The Six Properties of Horseradish You Didn’t Know

Horseradish is a spicy flavor root rich in beneficial properties: it is a natural antibiotic, it provides an anti-inflammatory and analgesic action and it has also antioxidant properties. But let's find out more about its virtues.

The horseradish (Armoracia rusticana), also called "cren" as the sauce that is produced from the processing of its roots, is a perennial plant belonging to the Cruciferous family, the same of cabbage, turnip, radish and mustard. It originates from Eastern Europe and its plant has small flowers and green leaves while its root is cylindrical with a cream-colored compact pulp, and finally its peel is wrinkled similar to that of ginger. The horseradish is used in the kitchen to flavor different dishes thanks to its intense and spicy flavor. It is also a root rich in beneficial properties for our organism: it contains a good amount of vitamin C, it is a natural antibiotic and it is antibacterial, it helps against flu and cold, but is also useful for inflammation of the urinary tract, it is also diuretic, analgesic and digestive. A real cure for our health. But let's find out more about this vegetable rich in virtues.

Beneficial properties of horseradish

The horseradish contains about 95% of water, it is rich in vitamin C and vitamin B1 as well as beta-carotene, lutein and mineral salts such as sodium, potassium, iron, calcium and sulfur. Its pungent taste is instead due to the sinigrin, a substance also present in mustard. Regarding the caloric intake, the horseradish contains about 35 kilocalories per 100 grams of product. But here are all its properties.

Horseradish promotes digestion and deflates the belly: the horseradish stimulates the gastric mucosa and the production of bile, encouraging digestion and helping even in case of inappetence. Horseradish also helps the intestine to get rid of the excess gas, deflating the belly and eliminating annoying stagnations.

Horseradish is a natural antibiotic and it provides a diuretic action: to give antibiotic and antibacterial properties to the horseradish is the sinigrin, a substance that gives the vegetable its typical pungent taste. Horseradish is also an excellent diuretic: it stimulates urination, prevents urinary tract problems and it also helps to purify the body, freeing it from toxins, as it helps to clean the kidneys.

Horseradish is excellent as anti-inflammatory and analgesic: the glycols present in the horseradish have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that are beneficial for the respiratory tract and for the urinary tract. Horseradish also helps to relieve joint and muscle pain and arthritis pains: just chop the root, mix it with a bit of grappa and apply it on the painful area.

Horseradish is beneficial for blood circulation and against hypertension: the horseradish also helps to improve blood circulation by favoring the recovery of strength in case of fatigue and exhaustion. The potassium content, on the other hand, is useful for regulating bodily fluids, and it also performs a vasodilator action, helping in case of hypertension and preventing heart attack and stroke.

Horseradish provides an antioxidant action: the horseradish also contains antioxidants such as vitamin C, sinigrin and isothiocyanate which counteract the damaging action of free radicals, preventing cellular aging. These effects are also beneficial for the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Horseradish is useful against skin problems: in cosmetics, horseradish is used as a remedy against skin blemishes, herpes and alopecia.