is high in water content. It thus keeps the body hydrated and is great for satisfying the diabetic body requirements.
- Radishes are known to have a great anti-congestive quality. It assists in digesting the mucus easily and hence, mitigating any chances of further complications due to the same.
- Radishes are also great for avoiding the occurrence of kidney stones. They are a great daily veggie to add to your diet.
- Radish is also filled with vitamin C, an important antioxidant, which helps to keep the body safe.
- Eating radish in diabetes is also good for increasing insulin function as it aids your body’s natural adiponectin production.
- Radish can also help in releasing toxins and flushing away harmful elements from the liver.
- Radish has natural nitrates, which assist in improving the blood circulation in the body.
- It has many nutrients like vitamins, zinc, etc., that help nourish and improve the skin.
- This low-calorie and low-carb food option are among the best choices for weight loss.
What are the side effects of eating Radish?
Amidst the many benefits, are there some things that you need to be cautious about? Let us find out.
- People allergic to aspirin must not take radish as it may have uncomfortable reactions.
- Excess consumption of radish can lead to stomach issues like gas and bloating.
- Unlimited amounts of radish can also lead to abdominal pains and diarrhea.
Nutrition information of Radish
The table below shows the number of nutrients found in 100grams of radish:
| Sl. No. | Nutrients available | Amount available |
| 1. | Calories | 16 |
| 2. | Carbohydrates – Sugars – Dietary fiber | 3g – 1g – 2g |
| 3. | Protein | 0.68g |
| 4. | Fat | 0.1g |
| 5. | Water | 95.27g |
| 6. | Calcium | 25mg |
| 7. | Potassium | 233mg |
| 8. | Manganese | 0.069mg |
| 9. | Sodium | 39mg |
| 10. | Copper | 0.05mg |
| 11. | Zinc | 0.28mg |
| 12. | Iron | 0.34mg |
| 13. | Magnesium | 10mg |
| 14. | Selenium | 0.6 |
| 15. | Phosphorus | 20mg |
| 16. | Choline | 6.5mg |
| 17. | Vitamin C | 14.8mg |
| 18. | Folate | 25 |
| 19. | Vitamin A | 7 IU |
| 20. | Vitamin B6 | 0.071mg |
| 21. | Vitamin K | 1.3 |
| 22. | Vitamin B5 | 0.165mg |
| 23. | Vitamin B2 | 0.039mg |
| 24. | Vitamin B3 | 0.254mg |
| 25. | Vitamin B1 | 0.012mg |
With all these helpful nutrients, you must include radish in your diets from today.
References
- https://foodstruct.com/food/radish
- https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/9/9/1014
- https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jnsv/53/3/53_3_261/_article/-char/ja/
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ptr.1851
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278691508000100
- https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/11/2/402
- https://www.jci.org/articles/view/117920
- https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/article-abstract/633593
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002927000023972
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1750-3841.2010.01972.x
