Horseradish

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Horseradish is a plant, which is used both as a vegetable and ground as a spice. The benefits of horseradish for human health are enormous. It has a specific strong taste, which is not liked by many people, but the useful substances in this root are indisputable. Horseradish is essentially a perennial plant of the Brassicaceae family, which includes mustard and various types of cabbage.

The horseradish plant reaches 1.5 meters in height and is grown mainly because of its large white pointed root, which is consumed most often. In rare cases, the leaves are also used for consumption, and are mainly preferred for flavoring jams, marmalades and marmalades.

For homeland of horseradish is considered to be South East Europe. From there, it gradually spread throughout Europe. Horseradish is found in the wild in the European part of Russia, the Caucasus, Siberia and the Far East. Horseradish grows well mainly in wet places in the valleys and on the banks of rivers. More recently, horseradish has been identified as a crop and horseradish is now grown everywhere as a food, medicinal and ornamental plant.

Horseradish composition

Horseradish is rich in many nutrients. Horseradish roots contain mustard oil, sugar, ascorbic acid, are rich in the mineral salts of potassium, sodium, sulfur, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, chlorine, iron, copper and organic compounds.

Ascorbic acid is contained in horseradish leaves 3 times more than in the roots. The volatile substances contained in horseradish have a beneficial effect on the human body - phytoncides, capable of killing pathogenic microbes, give horseradish bactericidal properties. Freshly squeezed juice, prepared porridge from horseradish roots and water infusions are used as an antimicrobial agent, to gargle in inflammation of the oral cavity and pharynx.

Selection and storage of horseradish

Horseradish roots are used fresh because they lose their aroma when dried. It is not like other herbs that can retain their beneficial properties in both dried and frozen state. There are two ways you can keep horseradish fresh. The first is by digging the roots in the sand - so they last up to a month. The other option is to puree it and pour vinegar, oil, salt and a teaspoon of honey over it. Close all in a glass jar.

Culinary use of horseradish

Horseradish is widely used in cooking, but only fresh. As it turned out, dried horseradish loses its qualities and most of all - its characteristic aroma. For exactly the same reason, it is not subjected to heat treatment, but is added at the very end of cooking. Horseradish is a very popular spice for a number of sauces, which are prepared from grated horseradish and dairy or sour products.

Horseradish is one of the traditional spices for cooking boiled beef, roast meat, pork legs and others. Horseradish has strong preservative properties, which is why it is used in the preparation of pickles and Bulgaria's favorite sauerkraut.

The ground part of horseradish can be used as a substitute for the famous Japanese spice wasabi.

Benefits of horseradish

In the past, people have placed fresh horseradish leaves on abscesses for quick healing. In case of swelling of the cervical glands, they made compresses with horseradish and turnips, taken in equal amounts and grated on a grater. In case of headache and poisoning, they smelled grated horseradish. It was considered one of the best antiscorbutics: they boiled grated horseradish in sugar beet yeast and gargled in the mouth 4 times a day.

The healing properties of horseradish have been known for centuries when it was used to treat scurvy and leprosy. Allyl mustard oil, which is found in the leaves and roots, is obtained from horseradish. This oil has a powerful bactericidal effect, killing many types of microbes in just a few minutes. In the roots of horseradish there is also lysozyme, which is a protein substance with the action of an antibiotic. In a healthy person, lysozyme is found in saliva, the mucous membranes of the mouth and eyes.

In disease states, however, this substance is destroyed and horseradish helps to restore its reserves. Horseradish has a good effect on colds and flu, and it is good to take fresh juice from the roots mousse supplement of honey. In addition, horseradish favors the treatment of respiratory diseases, and chewing a piece of horseradish destroys bacteria that cause tooth decay. Horseradish also kills bacteria in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Horseradish compresses also work well for joint diseases.

For high blood pressure, dizziness and chest pain, apply the following recipe: pour horseradish with vodka for 24 hours. In an enamel bowl with a wooden spoon mix 1 teaspoon of carrot juice, turnips, beets, honey, the resulting infusion, which should also be 1 teaspoon, as well as the juice of 1 lemon. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day before meals for 2 months. The mixture is refrigerated, tightly closed. In 1/2 liter of water put 2 tablespoons of honey, 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 20 cloves of garlic. The mixture is boiled over low heat for 1/2 hour. Soak for 1 hour and strain. Take 2 tablespoons 3 times daily before meals. This recipe also helps with dizziness and chest pain.

Horseradish is used for bladder stones, rheumatism, gout and respiratory diseases with a wet cough. This healing root has a pronounced anti-mucus property, cleanses the body of mucus, unclogs congestion in it. Enhances the work of the gastrointestinal tract, increases appetite, helps reduce acidity, is used in diseases of the gallbladder and atony of the colon.

Harm from horseradish

If we overdo it with the use of horseradish, this can also have a negative impact on the human body. Excessive use of horseradish is not recommended because allyl isothiocyanate irritates the lining of the stomach and intestines and can sometimes even cause a nervous disorder.