Daikon Radish: Types, Nutrition, Benefits, and Uses – Healthline

Radish (Raphanus sativus) is a cruciferous vegetable that originated in Asia and Europe (1).

There are many different types, which vary in appearance, color, and flavor. Daikon radishes are popularly used in Asian and Indian cooking and known for their potent medicinal properties.

This article reviews daikon radish, including its nutrition, benefits, and culinary uses.

Daikon also known as lubo and winter, white, oilseed, and icicle radish is a variety of radish native to China and Japan (2).

Its cultivated around the world as a food for people and livestock, as well as for its seed oil, which is used in the cosmetic industry. Farmers also plant it as a cover crop to improve soil health and increase crop yield (3).

Daikon is considered a winter radish, which is slower growing and larger than spring radishes. Winter radishes are sown in mid to late summer and harvested during cooler weather (4).

Daikon radishes have a crispy texture and resemble large carrots. Their flavor is milder than that of other radish varieties and described as slightly sweet yet slightly spicy.

Though most commonly white with leafy green tops, daikon radishes come in a variety of hues, including red, green, and purple. They grow in three shapes cylindrical, oblong, and spherical (1).

Here are some interesting varieties of daikon:

Daikon radishes are native to Asia but grown around the world. Varieties include Alpine, KN-Bravo, and Shunkyo. They all come with a unique shape, taste, and color.

Daikon is a very-low-calorie vegetable yet has an impressive nutrient profile.

One 7-inch (18-cm) daikon weighing 12 ounces (338 grams) packs the following nutrients (5):

Daikon is an excellent source of various nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, and copper. Still, its highest in vitamin C and folate.

Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient thats essential to health and needed for many bodily functions, including immune system function and tissue growth and repair (6).

Plus, it doubles as a powerful antioxidant, protecting your bodys cells from oxidative damage (6).

Daikon is also rich in folate, a B vitamin thats involved in cellular growth, red blood cell production, and DNA synthesis (7).

Foods rich in folate are particularly important during pregnancy, as this nutrient plays an integral role in the growth and development of the baby (8).

Daikon is low in calories yet high in many nutrients, particularly vitamin C and folate.

Eating nutrient-dense daikon may benefit your health in many ways.

Daikon contains many plant compounds that may improve health and offer protection against certain diseases.

One test-tube study found that daikon extract contained the polyphenol antioxidants ferulic acid and quercetin, both of which have anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and immune-boosting properties (9, 10, 11).

Additionally, cruciferous vegetables like daikon offer biologically active compounds called glucosinolates, which break down to form isothiocyanates.

Test-tube and animal research shows that these compounds may provide powerful cancer-fighting properties (12, 13, 14).

Plus, population studies indicate that eating a lot of cruciferous vegetables like radishes may protect against certain cancers, including of the colon and lungs (15, 16).

Eating low-calorie, high-fiber foods like daikon can help you maintain a healthy weight or lose weight if thats your goal.

Daikon is considered a non-starchy vegetable, meaning its very low in carbs. Research has demonstrated that eating non-starchy vegetables can promote a healthy body weight.

For example, a study in 1,197 people found that those who ate more non-starchy vegetables had less body fat and lower levels of insulin, a hormone involved in fat storage (17).

Whats more, daikon is high in fiber, a nutrient that may decrease hunger levels by slowing digestion and increasing fullness, which may help boost weight loss (18).

Daikon is a highly nutritious vegetable packed with potent plant compounds, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, all of which work together to protect your body against disease.

Though adding more of any vegetable to your diet can improve your health, eating cruciferous vegetables like daikon may particularly protect against a wide range of conditions.

In fact, cruciferous vegetable intake has been linked to a decreased risk of heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes, and neurodegenerative conditions (19, 20, 21, 22, 23).

Additionally, some population studies indicate that eating more cruciferous vegetables like daikon may help you live a longer, healthier life (24).

Daikon is a low-calorie, high-fiber vegetable that contains plant compounds that may help protect against conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.

Daikon can be enjoyed raw, pickled, or cooked. Its an integral ingredient in Asian cooking, though it lends itself to many cuisines.

Here are some interesting ways to add daikon to your diet:

Note that all parts of the daikon plant can be eaten, including the leafy green tops, which can be added to sauts and soups.

You can also try daikon sprouts, which are often used in salads and sushi dishes in Asian cuisine.

Though tiny, they have powerful medicinal properties and have exhibited antioxidant and anticancer effects in test-tube studies (25, 26).

Use them as you would use more commonly enjoyed sprouts, such as broccoli and alfalfa varieties.

Daikon can be used in many ways and makes an excellent addition to salads, soups, and curries. You can eat all parts of the daikon plant, as well as its sprouts.

Daikon radish is a nutritious, low-calorie cruciferous vegetable that may promote your health in various ways.

Eating it may help you maintain a healthy body weight and protect against chronic conditions, such as heart disease and certain cancers.

Daikon is not only an exceptionally healthy vegetable but also incredibly versatile.

Try adding this unique radish to salads, stir-fries, and curries, or simply enjoy it raw as a snack.

Read more:

Daikon Radish: Types, Nutrition, Benefits, and Uses - Healthline