Horseradish: good and bad

Village horseradish is often served with a mustard to the table as a seasoning - this popularity is due to its pleasant acuity and a sharp sweetish taste.However, this plant not only becomes a good addition to a variety of dishes - it also has a number of medicinal properties, thanks to which horseradish helped people at all times.

In the offseason horseradish is widely used for the prevention and treatment of viral diseases;In addition, due to the rich content of vitamins and trace elements, it becomes an excellent substitute for fruit in the fight against spring avitaminosis.This plant can be used and external - mashed horseradish is applied to the chest as a mustard, to the wounds to accelerate healing and disinfection.

Interesting! For the first time, horseradish was used in the Middle Eastern countries in the Middle Ages.The glory of his use quickly spread throughout the world, and is still popular in Europe, Asia and America.Especially horseradish love in the CIS countries and the Baltic states.

In folk medicine not only decoctions and tinctures from the root of horseradish, which is taken for food, but also fresh leaves of the plant are used.

Ingredients and caloric content

The peculiarity of horseradish is that it contains a huge amount of ascorbic acid - it is 5 times more in the rhizome of this plant than in the fruit of the lemon. In addition, the composition of horseradish includes:

• vitamins - E, PP, group B( riboflavin, thiamine, folic acid, pyridoxine);
• macronutrients - fats, proteins, sugars, amino acids( asparagine and arginine), unsaturated fatty acids;
• macronutrients - potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, sulfur, chlorine, sodium;
• microelements - iron, aluminum, copper, manganese;
• essential oils;
• cellulose.

With such a rich composition, the calorie content of horseradish is low - only 56 kcal per 100 g of product.The use of horse radish enhances metabolic processes in the body, which leads to an acceleration of the loss of excess weight.

Useful properties

The use of horseradish for catarrhal diseases is due to the high content of phytoncides - biologically active substances that play the role of natural antibiotics, which do not have such side effects as pharmacological antibacterial drugs .Thanks to these substances horseradish has an anti-inflammatory effect, useful in ARI, rhinitis, inflammation of various organs of the respiratory system.

In addition, horseradish is useful in diseases:

1. Digestive system.The plant sharply affects the mucous membranes of the digestive system, improving intestinal motility and secretion of gastric juice.
2. The circulatory system.Improves the composition of blood, is useful in diabetes mellitus.Affects the walls of blood vessels, facilitating hypertension, which is useful when increasing blood pressure.
3. Genitourinary system.Accelerates the release of urine and the removal of harmful substances from the body.

The anti-inflammatory effect of horseradish will find application in any part of the body - the symptoms of neuralgia, inflammation of the joints or skin are removed due to the properties of the plant.Outwardly, plant leaves are used - they help with edema, joint pain, osteochondrosis.

Harm and contraindications

Horseradish, like other spicy seasonings, can not be used by everyone.It is contraindicated when:

• acute and chronic gastrointestinal diseases, manifested in inflammation of the organs or increased secretion of gastric juice;
• kidney and liver disease;
• pregnancy and lactation;
• allergies to the plant.

Important !Sinigrin, which gives the plant acuity and burning taste, in large quantities can lead to burns of mucous membranes or skin with external application.In addition, abuse of horseradish leads to pain in the organs of the digestive tract and cough.

Tips and tricks

Horseradish is used not only in food and in the treatment of diseases, but also as a cosmetic means - in the form of masks and compresses. Its anti-inflammatory properties help to fight acne, and the beneficial substances that feed in it nourish the skin, making it more fresh and younger. Sinigrin literally burns pigments - because of this property horseradish is used to whiten the skin, for example, removing freckles and senile spots.

When adding horseradish to face masks, you must follow certain rules:

• should use fresh plant roots, not canned;
• rubs the root in the meat grinder - the grater will not take it;
• before processing horseradish should be brushed and peeled;
• apply the mask on the lips and the area around the eyes is not possible - a burn is possible;
• can be used only once a week;
• leave the mask on your face for 10-15 minutes;
• is not recommended for horseradish use with sensitive or dry skin.

It should be noted that the horseradish should not be stored for a long time - the plant quickly loses its useful properties.It is recommended to buy as much as required by a prescription dish, medical or cosmetic.