What Are the Benefits of Eating Radish in Winter?

What Are the Benefits of Eating Radish in Winter?

White radish, also known as Lai Fu, is one of the most common winter vegetables. There's an old saying: “When radishes hit the market, doctors have nothing to do.” Though humble and unassuming in appearance, radish rivals even precious medicinal herbs in its therapeutic value, especially in autumn and winter.

Benefits of Eating Radish in Winter

1. Clears Lungs and Resolves Phlegm
   Radish benefits the lungs by clearing heat and resolving phlegm. During the dry autumn and winter months, people often experience throat irritation, pain, or coughing. Eating raw radish can alleviate these symptoms, reducing swelling and soothing throat discomfort with remarkable speed. It is particularly effective at clearing the lungs and detoxifying the body, making it an excellent remedy for removing old phlegm. For those living in areas with high levels of smog or dust, drinking fresh radish juice (1–2 glasses per day) can help clean out lung impurities.

2. Aids Digestion and Improves Appetite
   Radish is great for resolving food stagnation and promoting digestion. It stimulates the spleen and appetite, making it especially beneficial for children, the elderly, or those with weak digestive systems. For quick relief from indigestion or internal heat, try a bowl of white radish, hawthorn, and rock sugar soup. Its effectiveness rivals that of over-the-counter remedies.

3. Nourishes Yin and Generates Fluids
   Radish’s white color corresponds to the lungs in traditional Chinese medicine, making it one of the best foods for autumn and winter. There's a saying: “Eat radish in winter and ginger in summer, and you won’t need a doctor’s prescription.” As autumn transitions into winter, the body's yang energy begins to retreat inward, causing external yang to decline and internal yang to accumulate. Combined with the contraction of pores due to the cold, this can lead to excess internal heat, indigestion, or stagnated energy flow. Eating radish helps dissipate this internal heat, promotes energy flow, and aids digestion.

4. Relieves Symptoms of Overheating
   Overeating "warming" foods like lamb or hot pot can exacerbate symptoms of overheating, such as dry mouth, throat pain, or a burning sensation in the stomach. Drinking radish juice or boiling radish slices in water can provide immediate relief. Many find that eating raw radish also alleviates heartburn. According to traditional Chinese medicine, heartburn can stem from excessive "turbid qi" in the stomach. Raw radish disperses this qi effectively, often leading to the release of gas. This helps relieve discomfort and restores balance.

5. Balances a Protein-Rich Diet
   Eating radish is particularly beneficial after consuming large amounts of meat. Its natural properties aid digestion and prevent stagnation from heavy, rich foods.

Raw vs. Cooked Radish: Different Benefits

• Raw Radish
  Raw radish has a sweet yet spicy flavor. The spicy component disperses qi and clears heat, but it can also deplete energy. Consuming raw radish during periods of excessive supplementation (e.g., when using tonics or herbal remedies) can counteract symptoms like bloating. Traditional medicine even records using raw radish juice to reduce nosebleeds or calm excessive heat. Raw radish can also be pickled into appetizers, which pair well with rich or greasy dishes, stimulating appetite and aiding digestion.

• Cooked Radish
  Cooking radish removes its spiciness, leaving a pure sweetness that leans toward nourishing and supplementing energy. Soft, slow-cooked radish soups are particularly comforting and restorative. However, cooked radish may sometimes lead to qi stagnation. To prevent this, adding ginger to the soup balances its properties, while fragrant vegetables like celery or cilantro enhance flavor and support digestion.

Eating Radish with the Skin Is Even Better

Whether cooked or raw, it's recommended to eat radish with the skin intact, as half of its health benefits are in the peel.

Benefits of Radish Skin

• Antiviral Properties
  Radish skin is spicier than its flesh, and this spiciness enhances its antiviral capabilities.

• Better for Cough with Phlegm
  For excessive phlegm, particularly when it’s hard to expel, radish skin is more effective than radish flesh in resolving phlegm and regulating qi.

• Reduces Swelling
  Radish skin is particularly effective in relieving water retention.

• Soothes Abdominal Discomfort
  Cooked radish skin can be warmed and applied to the navel to help alleviate bloating and poor appetite.

Radish Seeds for Phlegm

Every part of the radish is valuable, including its seeds, known as Lai Fu Zi in traditional Chinese medicine. If you see “Lai Fu Zi” on a prescription, it refers to radish seeds.

For those who’ve experienced bloating as children, a handful of radish seeds was often the remedy given by elders. Soon after, a gurgling stomach and the release of gas would relieve discomfort.

The renowned late Qing physician Zhang Xichun advocated for using both raw and roasted radish seeds together.

• Raw vs. Roasted Radish Seeds
  Raw and roasted radish seeds serve different purposes:

• Roasted: Descends qi, resolves phlegm, and treats downward conditions.

• Raw: Ascends qi, making it effective for expelling wind-phlegm.

• Recipe for Resolving Phlegm

• Roasted radish seeds (9g, or half raw and half roasted)

• Roasted white mustard seeds (9g)

• Roasted perilla seeds (9g)
  Crush the ingredients, decoct, and drink.

Other Clever Uses for Radish

1. Cooked Radish – Aids Digestion
   Radish is rich in vitamin C, which helps remove waste and boosts metabolism. Enzymes in white or water radishes promote digestion effectively.

2. Radish and Honey – Soothes Sore Throat
   To relieve a sore throat, make "radish candy":

• Cut radish into small cubes, add honey, and marinate.

• When the radish floats in the honey, remove it and store. Eat a piece when your throat feels sore for soothing relief.

3. Radish Juice – Relieves Nasal Congestion
   Grate radish to extract juice, then soak gauze or cotton in the juice. Insert into the nostrils for 5 minutes, repeating 2–3 times. This helps clear nasal congestion naturally.

4. Raw Radish – A Hangover Remedy
   Radish is excellent for sobering up. Its vitamin C boosts liver function and aids in ethanol breakdown. With over 91% water content, it dilutes alcohol concentration, reducing the likelihood of a hangover.

5. Candied Radish with Rock Sugar – Moisturizes the Lungs

• Wash a white radish, dry it, and cut off the top third.

• Hollow out the lower part, leaving about 1cm around the edges.

• Fill the cavity with rock sugar, reattach the top, and secure with toothpicks.

• Place in a sealed container and refrigerate for 5–6 days. The resulting syrup nourishes the lungs effectively.

6. Radish Skin – Relieves Joint Pain
   For winter joint or muscle pain, use radish skin as a compress. Alternatively, place peeled skins in a cloth bag and use for warm compresses.

7. Radish in Dishes – Prevents Overheating
   Winter diets often include more meat, which can cause phlegm and overheating. Adding radish to meat dishes or using it as a primary ingredient helps balance the diet, preventing overheating while providing nutritional benefits.